LEGIOPLAS is an interdisciplinary research project aimed at developing a mobile, photonics-based measurement system for the rapid detection of Legionella in drinking water. 

Under current German regulations, routine testing of drinking water systems only requires determining the total Legionella concentration. The necessary laboratory analysis typically takes 2 to 3 weeks to complete. Further typing of relevant subspecies is carried out only in cases of severe contamination. Thus, dangerous pathogens such as Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1, widely regarded as the primary cause of Legionnaires' disease, often remain undetected until this later stage.

LEGIOPLAS aims to replace this conventional cultivation method with a plasmonic sensor capable of detecting Legionella rapidly—including epidemiologically critical subspecies such as Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1. The system is designed for direct on-site deployment, delivering meaningful results in near real time.

At its core, the technology combines novel nanophotonic structures with specifically binding aptamers, integrated into a portable device featuring a fully automated measurement process.

The overarching goal is to enable swift assessment of Legionella contamination, support early countermeasures, and ultimately make drinking water hygiene safer, more efficient, and more cost-effective. In the longer term, the underlying measurement principle can also be applied to other health-relevant analytes, such as mycotoxins.