Detection Of Biological Weapons Research Articles

Quantitative assessment of automated purification and concentration of E. coli bacteria.

Automated methods for rapidly purifying and concentrating bacteria from environmental interferents are needed in next-generation applications for anything from water purification to biological weapons detection. Though previous work has been performed by other researchers in this area, there is still a need to create an automated system that can both purify and concentrate target pathogens in a timely manner with readily available and replaceable components that could be easily integrated with a detection mechanism. Thus, the objective of this work was to design, build, and demonstrate the effectiveness of an automated system, the Automated Dual-filter method for Applied Recovery, or aDARE. aDARE uses a custom LABVIEW program that guides the flow of bacterial samples through a pair of size-based separation membranes to capture and elute the target bacteria. Using aDARE, we eliminated 95% of the interfering beads of a 5 mL-sample volume containing 107 CFU/mL of E. coli contaminated with 2 µm and 10 µm polystyrene beads at 106 beads/mL concentration., The target bacteria were concentrated to more than twice the initial concentration in 900 µL of eluent, resulting in an enrichment ratio for the target bacteria of 42 ± 13 in 5.5 min. These results show the feasibility and effectiveness of using size-based filtration membranes to purify and concentrate a target bacterium, in this case E. coli, in an automated system.

The role of biosensors and biological weapons in national defence and security operations

The knowledge of biotechnology plays an important role in the development of biological weapons. Biological weapons are considered an attractive factor in war for several reasons: ease of manufacture, low cost, confirmed injury, increased number of victims, large losses incurred by other countries. Biological weapons detection methods are among the most important means of military defense. Biological sensors are used in early detection of weapons. Biotechnology is of paramount importance in all fields of medicine, engineering, agriculture, industry, as well as military life. The key applications of biotechnology in the military are in the areas of sensor systems and systems for protection from espionage. Among the most important countries that have applied knowledge of bioweapons technology into their security system are the USA and China. Despite the enormous advantages of biotechnology, it has negative effects in biological weapon production. Therefore, the near future will witness a tremendous boom in biotechnology. DNA profiling also plays an important role in detection of crime. The overall aim of the review is to emphasize the importance of biotechnology towards solving bioterrorism and other forms of security challenges in an environment.

Detection of Shigella dysenteriae Type 1 in Milk by PCR

<p>Shigellosis is severest form of bacillary dysentery, a disease limited to humans and certain other primates. Conventional microbiological techniques used for the isolation and biochemical identification of microbes are time-consuming as well as labour intensive. Due to the fastidious nature of <em>Shigella</em> and the lengthy culture time, a rapid and sensitive system for the detection of bacteria is highly desirable. Nucleic acid-based techniques have enormous potential in the detection of biological weapons because of their specificity, sensitivity, and the speed with which results can be obtained. The application of polymerase chain reaction in sensitive detection of bacterial pathogens in direct food samples is largely affected by the quality of the template DNA. To overcome the shortcomings of conventional methods, we have defined simple method of sample preparation that facilitates PCR based detection of <em>Shigella dysenteriae</em> in milk. In present study, gene specific primers were designed to detect <em>stxA</em> gene.<em> </em>The genomic DNA extraction from the spiked milk was carried out by proteinase K, lysozyme, chloroform-isoamyl alcohol and heat treatments. The optimized extraction of DNA by addition of chloroform-isoamyl alcohol proved to be the most satisfactory amongst all, with limit of detection of 2.0 x 10<sup>3 </sup>cfu/ reaction and was completed in 4h.</p><p> </p>

Systematic Assessment of Nation-Statess Motivations and Capabilities to Produce Biological Weapons

Remote detection of Biological Weapons (BW) proliferation is important, but challenging. We describe and use a joint socio-cultural influence and capability model to identify nation-states likely to have, or to develop BW. We utilize data about international hostilities and alliances, pharmaceutical capabilities, scientific and trade activities, and expert opinion. Our analysis suggests that Iran, Russia, Israel, China, Egypt, North Korea, India, Pakistan and Taiwan have both the motivation and capability to develop BW. The international community suspects Syria of having BW, but Syria has minimal apparent capability. Finally, Georgia, Sudan, Lebanon and Serbia have significant motivation and some capability.

Sensitive Detection of Bacillus anthracis Using a Binding Protein Originating from γ‐Phage

Detection of biological weapons is a primary concern in force protection, treaty verification, and safeguarding civilian populations against domestic terrorism. One great concern is the detection of Bacillus anthracis, the causative agent of anthrax. Therefore, there is a pressing need to develop novel methods for rapid, simple, and precise detection of B. anthracis. Here, we report that the C-terminal region of gamma-phage lysin protein (PlyG) binds specifically to the cell wall of B. anthracis and the recombinant protein corresponding to this region (positions, 156-233), PlyGB, is available as a bioprobe for detection of B. anthracis. Our detection method, based on a membrane direct blot assay using recombinant PlyGB, was more rapid and sensitive than the gamma-phage test and was simpler and more inexpensive than genetic methods such as PCR, or immunological methods using specific antibodies. Furthermore, its specificity was comparable to the gamma-phage test. PlyGB is applicable in conventional methods instead of antibodies and could be a potent tool for detection of B. anthracis.

DETECTION OF BACTERIAL DEPOSITS AND BIO AEROSOLS BY TIME-RESOLVED LASER-INDUCED BREAKDOWN SPECTROSCOPY (TRELIBS)

Potentialities of Time-REsolved Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy technique (TRELIBS or LIBS method) are investigated in order to detect biological matter in bulk and aerosolized forms. Alert detection of biological weapons is the main purpose. With this aim in view, eight different species in bulk form have been primarily considered: six bacteria and two pollens under a pellet form. A cumulative intensity ratio is proposed as a quantitative criterion due to its linearity and reproducibility. TRELIBS exhibits a good ability to differentiate between all these species whatever the growing medium, the specie or the strain. Studies are also extended to the analysis of aerosolized models with generated dry particulate matter and micrometric droplets to simulate single bacterial elemental compositions and concentrations. The expected capabilities make TRELIBS a potential candidate to trigger alarms either on surfaces or in ambient air.

Miniaturized linear time-of-flight mass spectrometer with pulsed extraction.

Improved resolution for a miniaturized instrument is demonstrated at high masses using a pulsed extraction, 3(") linear time-of-flight (TOF) mass analyzer. This illustrates the utility of a small and simple mass spectrometer for biological/medical analyses. Current and future applications suggested by this instrument include rapid mass spectral reading of oligonucleotides that differ in one base (single nucleotide polymorphisms), distinction of biomarker signatures from different species of bacterial spores (biological weapons detection) and point-of-care instruments for proteomics-based diagnostics. We have incorporated a two-stage, pulsed-extraction design that places the focal plane of the ions at the detector channel plate surface. The ions are accelerated to a total energy of 12 keV to enable detection of high-mass proteins in a design that incorporates a floatable flight tube set at the voltage of the front channel plate of the detector. The resultant elimination of post-acceleration at the detector is intended to improve mass resolution by reducing the difference in arrival times between ions and their neutral products. Resolutions of one part in 1200 at m/z 4500 and one part in 600 at m/z 12 000 have been achieved. Proteins with molecular masses up to 66 000 Da, mixtures of oligonucleotides, and biological spores have all been successfully measured, results that increase the potential use of this TOF analyzer.

A nanoliter rotary device for polymerase chain reaction.

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has revolutionized a variety of assays in biotechnology. The ability to implement PCR in disposable and reliable microfluidic chips will facilitate its use in applications such as rapid medical diagnostics, food control testing, and biological weapons detection. We fabricated a microfluidic chip with integrated heaters and plumbing in which various forms of PCR have been successfully demonstrated. The device uses only 12 nL of sample, one of the smallest sample volumes demonstrated to date. Minimizing the sample volume allows low power consumption, reduced reagent costs, and ultimately more rapid thermal cycling.

Bacillus spore inactivation methods affect detection assays.

Detection of biological weapons is a primary concern in force protection, treaty verification, and safeguarding civilian populations against domestic terrorism. One great concern is the detection of Bacillus anthracis, the causative agent of anthrax. Assays for detection in the laboratory often employ inactivated preparations of spores or nonpathogenic simulants. This study uses several common biodetection platforms to detect B. anthracis spores that have been inactivated by two methods and compares those data to detection of spores that have not been inactivated. The data demonstrate that inactivation methods can affect the sensitivity of nucleic acid- and antibody-based assays for the detection of B. anthracis spores. These effects should be taken into consideration when comparing laboratory results to data collected and assayed during field deployment.

Detection of Biological Weapons

Detection of Biological Weapons