An automated front‐end monitor for anthrax surveillance systems based on the rapid detection of airborne endospores

Abstract

A fully automated anthrax smoke detector (ASD) has been developed and tested. The ASD is intended to serve as a cost effective front-end monitor for anthrax surveillance systems. The principle of operation is based on measuring airborne endospore concentrations, where a sharp concentration increase signals an anthrax attack. The ASD features an air sampler, a thermal lysis unit, a syringe pump, a time-gated spectrometer, and endospore detection chemistry comprised of dipicolinic acid (DPA)-triggered terbium ion (Tb(3+)) luminescence. Anthrax attacks were simulated using aerosolized Bacillus atrophaeus spores in fumed silica, and corresponding Tb-DPA intensities were monitored as a function of time and correlated to the number of airborne endospores collected. A concentration dependence of 10(2)-10(6) spores/mg of fumed silica yielded a dynamic range of 4 orders of magnitude and a limit of detection of 16 spores/L when 250 L of air were sampled. Simulated attacks were detected in less than 15 min.

Ratiometric fluorescent detection of biomakers for biological warfare agents with carbon dots chelated europium-based nanoscale coordination polymers

“…The result was comparable to that of the previously reported lanthanide-based fluorescent sensors or ratiometric fluorescent sensors (Table 1) [26,[32][33][34][35][36][37]61]. Taking automated anthrax smoke detector as an example, the detection limit was lower (0.2 nM) than that of the CDs@Eu/GMP, but the linear range was narrower (10-100 nM) [26].…”

“…Taking automated anthrax smoke detector as an example, the detection limit was lower (0.2 nM) than that of the CDs@Eu/GMP, but the linear range was narrower (10-100 nM) [26]. For SiO 2 nanoparticles coordinated with Tb-EDTA, the linear range was wider (0-1200 nM), but the detection limit was higher (10.3 nM) [36].…”

“…anthracis spores can lead to death [26][27][28]. Therefore, the rapid, sensitive, accurate and selective detection of bacterial spores is of great importance to prevent a biological attack of disease.…”

The Role of Ligand Topology in the Decomplexation of Luminescent Lanthanide Complexes by Dipicolinic Acid

“…The most common approach involves the formation of Ln(DPA) x (H 2 O) 9−3 x complexes (where x= 1, 2, or 3) starting from inorganic lanthanide salts, typically TbCl 3 . More recently, some authors have suggested that the use of preformed complexes of lanthanides, in which the number of coordination sites available for DPA binding is reduced, may overcome the analytical complications owing to the presence of complexes with different stoichiometry and luminescent properties …”

A Supramolecular Sensing Platform for Phosphate Anions and an Anthrax Biomarker in a Microfluidic Device

“…Anthrax is an acute disease and a potential biological warfare agent caused by Bacillus Anthracis . The detection of Bacillus spores with rapid response, high selectivity, and sensitivity is very important in order to minimize the impact of a bioterroristic attack or outbreak of disease [40–42]. Bacillus spores contain up to 1 M dipicolinic acid (DPA), corresponding to 5–15% of the dry mass of the bacterial spore [43–45], offering a convenient biomarker for anthrax detection.…”