Nucleic acid approaches for detection and identification of biological warfare and infectious disease agents

Abstract

Biological warfare agents are the most problematic of the weapons of mass destruction and terror. Both civilian and military sources predict that over the next decade the threat from proliferation of these agents will increase significantly. In this review we summarize the state of the art in detection and identification of biological threat agents based on PCR technology with emphasis on the new technology of microarrays. The advantages and limitations of real-time PCR technology and a review of the literature as it applies to pathogen and virus detection are presented. The paper covers a number of issues related to the challenges facing biological threat agent detection technologies and identifies critical components that must be overcome for the emergence of reliable PCR-based DNA technologies as bioterrorism countermeasures and for environmental applications. The review evaluates various system components developed for an integrated DNA microchip and the potential applications of the next generation of fully automated DNA analyzers with integrated sample preparation and biosensing elements. The article also reviews promising devices and technologies that are near to being, or have been, commercialized.

Multi-purpose optical biosensors for real-time detection of bacteria, viruses and toxins

“…Conventional methods for pathogen detection rely on classical microbiological, immunological and genetic methods [2,3], which are laborious, time-consuming procedures confined to specialised laboratories with expensive read-out instrumentation. Such limitations have encouraged the development of rapid detection systems suitable for on-site monitoring.…”

“…Despite dramatic achievements in biosensing in recent years, individual techniques do not include all the desirable characteristics necessary to satisfy the most demanding criteria for point-of-care applications; this is exemplified by the relatively low number of commercially available detection systems (reviewed in [2]). Hence, alternative integrated sensing systems with high sensitivity and selectivity of detection, which are geared for portability, ease of use and low-cost, are highly sought after.…”

Genetic and OtherDNA‐Based Biosensor Applications

“…Detectors for biological warfare agents should be decentralized and networked. 54 In addition, their obligatory use in or near the area of attack requires portable systems that allow rapid, yet sensitive diagnosis. Because of sensitivity needs, many systems for biological warfare agents are based on real-time PCR.…”

Amorphous magnetoelastic sensors for the detection of biological agents

“…Based upon this, freestanding ME sensors for the detection of B. anthracis spores can be developed. These sensors are not only accurate, fast, and inexpensive but are also more sensitive and can be used in the field, unlike traditional identification methods, including plate culture, polymerase chain reaction, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays [1][2][3][4][5]. Binding of the target analyte can be achieved by immobilizing a selective and specific functional layer on the outer surface of the platform for sensor.…”