BIODETECTION
©Dr. William Max Nelson
©Neeraja Venkateswaran
Field portable real-time PCR device T-COR 8™ can go from lab to field seamlessly. ©Neeraja Venkateswaran
Above: Traditional microbiological culture methods for detection and confirmation of bacterial contaminants are labour and time-intensive. These are now being replaced by rapid immunological and molecular technologies. ©Neeraja Venkateswaran
Above: Be prepared! Poster announcing a talk at Bell Labs in March 1999 by a founder of Tetracore, Inc, Dr. William Max Nelson – who has been actively engaged in the development of field-portable technologies for detection of biothreat agents. Above: Multiplex assay using optically coded magnetic beads. These have unique spectral addresses for detection of antibody responses to multiple flaviviruses in an exposed serum sample, using Luminex xMAP technology. Right: Laboratory-based immunoassays using antibody reagents can be used for high-throughput testing. a) Antibody structure b) ELISA plate c) Sandwich immunoassay on fluorescent bead for detection of biothreat agents.
orthogonal detection and diagnostic measures are critical for a wholesome biodefence programme. Accurate detection and monitoring enable the development of a robust response to save lives and property cost effectively.
Tools and technologies
Rapid detection of BTA entails testing for agent-related specific protein markers, toxins, nucleic acids and metabolites in various test formats, devices, and sensors. Orthogonal detection for BTA means the analysis of a suspected sample using cross-over methodologies, where the test analytes are independent of each other and also highly co-related to provide a definitive result. This kind of independently verified testing provides high
©Neeraja Venkateswaran
confidence in either the positive or negative detection in any high-consequence situation.
Explaining biological sensors
In simple terms, a biological sensor is a device that may identify a signal or changes in a signal from the interaction of the BTA CBNW 2020/01 59