SENSITIVE AND RAPID IDENTIFICATION OF BIOLOGICAL THREAT AGENTS

Authors: HIGGINS, JAMES; IBRAHIM, M - US ARMY FT DETRICK MD; KNAUERT, F - US ARMY FT DETRICK MD; LUDWIG, G - US ARMY FT DETRICK MD; KIJEK, T - US ARMY FT DETRICK MD; EZZELL, J - US ARMY FT DETRICK MD; COURTNEY, B - US ARMY FT DETRICK MD

Submitted to: New York Academy of Sciences
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/12/1999
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: The actions of organizations such as the Aum Shinrykio Cult's nerve gas attack in Tokyo several years ago, as well as domestic outbreaks of gastrointestinal disease in the US caused by the Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh Cult, indicate that the nation is vulnerable to terrorist attacks on food and agricultural commodities. This Symposium Proceedings paper discusses recent advances in rapid detection methods for a variety of potential biological warfare and/or terrorism agents, and suggests how they may be used in conjunction with US responses to such incidents in the future.

Technical Abstract: The accurate and sensitive detection of threat agents is a vital component of any response to an incident of bioterrorism. Newer generations of immunologic and nucleic acid-based assays for the identification of pathogenic microorganisms and toxins are being investigated at the Diagnostic Systems Division, USAMRIID. These include electrochemiluminescent (ECL) antibody-mediated detection protocols, and "real time", fluorogenic probe-based PCR assays. Data is presented on the use of these protocols for the detection of anthrax, Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus, and staphylococcal enterotoxin B, in experimentally infected clinical samples and food items. The development of portable, field-use instrumentation for these assays is discussed, as is the feasibility of rapid diagnostics technology transfer to the public health and agricultural safety sectors.