Sensors for Wide-Area Evaluation of Live/Dead Biowarfare Pathogens

The development of a rapid physiology-based detection and viability evaluation platform for applications in biowarfare defense is proposed. The platform is intended to provide analysis of environmental samples within minutes of capture, and provide near real time data on the log-kill of the pathogen during and after decontamination efforts. The mature platform will be a fully hardened portable unit capable of rapid analysis under harsh conditions, require minimally trained personnel without access to laboratory facilities, and able to analyze multiple pathogens simultaneously. The platform is based on the correlation of specific dielectric responses of a given environmental sample to a matrix of defined media. Detection is based on stimuli of species-specific physiologic responses, and so is able to directly determine pathogen viability. The detection technology employs newly developed dielectric measurement methods which greatly improve detection sensitivity while significantly reducing cost and complexity of the system, as well as greatly simplifying demands on sample preparation and handling. The detection component is adaptable to most sample handling formats, including micro-arrays and flow cytometric systems. It is capable of being integrated into orthogonal detection platforms for enhanced specificity and sensitivity, as well as being configured for a wide range of applications and conditions.