Piezoelectric Immunosensor for Diagnosis of TB

We will develop a rapid method for the diagnosis of tuberculosis. A piezoelectric biosensoremploying antibodies to soluble mycobacterial antigens will be used to detect these specific antigensand/or whole mycobacteria. Detection of mycobacterial antigens in a liquid phase will allow thediagnosis of mycobacterial infection in biological fluids such as sputum, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid,cerebral spinal fluid and synovial fluid. Ultimately, gas or vapor phase detection of mycobacterialantigens by a piezo-immunosensor would allow rapid diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis by detectionof mycobacterial antigens in expired human breath. The feasibility of this novel approach to thediagnosis of tuberculosis will be tested using monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies to specificmycobacterial antigens. The antibodies will be coupled to gold electrodes on AT-cut 9 MHz quartzcrystals. The resulting piezoelectric- immunosensor will be tested for its ability to detect mycobacterialantigens in culture supernatants and in solutions of antigen vaporized by a nebulizer.