A Portable Non-invasive Detection/Identification System for Biological Pathogens

We propose to develop a non-invasive, portable fluorescence-based detection system that will be capable of detecting and identifying biological pathogens commonly found in air, water, food, blood or even tissue that has been solublized in water. The innovativeness of this proposal involves the development of peptide ligands, using phage display technology, that specifically interact with different bacteria and/or viruses. The ligands will be covalently affixed to a chip that is inserted into the detection system. The Center for Biophysical Sciences and Engineering (CBSE) at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, previously developed phage display peptide ligands that attach to specific spore strains of Bacillus anthracis and Bacillus subtilis. A laboratory fluorescence-based detection system identified the individual type and strain of spore. Our system will provide a tool for monitoring crew health and environment on long distance space flights (ISS). This proposal addresses SBIR subtopic: 11.01, Commercial Microgravity Research-¿Portable Biological Sensors- The need for sensing devices that can detect and identify biological pathogens (airborne or in vivo) is desired to support NASA¿s mission for a permanent presence of man in space¿. Our system will be useful to monitor the crew and the vehicle environment for biological pathogens.