Open AccessA C. elegans-based foam for rapid on-site detection of residual live virus.
Author(s) -
Oscar Negrete,
Catherine Branda,
Jasper O. E. Hardesty,
Mark Tucker,
Julia N. Kaiser,
Carol L. Kozina,
Gabriela S. Chirica
Publication year - 2012
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Reports
DOI - 10.2172/1035339
Subject(s) - residual risk , homeland security , replication (statistics) , residual , sampling (signal processing) , biochemical engineering , computer science , virus , human decontamination , environmental science , risk analysis (engineering) , computer security , biology , engineering , reliability engineering , waste management , business , virology , telecommunications , law , algorithm , detector , political science , terrorism
In the response to and recovery from a critical homeland security event involving deliberate or accidental release of biological agents, initial decontamination efforts are necessarily followed by tests for the presence of residual live virus or bacteria. Such 'clearance sampling' should be rapid and accurate, to inform decision makers as they take appropriate action to ensure the safety of the public and of operational personnel. However, the current protocol for clearance sampling is extremely time-intensive and costly, and requires significant amounts of laboratory space and capacity. Detection of residual live virus is particularly problematic and time-consuming, as it requires evaluation of replication potential within a eukaryotic host such as chicken embryos. The intention of this project was to develop a new method for clearance sampling, by leveraging Sandia's expertise in the biological and material sciences in order to create a C. elegans-based foam that could be applied directly to the entire contaminated area for quick and accurate detection of any and all residual live virus by means of a fluorescent signal. Such a novel technology for rapid, on-site detection of live virus would greatly interest the DHS, DoD, and EPA, and hold broad commercial potential, especially with regard to the transportation industry