Anthrax Detection Prior to Clinical Presentation

描述（由申请人提供）：本文提出的技术描述了一种用于在临床症状出现之前快速检测吸入性炭疽的分析工具。 这种潜在的致命疾病可以在初次接触后24-48小时内给予抗生素的人中完全抑制。 然而，准确的诊断只能使用昂贵的实时聚合酶链反应（PCR）测定（例如，来自爱达荷州技术公司的LightCycler）这些都是诊所和医院无法轻易获得的。 在免疫化学表面等离子体共振（SPR）装置和安培免疫传感器（AIMS）电极组件的形式中，本申请中描述的双生物传感器将足够小以结合到适合于医生、护士和技术人员现场临床使用的手持装置中。 由Lynntech公司组成的科学联盟，德克萨斯A&M大学（TAMU）兽医学院和生物化学与生物物理系以及德克萨斯大学休斯顿健康科学中心医学院的微生物学与分子遗传学系将确保在该技术的设计过程中适当解决症状前炭疽诊断的所有生物化学、医学和分析问题。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The technology proposed herein describes an analytical tool for the rapid detection of inhalation anthrax prior to the onset of clinical symptoms. This potentially lethal disease can be fully suppressed in those who are administered antibiotics within 24-48 hours after initial exposure. However, accurate diagnosis can only be achieved using expensive, real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays (e.g., the LightCycler from Idaho Technology, Inc.) that are not readily available to clinics and hospitals. In the form of an immunochemical Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) device and an Amperometric IMmunoSensor (AIMS) electrode assembly, the dual biosensor described in this application will be small enough to incorporate into a handheld device suitable for on-site, clinical use by physicians, nurses, and technicians. The scientific consortium comprised of Lynntech, Inc., the College of Veterinary Medicine and Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics at Texas A&M University (TAMU), and the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics at the University of Texas-Houston Health Science Center Medical School will ensure that all biochemical, medical, and analytical issues of presymptomatic anthrax diagnosis are suitably addressed during the design of this technology.