Aptasensor construction for detection of environmental pathogens and contaminants

环境生物检测产品公司（EBPI）是一家加拿大生物技术公司，位于安大略的密西索加，专门开发用于检测水中细菌污染和评估环境样品中化学污染毒性的生物检测试剂盒。在这项NSERC Engage应用中，EBPI将与圭尔夫大学Manderville博士实验室合作，开发一种基于DNA的荧光检测设备，用于水的蓝藻污染。微囊藻毒素（Microcystins，MCs）是一类对环境和人类健康具有危害的蓝藻肝毒素。已经开发了一种单链DNA（适体），其以50纳摩尔范围内的结合亲和力特异性结合最丰富和毒性最大的MC同源物（称为MC-LR）（检测适体称为AN 6）。该项目的目标是将AN 6转化为荧光装置（适体传感器），能够检测出处于或低于世界卫生组织（世卫组织）每日可耐受摄入量（0.5微克/升）监管准则的水样中的MC-LR。提出了两种适体传感器平台，其将应用于AN 6，以便在MC-LR结合AN 6时实现可检测的荧光信号。这些研究的结果将在概念验证器械中实施，以证明功能。然后，EBPI与Manderville博士的实验室将着手开发一条商用产品线，用于检测不同化学成分的水样中的MC-LR。

Environmental Bio-Detection Products Inc. (EBPI) is a Canadian biotechnology company located in Mississauga, Ontario, which specializes in the development of biological testing kits for detection of bacterial contamination in water and assessment of toxicity from chemical pollution in environmental samples. In this NSERC Engage application, EBPI, with the cooperation of Dr. Manderville's laboratory at the University of Guelph, will develop a DNA-based fluorescent detection device for cyanobacteria contamination of water. Microcystins (MCs) are a class of cyanobacterial hepatoxins that are environmental and human health hazards. A single-strand of DNA (aptamer) has been developed that binds specifically to the most abundant and toxic MC congener (referred to MC-LR) with a binding affinity in the 50 nanomolar range (detection aptamer called AN6). The goal of this project is to convert AN6 into a fluorescent device (aptasensor) that can detect MC-LR in water samples at or below the regulatory guidelines of the world health organization (WHO) tolerable daily intake (0.5 ug/L). Two aptasensor platforms are proposed that will be applied to AN6 in order to achieve a detectable fluorescent signal when MC-LR binds to AN6. The results of these studies will be implemented in a proof-of-concept device to demonstrate functionality. EBPI with Dr. Manderville's laboratory will then embark on the development of a commercially available product line for MC-LR detection in water samples of varying chemistry.