Aptasensor construction for detection of environmental pathogens and contaminants

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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.