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在临床症状出现之前快速检测吸入性炭疽的分析工具。在初次接触抗生素后24-48小时内，这种潜在致命疾病可得到完全抑制。然而，准确的诊断只能通过昂贵的实时聚合酶链反应（PCR）检测（例如爱达荷技术公司的LightCycler）来实现，而诊所和医院并不容易获得。采用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，本应用中描述的双生物传感器将足够小，可以集成到一个手持设备中，适合医生、护士和技术人员现场、临床使用。由Lynntech， Inc.、德克萨斯A&M大学兽医学院和生物化学与生物物理系（TAMU）以及德克萨斯大学休斯顿健康科学中心医学院微生物学和分子遗传学系组成的科学联盟将确保在这项技术的设计过程中，所有症状前炭疽诊断的生化、医学和分析问题都得到适当的解决。

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.