Aptasensor construction for detection of environmental pathogens and contaminants

环境生物检测产品公司(EBPI)是一家位于安大略省密西索加的加拿大生物技术公司，专门开发生物检测试剂盒，用于检测水中的细菌污染和评估环境样品中化学污染的毒性。在这项NSERC Engage应用中，EBPI将与Guelph大学曼德维尔博士的实验室合作，开发一种基于DNA的荧光检测设备，用于检测水中的蓝藻污染。微囊藻毒素(MCs)是一类对环境和人类健康都有危害的蓝藻肝毒素。已经开发出一种单链DNA(适配子)，它与最丰富和最有毒的MC同系物(称为MC-LR)特异结合，结合亲和力在50纳摩尔范围内(检测适配子称为AN6)。该项目的目标是将AN6转化为一种荧光装置(APTASSENER)，可以在符合或低于世界卫生组织(WHO)允许每日摄入量(0.5ug/L)的监管指南的水样中检测MC-LR。为了在MC-LR与AN6结合时获得可检测的荧光信号，提出了两个适配传感器平台，并将其应用于AN6。这些研究的结果将在概念验证设备中实施，以演示功能。然后，EBPI和曼德维尔博士的实验室将着手开发一条商业上可用的产品线，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.