MTU Researchers Study New Methods for Sensing Biological Agents
By Ember Sullivan
HOUGHTON, MI--Biomedical engineers at Michigan Tech are studying new
ways to detect toxins, viruses, and pathogens in the body.
A team headed by Dr. Sheila Grant and Dr. Orhan Soykan is studying both
antibody- and receptor-based sensors. The sensors use Fluorescence Resonance
Energy Transfer (FRET), or a pair of fluorescent dyes that use a distance
dependent method. In a distance dependant method, Grant explained, if
the FRET dye pairs are separate from each other, then there is no energy
transfer. But if the FRET pair is brought close together, energy transfer
occurs and a fluorescent signal is obtained.
Grant first became involved in chemical and biological sensor research
while working at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory from 1994 to 1998.
She said that sensing research such as this has a practical bent to it.
It can be applied to any biological agent that uses two or more receptors
to infect a cell, such as influenza viruses and HIV.
"The sensors can be used as a monitoring device for AIDS patients," said
Grant. "In addition, they can be used as immunosensors, or antibody-based
sensors. Immunosensors, an antibody labeled with a FRET dye pair, will
elicit a structural change when it binds to an antigen, or foreign protein."
"This technique has the potential to replace the methods currently used
to detect antigens in the body," said Grant.
Fluorescent sensors, because of their potential to more readily detect
foreign substances, could also be used for checking our water supply for
harmful pathogens and to provide protection against biological warfare
attacks.
Funding for antibody-based sensor research is provided by an industrial
partner specializing in medical devices. Receptor-based sensor research
was sponsored by the State of Michigan Research Excellence Fund (REF).
###
For more information, contact Sheila Grant at 906-487-1729 or via email:
sagrant@mtu.edu
12/18/00-MTN401