Biosensor for Nerve Agents and Pesticides
UC San Diego researchers have developed a ligand sensing fluorescent enzyme assay for detecting, quantifying, and evaluating hazardous organophosphate pesticide and nerve agent exposure. The technology utilizes fluorescently labeled mutants of the acetylcholinesterase enzyme (AChE) that exhibit fluoresence wavelength shifts upon ligand binding. The assay does not require reagent addition, can distinguish between organophosphates, and can be used in conjunction with laser, microarray, and capillary electrophoretic techniques for rapid detection of organophosphate conjugated AChE.
Patent Number: US8642273B2
Application Number: US2003469731A
Inventor: Taylor, Palmer | Radic, Zoran | Shi, Jianxin | Boyd, Aileen
Priority Date: 16 Apr 2002
Priority Number: US8642273B2
Application Date: 1 Dec 2004
Publication Date: 4 Feb 2014
IPC Current: C12N000918
US Class: 4350071 | 43500792 | 435020 | 435174 | 435197
Assignee Applicant: The Regents of the University of California
Title: Ligand sensing fluorescent acetylcholinesterase for detection of organophosphate activity
Usefulness: Ligand sensing fluorescent acetylcholinesterase for detection of organophosphate activity
Summary: The method is particularly used to detect nerve toxins, specifically organophosphates (including chemical warfare agents e.g., sarin) and insecticides, in biological or environmental samples.
Novelty: In vitro identification of binding partners for acetylcholine esterase, useful for detecting e.g. chemical warfare agents and insecticides, comprises measuring accumulation of conjugate formed
Biomedical
Medical Composition
8642273
State Of Development Several fluorescently labeled mutants of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) have been developed to detect the accumulation of organophosphates, insecticides and nerve agents, such as soman, sarin, cyclosarin, VX, tabun, and other materials used for chemical warfare purposes with high sensitivity. Other Information Patent Info: US patent application No. 20050089926 “Ligand Sensing Fluorescent Acetylcholinesterase for Detection of Organophosphate Activity” Related Cases: Background Organophosphorus and organothiophosphosphorus compounds are used extensively in insecticides, and are highly toxic to many organisms including humans. Insecticide residues are found in soil and groundwater, and the detection of these residues is important for their elimination from the environment and to protect the health of both humans and animals. Organophosphorus compounds are also used in nerve agents, such as soman, sarin, cyclosarin, VX, and tabun, for chemical warfare purposes. These agents are some of the most toxic man made poisons and are potent inhibitors of the enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE). Applications and Advantages Advantages: Related Materials Tech ID/UC Case 19558/2002-159-0 Related Cases 2002-159-0
Rapid analysis of toxic materials in the areas of food and water analysis, environmental monitoring, and in industrial settings is a problem that continues to exist and is currently addressed by time-consuming, expensive methods or by inadequate techniques.
The method is rapid, sensitive, near real-time, automatable and can differentiate different organophosphates. The detection device can be designed to be economical, small in size, portable and suited for remote sensing.
Applications:
Detection and monitoring of
• organophosphate insecticide contamination in food and water analysis, environmental, and industrial settings
• chemical warfare/terrorism organophosphate agents
USA
