Spore detector 'could spot anthrax attack'

October 26, 2002

http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99992968

24 October 02

A prototype device designed to prevent early warning of an anthrax attack

has been developed by a NASA team. The device constantly sucks in air

samples and will sound an alarm in response to a sudden increase in

bacterial spores.

" This allows constant unattended monitoring - just like a smoke detector,

but for spores, " says Ponce at the Jet Propulsion Lab in Pasadena,

California.

A background level of spores are likely to be present in most locations, but

sounding the alarm only if the level rises should prevent false alarms, he

says: " You wouldn't expect to have a rapid increase in a spore count unless

someone had deliberately released them. "

The detectors could be installed in mail sorting offices or public

buildings, Ponce says. Although the system could not pinpoint a particular

letter contaminated with anthrax, it could provide a warning before the

letter left the sorting depot.

" The detection time would be fast enough to shut down a mail sorting machine

and stop that letter being sent on to the White House, " he told New

Scientist. Technicians would then be called in to use conventional methods

to check for the presence of the anthrax bacterium.

JPL has now agreed a partnership with Universal Detection Technology in Los

Angeles to create a commercially available version of the anthrax detector,

which could be on sale within about six months. The likely cost of the

device is not yet known.

Simulated attack

Ponce and Lester at Baylor University, Texas, tested the device

using harmless Bacillus subtilis spores. These spores were aerosolised, to

simulate an anthrax attack.

Spores captured in the air samples were suspended in a solution and 'popped'

open with microwaves. The microwave bombardment released a chemical called

dipicolinic acid, which is unique to bacterial spores, including anthrax.

The dipicolinic acid immediately reacted with a chemical sensor in the

solution, triggering a green luminescence, which corresponded to the

concentration of spores in the sample. When changes in luminescence revealed

a sudden increase in the spore count, an alarm sounded.

The whole process takes about 15 minutes. But this would be fast enough to

help prevent widespread contamination, the team argues.

" Then you could provide treatment, and exposed people would be fine. Anthrax

is most dangerous when you inhale it without realising and do not start

treatment before symptoms appear, " Ponce says. Other teams are attempting to

create automatic anthrax sensors based on replicating bacterial samples

using the standard polymerase chain reaction (PCR). But this sensitive

technique can be easily shut down if contaminated with pollutants, says

Ponce.

Emma Young

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Spore detector 'could spot anthrax attack'

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