Review of methods used for identification of biothreat agents in environmental protection and human health aspects

Abstract

Modern threats of bioterrorism force the need to develop methods for rapid and accurate identification of dangerous biological agents. Currently, there are many types of methods used in this field of studies that are based on immunological or genetic techniques, or constitute a combination of both methods (immuno-genetic). There are also methods that have been developed on the basis of physical and chemical properties of the analytes. Each group of these analytical assays can be further divided into conventional methods (e.g. simple antigen-antibody reactions, classical PCR, real-time PCR), and modern technologies (e.g. microarray technology, aptamers, phosphors, etc.). Nanodiagnostics constitute another group of methods that utilize the objects at a nanoscale (below 100 nm). There are also integrated and automated diagnostic systems, which combine different methods and allow simultaneous sampling, extraction of genetic material and detection and identification of the analyte using genetic, as well as immunological techniques.

Electrochemical biosensors for pathogen detection

“…However, while pathogens found in environmental monitoring applications are often native and endogenous agents, pathogens found in biological defense and bio-threat applications are often exogenous agents, which may have been weaponized and intentionally dispersed. For example, pathogen-based bio-threat situations typically involve the overt or covert introduction of an exogenous pathogen into either the food or water supply or environments which with humans closely interact (Cirino et al 2004;Mirski et al 2014;Shah and Wilkins, 2003).…”

Nanomaterial-based sensors for the detection of biological threat agents

“…For the curious reader, several outstanding resources provide substantially more information on historical and clinical aspects of bioagents [1,2,122]. We also note several excellent reviews on current and emerging detection methods for bioagents [2,20,25,41,119,[123][124][125], as well as methods specific to the detection of pathogens in food [112,113,126].…”

Comparative analysis of the sensitivity of metagenomic sequencing and PCR to detect a biowarfare simulant (Bacillus atrophaeus) in soil samples

“…(reviewed in [2]). Immunological tests have been improved for the detection of infectious diseases, drugs, toxins and pollutants [4]. A number of assays are similar to the classic sandwich assay based on the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).…”