Products and Services:
Homeland Security
The prospect of biological and chemical agents used against civilian populations, military personnel, and/or food distribution systems is a major concern in the post 9/11 era. Scientists currently rely on the use of PCR based platforms for sample analysis. Amplification of nucleic acids by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by hybridization of the target PCR-amplified product with a single stranded oligonucleotide-labled probe is one of the most widely used methods of sequence specific DNA detection. It has opened new avenues in the identification of a wide variety of pathogenic agents, often replacing the traditional laborious methods in the field of microbiology. Many detection techniques have been developed, and their sensitivities depend mainly on the specific activity of the label linked to the oligonucleotide probe. Labels that provide a radioactive, fluorescent, chemiluminescent, or colorimetric signal are the most popular. While many DNA hybridization assays are suitable for detection and identification of pathogens, faster, lower cost, easier to use, and more sensitive approaches are highly desired, especially in the case of decentralized testing of bio-threat and pathogenic agents. In this context, high temperature PCR amplification, coupled to DNA hybridization events, offers innovative solutions.
Rapid Identification of biological agents is critical to national defense. There is a significant requirement for the detection of bio-pathogens and bio-toxins in environmental and clinical samples, and a field deployable platform that will enable first-responders to rapidly and accurately identify threat agents. The U.S. government has designated over $600 million ($750M projected for 2007) in funding for Homeland Defense, including detection platforms for bio-defense (U.S. Department of Defense, press release, October 3, 2003).
Anzen Biosciences is currently working with scientists affiliated with Homeland Security to develop and evaluate new HT-PCR assays for this critical application.
