43 results about "Bioterrorism Agents" patented technology

Novel rapid, efficient sample collection systems, devices and methods are disclosed which remove and capture particles, and especially potential bioterrorism particles from surfaces into a liquid sample. The devices were developed primarily for obtaining samples of biological contamination from environmental surfaces. Biological particles, as described here, include bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms, and other particles of biological origin including nucleic acids, proteins, and toxins.

Compositions containing biologically active molecules encapsulated in self-assembling, diketopiperazine microspheres (TECHNOSPHEREs™) and methods for making and administering such compositions are described herein. The compositions can be used to immunize individuals against agents of biological warfare. The biologically active molecules include atropine, antibodies, antigens, and antibiotics. The compositions can be placed in an inhalation device for self-administration. Pulmonary delivery of TECHNOSPHERE™ encapsulated atropine, antibodies, vaccines, and antibiotics provides an accelerated onset of immunity to the targeted disease. Furthermore, the TECHNOSPHERE™ encapsulated atropine, antibodies, vaccines, and antibiotics are stable formulations, suitable for stockpiling, rapid dissemination and mass treatment.

The present invention relates to rescue agents for use in the treatments of toxin intoxication—for example botulinum intoxication, which can result from food poisoning, an act of bioterrorism, or from accidental overdose in the course of treatment. In some embodiments, the rescue agents comprise at least one of an inactive botulinum toxin and a modified nontoxic nonhemagglutinin. The present invention also provides for glycosylated active and inactive toxins and methods of using same.

The present invention relates to rescue agents for use in the treatments of toxin intoxication—for example botulinum intoxication, which can result from food poisoning, an act of bioterrorism, or from accidental overdose in the course of treatment. In some embodiments, the rescue agents comprise at least one of an inactive botulinum toxin and a modified nontoxic nonhemagglutinin. The present invention also provides for glycosylated active and inactive toxins and methods of using same.

A highly efficient method for generating human antibodies using recall technology is provided. In one aspect, human antibodies which are specific to the anthrax toxin are provided. In one aspect, human peripheral blood cells that have been pre-exposed to anthrax toxin are used in the SCID mouse model. This method results in high human antibody titers which are primarily of the IgG isotype and which contain antibodies of high specificity and affinity to desired antigens. The antibodies generated by this method can be used therapeutically and prophylactically for preventing or treating mammals exposed to anthrax. Thus, in one embodiment, a prophylactic or therapeutic agent used to counter the effects of anthrax toxin, released as a mechanism of bioterrorism, is provided. In one embodiment, a formulation and method for preventing and / or treating anthrax infection comprising a binding agent that prevents the assembly of the PA63 heptamer is also provided. Methods for diagnosis and methods to determine anthrax contamination are also described.

A novel apparatus and method is described for detection of very small quantities (a few hundred molecules) of bioparticles in nanoliter / picoliter quantities of a sample. The apparatus involves a very small and low cost apparatus that contains a fluorometer. The detection process uses the fluorescence of nanoparticles. Dielectrophoresis is used to concentrate, mix and position the target particles with regard to the light sensor such that maximum detection efficiency is achieved. This allows low cost implementation of low cost point of care tests for disease (animal and plant), infection, food-borne bacteria detection, nucleotide sequencing and pathogen detection (bioterrorism) in real world applications.

Air decontamination method and device designed for bioterrorism, nerve gas, toxic mold, small pox, Ebola, anthrax and other agents require built in air sampling, rapid filter changes and the ability to use a mobile, transportable and connectable system in positive mode to push contaminates away or in negative mode to contain a toxin from spreading. This application combines features in respirators, industrial and hospital grade air filtration with the ability to provide air testing to guide the connection of the device with other treatment modules or existing HVAC and other equipment. With this new flexibility, ozone, UV, absorption, Thermal destruction, filters and liquid chemical neutralization can be manually or automatically adapted for emergency response to both daily airborne contamination and military grade terrorist threats of airborne contamination. The air decontamination units may be used to decontaminate the air after industrial and medical contaminations and terrorist biological, chemical and radiological attacks, for example. Mobile isolation units, and methods of decontaminating rooms, are disclosed, as well as Well as infection control and emergency response usage as an emergency clean air supply when connected to escape hoods, decon tents, or containment barriers to protect structures from homes to business from outside toxic agents. The unit can be powered by normal AC, 120 volts or 240 or be adapted to battery or field power supply units.

A process and a system using a disinfecting atmosphere for deactivating Bacillus bacteria and its spores, such as Bacillus anthracis (anthrax) and C Botulinum and its spores, commonly proposed as bioterrorism threats, are described. Said disinfecting atmosphere includes ozone at a concentration of 2-350 ppm by weight and hydrogen peroxide at an amount of 0.2-10 weight percent at a relative humidity of at least 60%.

Disclosed is a method of activating γ / δ T cells to provide temporary protection against a broad spectrum of infectious biological threats to the military and support personnel and exposed persons. γ / δ T cells are activated by administration of high doses of bisphosphonates.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a transistor including: a substrate; a source electrode and a drain electrode formed being spaced apart from each other on the substrate; a nanostructure electrically contacted with and formed between the source electrode and the drain electrode; and a lipid membrane having an olfactory receptor protein which is formed to cover surfaces of the source electrode, the drain electrode, and the nanostructure. The olfactory receptor-functionalized transistor in accordance with an aspect of the present invention is useful for a bioelectronic nose which can detect odorants highly specifically with femtomolar sensitivity, and may be applied in various fields requiring the rapid detection of specific odorants, for example, anti-bioterrorism, disease diagnostics, and food safety.

Peptide nucleic acid (PNA)-deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) oligomers and methods of using the PNA-DNA oligomers to detect and / or amplify a target nucleic acid in a sample are provided. The PNA-DNA oligomers of the invention are relatively insensitive to ionic concentration and many inhibitory proteins and, consequently, are particularly advantageous for direct use in environmental or challenging samples to detect nucleic acid, especially that of microorganisms, including food and water pathogens and / or bioterrorism agents. Methods are also provided for use of the PNA-DNA oligomers in applications including polymerase chain reaction, nucleic acid sequencing, mutation detection and as nucleic acid probes.

A highly efficient method for generating human antibodies using recall technology is provided. In one aspect, human antibodies which are specific to the anthrax toxin are provided. In one aspect, human peripheral blood cells that have been pre-exposed to anthrax toxin are used in the SCID mouse model. This method results in high human antibody titers which are primarily of the IgG isotype and which contain antibodies of high specificity and affinity to desired antigens. The antibodies generated by this method can be used therapeutically and prophylactically for preventing or treating mammals exposed to anthrax. Thus, in one embodiment, a prophylactic or therapeutic agent used to counter the effects of anthrax toxin, released as a mechanism of bioterrorism, is provided. In one embodiment, a formulation and method for preventing and / or treating anthrax infection comprising a binding agent that prevents the assembly of the PA63 heptamer is also provided. Methods for diagnosis and methods to determine anthrax contamination are also described.

The present invention pertains to a molecular biology-based method and kit for measuring the specific growth rate (or cell doubling time) of distinct microbial populations. The method and kit can be used to analyze mixed culture samples that have been exposed to chloramphenicol or other protein synthesis inhibitors for defined times. In a preferred embodiment, the method of the invention (also referred to herein as FISH-RiboSyn) is an in situ method that utilizes fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with probes that target: (1) the 5′ or 3′ end of precursor 16S rRNA; or (2) the interior region of both precursor 16S rRNA and mature 16S rRNA. Images can be captured for a defined exposure time and the average fluorescent intensity for individual cells can be determined. The rate of increase of the whole cell fluorescent intensity is used to determine the specific growth rate. The method of the invention can be attractive for rapidly measuring the specific growth rate (or cell doubling time) of distinct microbial populations within a mixed culture in industries such as environmental systems (water and wastewater treatment systems), bioremediation (optimization of conditions for microbial growth), public health (identification of rapidly growing infectious microbes), and homeland security (identification of rapidly growing bioterrorism agents).

An extreme temperature decontamination composition such as a solution for destroying microorganisms, chemical warfare and bioterrorism agents is utilized that generally does not freeze at low temperatures down to about minus 25° F. and also has no significant evaporation or decomposition at temperatures up to about 120° F. The solution is effective against nerve agents and vesicants such as VX and HD, and various biological agents. The composition comprises a metallic salt of dichloroisocyanuric acid or dibromoisocyanuric acid, an aqueous solvent system comprising polar compounds such as water and an alkyl glycol, and a quasi hydrophilic compound. The composition can be formulated as a one part system wherein all components are blended together.