Fluorescent virus probes for identification of bacteria

• US 20040191859A1
• Filed: 03/24/2003
• Published: 09/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Echo Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Echo Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Qian, Xiaohua, Tabacco, Mary Beth, Russo, Jaimie
• Granted Patent: US 8,206,946 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/69.1
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/6825 Nucleic acid detection involving sensors
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 2565/501 being an array of oligonucleotides

Abstract

Bacteria in fluid systems are identified by using a fluorescently labeled virus as a molecular recognition element for bacteria. The virus, or bacteriophage, are optically encoded with fluorescent reporter molecules to allow detection and quantitation of the phage and the host/phage complex. Biosensors are provided in which the molecular recognition element is immobilized on a substrate.

Claims

1. A biosensor for detecting bacteria comprising:

a molecular recognition element which indicates the presence of a phage/host complex; and

means for detecting the presence of the phage/host complex.

2. The biosensor according to claim 1 wherein the molecular recognition element is a fluorescently labeled bacteriophage.

3. The biosensor according to claim 1 further comprising an optoelectronic interface and a data acquisition system.

4. The biosensor according to claim 1 wherein the optical substrate is a quartz window, an optical fiber, an optical waveguide glass, a sol-gel, or a polymeric film.

5. The biosensor according to claim 1 wherein the molecular recognition element is immobilized on a substrate.

6. The biosensor according to claim 5 wherein the molecular recognition element is immobilized on a substrate selected from the group consisting of agarose, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, dextran, gelatin, polyvinylalcohol and polylysine.

7. A method for detecting the presence of bacteria comprising:

contacting a sample with a molecular recognition element which indicates the presence of a phage/host complex; and

detecting the presence of host/phage complexes.

8. The method according to claim 7 wherein the molecular recognition element is a fluorescently labeled bacteriophage.

9. The method according to claim 7 wherein the host/phage complexes are monitored by wavelength-specific fluorescence spectroscopy.

10. The method according to claim 7 wherein the molecular recognition element is part of a flow cell.

11. The method according to claim 10 wherein the flow cell is placed in line of a flowing fluid.

12. The method according to claim 7 wherein the molecular recognition element is immobiolized.

13. The method according to claim 12 wherein the molecular recognition element is immobilized on a substrate selected from the group consisting of agarose, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, dextran, gelatin, polyvinyl alcohol, and polylysine.