Method for the surveillance for biological, chemical and radiological agents

• US 7,745,115 B2
• Filed: 04/01/2004
• Issued: 06/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: New York University
• Original Assignee: New York University
• Inventors: Saxena, Deepak, Caufield, Page W., Alfano, Michael C.
• Primary Examiner(s): BAUSCH, SARAE L
• Application Number:
  US10/817,102
• Publication Number:
  US 20100136586A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,280 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 435/5
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/00 Sampling; Preparing specimens for investigation
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/021 Correlating sampling sites with geographical information, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/022 sampling for security purposes, e.g. contraband, warfare agents

Abstract

Provided is a method of surveillance for hazardous materials, e.g., chemical, biological and radiological agents. The method comprises assaying a sample derived from materials collected from a sample domain for the presence of a chemical, biological, or radiological agent. The sample domain comprises at least one collection point from which the materials are collected in a pre-existing operation unrelated to surveillance.

Claims

1. A method of surveillance for the presence of a biological agent, which method comprises:

assaying a sample derived from street debris materials collected from a sample domain for the presence of a biological agent comprising the steps of;

(a) treating the sample to reduce the concentration of bacteria that are preferentially bioencapsulated by Tetrahymena pyriformis relative to the bioencapsulation of Bacillus anthracis,

(b) introducing Tetrahymena pyriformis to the sample, and

(c) assaying for Bacillus anthracis;

wherein the sample domain is a route undertaken by a street sweeper machine through a city street and comprises at least one collection point from which the materials are collected from a city street in a pre-existing operation, otherwise unrelated to surveillance.

2. A method of surveillance for the presence of a biological agent, which method comprises:

(a) treating a sample derived from street debris materials collected from a sample domain to reduce the concentration of bacteria that are preferentially bioencapsulated by Tetrahymena pyriformis relative to the bioencapsulation of Bacillus thuringiensis, and

(b) assaying the sample domain for the presence of a biological agent;

wherein the sample domain is a route undertaken by a street sweeper machine through a city street and comprises at least one collection point from which the materials are collected from a city street in a pre-existing operation, otherwise unrelated to surveillance, wherein the sample is assayed for Bacillus thuringiensis.

3. A method of detecting the presence of biological agent which comprises:

(a) obtaining at least one sample from a collection of street debris that has been exposed to the environment and is collected from a street sweeper machine that follows a pre-defined, traceable route unrelated to surveillance and continuously collects the street debris from an open environment along the pre-defined route;

(b) treating the sample to reduce the concentration of bacteria that are preferentially bioencapsulated by Tetrahymena pyriformis relative to the bioencapsulation of a Bacillus spore;

(c) introducing Tetrahymena pyriformis to the sample and assaying the sample for the presence of the Bacillus spore;

(d) determining a result based on the assay; and

(e) report the result.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the Bacillus spore is Bacillus anthracis.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the Bacillus spore is Bacillus thuringiensis.