The R.A.P.I.D. System – Rapid Response in Detection of Biological Agents

Taleski, Vaso and Hafield, Ted (2006) The R.A.P.I.D. System – Rapid Response in Detection of Biological Agents. In: V Kongres medicinske mikrobiologije 5th Congress of Medical Microbiology, Micromed 2006, 21-24 June 2006, Belgrade, Serbia.

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Abstract

Biological agents (BA) today present the greatest danger of all weapons of mass destruction. A belief that terrorist organizations, groups or individuals, or state sponsored
armies, will use this type of weapon, has never been greater, especially after the intentional distribution of anthrax spores through the USA mail delivery system. Different problems during initial stages of biological attack arising from variety and number of clinical and environmental samples, costs, preparedness and capability, challenged the medical systems and the societies. Rapid response to BA attack depends on rapid identification of BA. Molecular diagnostic methods based on, in vitro, DNA amplification known as PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) are promising tools in fast and specific detection and identification of BA.
The R.A.P.I.D. system, is a 32 sample capacity, portable, automated, instrument that integrates Idaho Technology's LightCycler® into impact resistant package which allows field identification of pathogens quickly. Monitoring the fluorescence from the double-stranded DNA dye SYBR® Green or from TaqMan® probes (6-FAM-oligo-TAMRA,), allows inexpensive quantification of low initial template copy number. Cycle sequencing reactions done in the thermocycling module of the R.A.P.I.D. system are faster, cleaner and more readable than parallel reactions done in a conventional heat block cycler. The use of air as the cycling medium ensures temperature uniformity and rapid heat exchange with the sample loaded in thin micro-capillary tubes, which are ideally suited to temperature cycling, because of their extremely high surface area to volume ratio. A conventional PCR protocol takes up-to 3 hours to do 30 three-temperature cycles. The R.A.P.I.D. system can complete a 40-cycle reaction in less than 20 minutes. Over 50 assays are developed for infectious agents on the R.A.P.I.D. system. Protocols for isolation of bacteria and viral DNA (or RNA) have been developed for clinical specimens, air samples and water samples. Protocols for food samples are being developed now. Assays in use for: Bacillus anthracis, Yersinia pestis, botulinum toxin, staphylococcal enterotoxins, Francisella tularensis, Salmonella, Shigella, Vibrio cholerae, E. coli, Campylobacter, VEE, West Nile, Yellow Fever, Brucella spp., and many others.
The effective use of numerous R.A.P.I.D. systems in recently anthrax testing in USA, and continuing efforts and advances in testing design proved this capability an valuable asset for Army Commanders and civilian Medical facilities.

Item Type: Conference or Workshop Item (Lecture)
Subjects: Medical and Health Sciences > Health sciences
Medical and Health Sciences > Other medical sciences
Divisions: Faculty of Medical Science
Depositing User: Vaso Taleski
Date Deposited: 06 Feb 2014 08:43
Last Modified: 06 Feb 2014 08:43
URI: https://eprints.ugd.edu.mk/id/eprint/5441

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