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Abstract

Grant Number:	2R44AI049596-02A1
PI Name:	WHITAKER, TOM J.
PI Email:	whitaker@atom-sci.com
PI Title:
Project Title:	Inexpensive Genetic Detection of Infectious Organisms

Abstract: DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The aim of the research project is to develop a very inexpensive and rapid capacitance measurement technique that can be used as a diagnostic test to identify specific infectious organisms, their resistance to antimicrobial drugs, and their pathogenicity in a clinical setting. The goal is to make the cost so low that managed health organizations would encourage its use to identify pathogens and their resistance to antibiotics, thus greatly reducing the prescription of antibiotics in cases where they are ineffective, and consequently reducing one source of development of antimicrobial resistant strains of bacteria. The proposed diagnostic is based upon capacitance detection of DNA hybridization to probes on an array. In Phase I, we have demonstrated the technique works using both oligonucleotide and peptide nucleic acid (PNA) probes on coated gold insulators. We have also systematically explored the probe attachment and hybridization chemistry and their relationship to the stability of capacitance measurements on the array. In Phase II, we will continue to improve the chemistry and measurement hardware. We will also develop prototype arrays to detect some of the common pathogens encountered in a clinical setting.

Thesaurus Terms:
communicable disease diagnosis, diagnosis design /evaluation, electrical conductance, gene expression, genetic screening, microorganism genetics, technology /technique development
dielectric property, drug resistance, fusion gene, microarray technology, nucleic acid hybridization, oligonucleotide, peptide nucleic acid

Institution:	ATOM SCIENCES, INC.
	114 RIDGEWAY CTR
	OAK RIDGE, TN 37830
Fiscal Year:	2003
Department:
Project Start:	01-AUG-2001
Project End:	30-JUN-2005
ICD:	NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES
IRG:	ZRG1

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