Real-time high sensitivity detection of biological agents

Lead Research Organisation: University of Leeds
Department Name: Inst of Molecular & Cellular Biology

Abstract

For security and defence purposes, for example in battlefield settings or at airports or other public buildings, it is important to be able to detect harmful biological substances such as proteins and viruses and bacteria. These types of biological agents can often be detected by using complex time-consuming tests based on antibodies. Antibodies are large proteins produced by humans and other mammals as part of their immune system to recognise invading agents such as viruses and bacteria to protect the body. They are therefore very good at recognising other molecules, but their large size and complex structure make them difficult to produce to the same quality all the time, and they are not very stable to temperature or harsh treatment. This means they are not ideal for building biosensors for long shelf life and use in a wide range of difficult environments.

Our work focuses on an area called synthetic biology, which the BBSRC defines as "Linking bioscience, engineering and computer sciences to develop rationally designed biological parts, devices and systems". We are proposing to integrate engineered biological molecules with electronic devices to provide efficient and simple methods for the sensitive detection of biological agents such as proteins, viruses and bacteria. We will generate a molecular signal amplification process which is only switched on upon successful and specific detection of the harmful biological substances.

We will produce small proteins that mimic the binding properties of antibodies, but which are simple to produce and are robust and highly stable. We will produce two of these that bind to a target protein and will link these to other biological parts including something we call a split enzyme which will only be able to reform once both the antibody-type protein bind to the target protein. This reformed enzyme will lead to an amplification of the binding signal allowing sensitive detection of the target protein. We will test how well the new device works and in future can develop biosensors that detect multiple different target proteins.

Technical Summary

Biosensor devices for defence and security applications must meet a number of specific requirements including multiplex detection, ease of use and low power usage. In addition it is important that such devices display high selectivity and sensitivity. This synthetic biology application integrates biomolecular engineering with electronic detection to develop proof-of-concept biosensors capable of high sensitivity detection of target molecules. The targets indicated by defence related industry as testbeds of such technology are the protein ovalbumin, the bacteriophage MS2 and the bacterial spores of Bacillus globigii. In this study we will focus upon ovalbumin. We will screen phage display antibody-mimetic libraries based on small stable scaffold proteins. Two binders with distinct non-overlapping epitopes will be identified by sequencing and SPR. We will use a split galactose oxidase (GO) to provide a redox enzyme system with each parts linked to one of the two binding proteins. The enzyme will only reform a functional enzyme upon binding of ovalbumin by both binding proteins resulting in an amplification of the binding signal by allowing multiple turnover of substrate galactose. For each catalytic cycle two electrons will be transferred to the electrode surface via a mediator. This redox detection system is based upon the well established amperometric approach used for glucose oxidase sensors. The binding protein/split enzyme components will then be immobilised onto the electrode surface and the response of the electrode to various concentrations of ovalbumin in solution measured to assess the sensitivity of the biosensor. We will also test the system under conditions that introduce contaminants to determine the selectivity of the system. There are many future applications including multiplexing options for development of such biosensors which can be built with many thousands of individually addressable electrodes per square centimetre.

Planned Impact

The outputs of this project potentially impact not only on defense and security application but also on a wide and diverse range of other applications including clinical diagnostics, regenerative medicine, environmental monitoring, forensics, as well as research tools. Consequently it has relevance for a range of beneficiaries.
Potential stakeholders include:
1) Public sector organisations including Ministry of Defense; Home Office; Environment Agency/DEFRA; Department of Health; NHS.
2) Business/industry including Ministry of Defense suppliers; Forensic services; Diagnostics companies; Pharmaceutical/Biotech companies; Water companies; Research equipment companies;
3) Third Sector - including overseas agencies, voluntary organisations and charities in developing countries.
4) General public.
5) Academia/Research organizations.
The above stakeholders are likely to benefit as follows:

Security: This project directly addresses a specific defence capability issue, that of detection of biological warfare agents in theatre or security-sensitive civilian settings with high specificity and sensitivity. The three main criteria for biosensor performance in biological warfare and security applications are multiplexed detection, low power consumption, and ease-of-use. The output of this project will be a proof-of-concept device which delivers these requirements. This will enable improved identification of biohazards with positive implications for homeland security, defense and the safety of the general public both in the UK and overseas.

Healthcare Benefits: The emergence of personalised and stratified medicine with their inherent requirement for sophisticated diagnostics, together, ideally, with the transfer of clinical testing to point-of-care including rapid access to primary care services, are putting increasing pressure on current diagnostics services. These would benefit from more accessible and more accurate health monitoring and diagnostics tests. Furthermore, highly sensitive diagnostics tests will support the identification of new disease biomarkers, discovery of new drugs and development of targeted treatments and more rapid patient profiling. For the Department of Health/NHS this will lead to improved and more cost-effective healthcare service. The general public will benefit through early diagnosis and hence increased chances of full recovery, as well as easier access to diagnostics tool. Also, indirectly through improved and targeted drugs.

Environmental Benefits: The availability of low-cost, easy-to-use, and highly sensitive biosensors for environmental monitoring will enable better and more frequent testing, and will, for example, enable early detection compounds in the environment which pose a direct risk to human health. This is also of particular benefit to the third-world where contaminated water poses a great risk to human health. Organisations such as Environment Agency/DEFRA will benefit from being able to make informed decisions regarding environmental risk and consequently in the formulation and implementation of environmental policy.

Commercial and Economic: Obvious commercial/economic beneficiaries from this research are suppliers of the Ministry of Defense and Security Services. Furthermore, clinical diagnostics companies will benefit from the novel technology that will enable the development of low-cost, highly sensitive and specific disease test kits which can be disposable, easy to use and applicable at point of care. This has the potential to expand significantly the current clinical diagnostics market even to over-the-counter diagnostics.

Third World Overseas agencies, voluntary organisations, charities and populations in developing countries have the potential to benefit from affordable test kits for disease and water quality monitoring and analysis.
 
Description We have worked with the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory that are part of the Ministry of Defence to develop novel reagents that can be used to identify biological warfare agents.
Exploitation Route Potentially for the development of biosensor devices that use alternative binding proteins as the sensor component.
Sectors Aerospace

Defence and Marine

Agriculture

Food and Drink

Chemicals

Electronics

Environment

Healthcare

Manufacturing

including Industrial Biotechology

Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology

Security and Diplomacy

 
Description The findings on screens against TNT and derivatives demonstrating exquisite discrimination at the molecular level has been published as part of a research publication with co-authors from the DSTL. The work conducted during this grant has led to a three year project funded by the DSTL.
First Year Of Impact 2015
Sector Aerospace, Defence and Marine
Impact Types Policy & public services

 
Description Defence Science Technology Laboratory funding
Amount £611,325 (GBP)
Organisation Defence Science & Technology Laboratory (DSTL) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 02/2015 
End 01/2018
 
Title Adhiron technology 
Description Adhiron, also sometimes known commercially as Affimer type 2, represents a small highly stable class of artificial binding proteins configured as a high quality phage display library that allows screening for the isolation of binding reagents against a range of biological and non-biological target molecules. 
Type Of Material Technology assay or reagent 
Year Produced 2012 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact Patent application. License agreement between the University of Leeds and Avacta Life Sciences. 
URL http://www.pharmahub.leeds.ac.uk/research-priorities/targeted-molecular-delivery/targeted-molecular-...
 
Description Detection of biological and chemical agents 
Organisation Defence Science & Technology Laboratory (DSTL)
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution Developing novel detection systems against chemical agents based on the use of our Adhiron libraries for selection of highly specific bioreceptor molecules for use in biosensors
Collaborator Contribution Providing analytical data on interactions between reagents and analytes
Impact No public outcome yet
Start Year 2013
 
Description Adhirons and development of biosensors for security applications 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach local
Primary Audience Participants in your research or patient groups
Results and Impact Seminar at Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, Porton Down, August 2013

no actual impacts realised to date
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013
 
Description Discovery Zone for schools 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact Display and active participation in practical relating to DNA as part of the Faculty of Biological Sciences Discovery Zone held over two days during the Festival of Science week
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2012,2013,2014,2015,2016
URL http://www.fbs.leeds.ac.uk/outreach/schools/lfos.php
 
Description Discovery zone 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact Around 250 school students attended a Discovery Zone event organised by the Faculty of Biological Sciences. The pupils were able to engage in a variety of practical activities and ask questions. Feedback from schools was very positive.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017