Antibody-based systems for the detection of bacillus anthracis in environmental samples

There is a necessity for rapid immunodiagnostic techniques for the detection and identification of Bacillus anthracis in environmental specimens. The technology available for accomplishing this ranges in complexity from a simple dipstick type assay to complex biosensors. We have developed antigen capture dipstick assays for a series of infectious agents including an assay for B. anthracis protective antigen and one for B. anthracis spores. These immunochromatographic assays use colloidal gold to visualize the reaction and take approximately 15 min to perform. We will also describe our current effort in the development of two antigen detection biosensors and discuss the sensitivity and specificity of the assays in environmental specimens.