Authors: Cannons, Andrew C., Harwood, Valerie J.
Publishing: Water Environment Research Foundation
Published: 2004
Rapid detection of waterborne pathogens, such as bacteria and protozoa, is essential for the timely treatment of contaminated water. This project investigates two methods for detecting the pathogens Cryptosporidium parvum and Helicobacter pylori: the Analyte 2000™ biosensor (a fiber-optic biosensor developed to detect chemicals), and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Both technologies employ recognition of specific DNA sequences in the target organisms. Although the team successfully created protocols for detecting H. pylori via real-time PCR, they did encounter difficulty proving the feasibility of the Analyte 2000™ biosensor for pathogen detection. The report documents their attempts at using this biosensor to measure DNA:DNA interactions. Published by WERF.
