A review of molecular recognition technologies for detection of biologicalthreat agents

The present review summarizes the state of the art in molecular recognition of biowarfare agents and other pathogens and emphasizes the advantages of using particular types of reagents for a given target (e.g. detection of ba cteria using antibodies versus nucleic acid probes). It is difficult to dra w firm conclusions as to type of biorecognition molecule to use for a given analyte. However, the detection method and reagents are generally target-d riven and the user must decide on what level (genetic versus phenotypic) th e detection should be performed. In general, nucleic acid-based detection i s more specific and sensitive than immunological-based detection, while the latter is faster and more robust. This review also points out the challeng es faced by military and civilian defense components in the rapid and accur ate detection and identification of harmful agents in the held. Although ne w and improved sensors will continue to be developed, the more crucial need in any biosensor may be the molecular recognition component (e.g, antibody , aptamer, enzyme, nucleic acid, receptor, etc.). Improvements in the affin ity, specificity and mass production of the molecular recognition component s may ultimately dictate the success or failure of detection technologies i n both a technical and commercial sense. Achieving the ultimate goal of giv ing the individual soldier on the battlefield or civilian responders to an urban biological attack or epidemic, a miniature, sensitive and accurate bi osensor may depend as much on molecular biology and molecular engineering a s on hardware engineering. Fortunately, as this review illustrates, a great deal of scientific attention has and is currently being given to the area of molecular recognition components. Highly sensitive and specific detectio n of pathogenic bacteria and viruses has increased with the proliferation o f nucleic acid and immune-based detection technologies. If recent scientifi c progress is a fair indicator, the future promises remarkable new developm ents in molecular recognition elements for use in biosensors with a vast ar ray of applications. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.