Detecting staphylococcal enterotoxin B using an automated fiber optic biosensor

• Published in: Biosensors & bioelectronics Vol. 14; no. 2; pp. 163 - 170
• Main Authors: King, Keeley D., Anderson, George P., Bullock, Karen E., Regina, Meredith J., Saaski, Elric W., Ligler, Frances S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lausanne Elsevier B.V 01.02.1999; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Adsorption; Bioassay; Biological and medical sciences; Biosensing Techniques; Biosensors; Biotechnology; enterotoxin B; Enterotoxins - analysis; Fiber optic biosensor; Fiber Optic Technology; fiber optics; Fluoroimmunoassay; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Immunoassay; Immunosensors; Methods. Procedures. Technologies; Optical Fibers; Polystyrene; Polystyrenes; SEB; Staphylococcus; Staphylococcus aureus - pathogenicity; Toxic materials; Toxicity; Various methods and equipments; Immunoassay; SEB; Polystyrene; Fiber optic biosensor; Performance evaluation; Automation; Interference; Immunosensor; Immunological method; Portable; Biosensor; Enterotoxin; Bacteria; Micrococcales; Styrene polymer; Micrococcaceae; Detection; Biological contamination; Staphylococcus aureus; Optical fiber
• ISSN: 0956-5663; 1873-4235
• DOI: 10.1016/S0956-5663(98)00108-0

The Man-portable Analyte Identification System (MANTIS), the first fully automated, self-contained, portable fiber optic biosensor, was utilized for the detection of Staphylococcal Enterotoxin B (SEB), a bacterial toxin produced by Staphylococcus aureus that commonly causes food poisoning. Because of its remarkable toxicity and stability, SEB is considered a prime threat as a biological weapon of mass destruction. The assay for SEB was used to evaluate the MANTIS' ability to function in the presence of various environmental interferents. The sensor could reliably detect SEB spiked into liquid samples containing a variety of smoke particles. However, substantial interference occurred when SEB was mixed into matrices capable of adsorbing SEB, such as 1% solutions of clay, topsoil, or pollen. Of equal importance, none of the interferents produced false positives in the MANTIS. The MANTIS demonstrated the capability to perform simultaneous immunoassays rapidly in the field with little or no user intervention.