Optoelectronic Biosensor Using Modified B Cells for Pathogen Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current detectors for biological and chemical agents are not sufficiently small, fast, or sensitive to monitor environments effectively for extended periods, lacking the ability to quickly alert for specific agents under battlefield or clinical conditions, and are inefficient in detecting antibiotic-resistant bacteria or pathogens in food and water supplies.
Innovation Solution
Development of optoelectronic sensors using modified B cells that express aequorin and antibodies on their surface, which emit light when antigens bind, allowing for rapid detection of pathogens through photon emission measurement with a photon-counting sensor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional detectors are used for biological and chemical agents, then detection capability is provided, but the detectors are not sufficiently small, fast, or sensitive for extended period monitoring
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional mechanical/optical detection systems with a biological sensing system. B cells with surface antibodies serve as biological sensors that naturally bind to target antigens, eliminating the need for complex mechanical detection apparatus. The detection mechanism is substituted from physical measurement to biological recognition followed by optical signal detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The B cell platform provides universal detection capability for multiple different biological agents through the use of different antibody specificities on the same cell type. A single B cell line can be engineered to express various antibodies against different pathogens, making the system multi-functional and adaptable to detect diverse targets without requiring different detector designs.
2Speed
If conventional detectors are used, then detection is provided, but they cannot rapidly alert for specific agents under battlefield or clinical conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The B cells perform self-detection by using their own surface antibodies to bind target antigens and their own intracellular signaling pathways to generate the detection signal. The calcium ion influx and subsequent aequorin activation are self-contained processes within the cell, eliminating the need for external reagents or complex sample preparation steps, thereby achieving rapid detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The B cells remain in a continuous state of surveillance with antibodies on their surface ready to bind antigens. The intracellular calcium signaling pathway and aequorin emission system are continuously prepared and activated immediately upon antigen binding, providing continuous detection capability without interruption or repeated setup steps.
3Reliability
If antibody-based detection is used, then specific binding to antigens is achieved, but the detection system requires complex cellular components and signaling pathways
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and utilizes only the essential functional components of the B cell system: surface antibodies for specific binding and the aequorin calcium-sensing pathway for signal generation. Non-essential cellular components are minimized or removed, focusing on the core detection mechanism while maintaining antibody-specific binding reliability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables rapid and sensitive detection of pathogens, including as few as 50 cfu of bacteria or viruses, with improved speed and sensitivity compared to existing methods, suitable for military, clinical, and environmental monitoring applications.
Implementation Method 1
The cells also contain emitter molecules (e.g., aequorin or indo-1) in their cytosol which can emit photons in response to the signaling pathway (e.g., increased calcium concentration in the cytosol)
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention described herein provides methods for the detection of target particles, such as pathogens, soluble antigens, nucleic acids, toxins, chemicals, plant pathogens, blood borne pathogens, bacteria, viruses and the like. Also described is an emittor cell comprising a receptor, wherein the receptor can be an antibody or an Fc receptor, and an emittor molecule for the detection of a target particle in a sample wherein the target particle to be detected is bound by one or more receptors on the emittor cell. Also provided are optoelectronic sensor devices for detecting a target particle in a sample, including in a plurality of samples.