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RAPID PCR OF BACILLUS ANTHRACIS DNA

Award Information

Agency:
Department of Health and Human Services 		Branch:
N/A 		Award ID:
60507 		Program Year/Program:
2002 / SBIR
Agency Tracking Number:
AI052936 		Solicitation Year:
N/A 		Solicitation Topic Code:
N/A 		Solicitation Number:
N/A
Small Business Information
Megabase Research Products
4711 Huntington Ave., Suite 2W Lincoln, NE 68504
View profile »
Woman-Owned: Yes
Minority-Owned: No
HUBZone-Owned: No
 
Phase 1
Fiscal Year: 2002
Title: RAPID PCR OF BACILLUS ANTHRACIS DNA
Agency: HHS
Contract: 1R43AI052936-01
Award Amount: $98,330.00
 

Abstract:

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Anthrax or Woolsorter's Disease is a zoonotic infection caused by Bacillus anthracis. During the peak of the 'anthrax letter scare of 2001', the US Army Medical Research Institute for Infectious Diseases was testing over 2000 samples per day. At the present time, nearly all anthrax testing at USAMRIID relies on microbiological methods, which require one to two days to carry out. Much faster and more informative diagnosis is possible using PCR-based methods; in particular using new machines designed for high-speed amplification of DNA fragments 100 to 500 base pairs long. The fastest PCR machine employed to date is a pressurized He/CO2 gas thermocycler with digitally programmable electronic valves. Using this gas burst device, a 368 b.p. DNA fragment from B. anthracis Sterne (vaccine) strain was amplified 108-fold through 30 PCR cycles in <4 minutes. Even faster (1.5 to 3.0 minute) PCR-amplification of B. anthracis plasmid-encoded virulence factors (pag, lef, cya, capA, capC) is possible using shorter (151 -288 b.p.) amplicons and/or fewer (20-25) PCR cycles. The present experiments seek to improve the ease-of-use of this high performance He/CO2 gas thermocycler, for deployment at USAMRIID within the next year.

Principal Investigator:

Nisha V. Padhye
4024676499
NPADHYE@CVIENZYMES.COM

Business Contact:

R. Nelson
4024676499
MNELSON@CVIENZYMES.COM
Small Business Information at Submission:

MEGABASE RESEARCH PRODUCTS
MEGABASE RESEARCH PRODUCTS 2820 N 48TH ST, STE 110 LINCOLN, NE 68504

EIN/Tax ID: 470755195
DUNS: N/A
Number of Employees: N/A
Woman-Owned: No
Minority-Owned: No
HUBZone-Owned: No