PNNL

Abstract

Capture and Concentration of Waterborne Pathogens Using Lectin and Antibody Coupled Magnetic Beads. ALENA BENNETT (University of Puget Sound, Tacoma, WA, 98416) RICHARD M. OZANICH, JR. (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA 99352). The primary challenge of the surveillance of natural and introduced biological threats in large water samples is the purification and concentration process. A method for simultaneously capturing many types of biological pathogens is desired. Lectins coupled with magnetic beads were studied due to their ability to bind to the carbohydrates on the surfaces of cells. With lectin coupled beads we attempted to trap Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, and Brevundimonas diminuta. Also E. coli antibody coupled beads were tested for their effectiveness at concentrating E. coli cells. Bench top indirect and direct cell capture methods were studied for both lectins and antibodies. The indirect method was found to be more effective for cell concentration. Experiments are underway to understand the differences in the two approaches and improve the direct capture method for implementation on an online automated system.