We created a serial dilution of unsonicated Bg spores ranging in concentration from 10, With the goal of reducing the reagent consumption, and therefore cost, of a pathogen detection system, we used the spore-forming bacteria Bacillus globigii (Bg) as a surrogate for the pathogen Bacillus anthracis (anthrax) to determine the lowest amplifiable volume and lowest concentration of amplified sonicated and unsonicated Bg spores that would still be detectable using capillary electrophoresis. The major cost of such a pathogen detection system is the large volume of reagents it must expend.
In the post 9/11 world the threat of bioterrorism attacks in public venues has ignited a demand to develop a cost effective autonomous pathogen detection system capable of detecting the multitude of biological agents that can pose a threat to public safety.
