8/1/02

Mitch Emmons,334/844-5964

AU RESEARCHER DEVELOPS FASTER, MORE SENSITIVE BIOSENSOR

AUBURN -- An Auburn University chemist has developed a new DNA sensor technology that is faster than the currently used methods, and is sensitive at the single-molecule level.

Current methods generally require that the protein be amplified using a technique called PCR, says Curtis Shannon, an associate professor in the Department of Chemistry and the developer of the AU technology. This is a time-consuming process that does not offer the precision achieved with the AU technology, he says.

"Our technology actually involves creating a chemical sensor capable of sensing the formation of individual DNA duplexes on the basis of their size using atomic force microscopy," Shannon says.

Atomic force microscopy, or AFM, is a sensing technology long used in computer microchip manufacturing, Shannon said. It is a surface scanning process through which a tiny sensor probe scans the surface of the microchip to detect imperfections or defects.

"We took AFM and married it to our chemistry," Shannon said. "The result that we achieved is a sensor that can selectively and directly detect chemical binding of individual molecules."

This ability, says Shannon, opens a broad field of potential applications for the technology. It is already being integrated into biosensor research conducted by the AU Detection and Food Safety Center , of which Shannon is a contributing member.

AUDFS, an Peak of Excellence, is developing a systems approach to foodborne pathogen detection using biosensors that will be placed in food and food packaging. These biosensors will monitor food products throughout the supply chain to prevent the spread of Salmonella, E. coli and other illness-causing contaminants.

Shannon's research has other applications in the realms of cancer research, forensics and other fields that require ultra-sensitive and accurate molecular analysis.

AU is seeking to commercially license the technology.

Meanwhile, Shannon says that he is proceeding with using the chemistry to study various enzymes and other proteins.

"We have shown that it works with DNA," he said. "But it is a very flexible technology that can be used to detect any type of molecular binding event."

aug02:AU-dna

CONTACT:Shannon, 334/844-6964.