US Government As Represented by the Secretary of the Army

University System of Maryland

Leidos, Inc.

Jennifer W Sekowski

Peter Kofinas

Omar Bilal Ayyub

Ta-I Yang

Amanda E Chambers

Harold S Wylie

Phillip M Mach

Trevor G Glaros

Elizabeth S Dhummakupt

John M Nilles

Linda H Malkas

Robert J Hickey

Kelley D Betts

The pocket detection platform (PDP) detects pathogens, toxins and chemicals of interest simultaneously by way of a multi-channeled, soft see-through plastic pouch design that consists of inner and outer compartments that promote compartmentalization and/or unidirectional sample flow. The platform enables the concurrent running of multiple detection assay techniques such as lateral flow immunoassays (LFI), Isothermal molecular assays (i.e., Recombinase Polymerase Amplification, or RPA) and/or paper-based chemical assays (i.e., M8, pH paper) from a single wet or dry sample with minimal sample processing. The PDP reduces soldier overburden by decreasing size weight, and power (SWaP) as well as training time, electronic burden, while providing a flexible, customizable assay platform that can be rapidly produced, assembled, sustained, and when contaminated, easily to dispose of.

Pocket detection pouch

An apparatus and method to capture aerosols and vapors on substrates from a large variety of sources and matrices for analysis using paper spray mass spectrometry (PS-MS) is disclosed. A holder for a PS cartridge has better direct sampling efficiency, direct capture on substrate, and lower limits of detection thereby improving the collection and analysis of aerosols and vapors. An apparatus and method for aerosol and vapor collection, from both anthropogenic and environmental sources, for example, that is compact and compatible with hand held devices and unmanned vehicles is also disclosed.

Direct capture and analysis of aerosols and vapors by paper spray mass spectrometry

A sensor system, and a method of detecting a target analyte, comprises a chemically functionalized block copolymer, and a target analyte. The block copolymer exhibits a color change in the visible spectrum upon exposure to the target analyte.

Color changing polymer films for detecting chemical and biological targets

The various embodiments provide method of using hair follicle bulbs as biodosimeters for the detection of chemical exposure. The methods described herein utilize intact, plucked hair follicle bulbs and can be used to monitor real-time or near real-time changes in the levels of specific follicular bulb biomarkers to determine exposure to toxicants. By utilizing the living, responsive cells in the plucked hair follicle bulb in an immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis, the various embodiments mitigate the risks of false positives associated with segmental hair analysis and avoid the more invasive collection required for serum and urinalysis.

Hair follicle bulb as a biodosimeter

Immunohistochemistry method for intact plucked hair follicles

Mercuric ion is cytotoxic and mutagenic to cells. However, the mechanisms of mercuric ion-induced cytotoxicity are not well understood. Studies have suggested that these effects may be due in part to the alteration and inhibition of a variety of cellular processes including DNA replication, DNA repair, RNA transcription, and protein synthesis. However, prior art studies utilizing whole cells, cell extracts, or purified DNA polymerases to examine these activities are not able to specifically identify the precise mechanism or site of the effect or adequately represent the highly ordered environment in which DNA replication occurs in the intact cell. We disclose a novel method for measuring the activity and fidelity of DNA replication using the complex of proteins called the DNA synthesome, an isolated multiprotein form of DNA polymerase. The DNA synthesome is a highly organized complex of proteins capable of supporting all phases of SV 40 origin-specific DNA replication in vitro. The assay and kit described herein can be used both to examine the mechanism of cytotoxicity and mutagenicity and to identify compounds that alter the activity and fidelity of the DNA synthetic apparatus such as heavy metal ion, particularly mercuric ion. The assay and kit can be used to rapidly screen compounds for toxic activity.

Assay for measuring the activity and fidelity of DNA replication and kit

Growing community of inventors

Forest Hill, MD, United States of America

Jennifer W Sekowski