Jellyfish Fight Terrorists

Biochemists and Engineers Create Fast-Acting Pathogen Sensor

September 1, 2008

Engineers invented a device to bring air samples into contact with genetically engineered biosensors in the effort to detect dangerous biological agents. The technology uses multiple collections of altered cell antibodies, each collection designed to respond to a specific pathogen by releasing photons of a unique wavelength upon finding it. Detectors measure the photons' wavelengths and interpret the pathogens they represent.

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WHAT IS PANTHER? The PANTHER device uses immune cells altered to act as detectors of dangerous biological agents. The device takes in air, runs it past the cells, which are gathered into groups, each designed to react to specific agent. The cells, which are engineered to respond to a specific pathogen, release photons of light when they detect their target. Other detectors recognize the release of light to indicate the pathogen that was detected. Based on the wavelengths of light that were released, the device outputs a list of dangerous pathogens that were found, about three minutes after beginning the test.

This report has also been produced thanks to a generous grant from the Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation, Inc.

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To Go Inside This Science:
James Harper, Ph.D.
MIT Lincoln Laboratory
Lexington MA
Phone: 781-981-0794
harper@ll.mit.edu

Dr. Todd H. Rider
MIT Lincoln Laboratory,
Lexington, MA
Phone: (781) 981-0559
thor@ll.mit.edu