title: Electrochemical biosensor for detecting DNA sequences from the pathogenic protozoan Cryptosporidium parvum.
abstract: An electrochemical hybridization biosensor was developed for the detection of short DNA fragments specific to the deadly waterborne pathogen Cryptosporidium. The sensor relies on the immobilization of a 38-mer oligonucleotide unique to the Cryptosporidium DNA onto the carbon-paste transducer, and employs a highly sensitive chronopotentiometric transduction mode for monitoring the hybridization event. Variables of the probe-immobilization, hybridization and indicator-detection steps are optimized to offer convenient quantitation of ng ml(-1) levels of the Cryptosporidium DNA target, in connection with short (3-15 min) hybridization times. The suitability for direct detection of the spiked Cryptosporidium DNA target in untreated drinking and river water samples is demonstrated. Similar performance characteristics are observed at DNA-coated microfabricated thick-film carbon strips. This and similar developments hold great promise for field screening of Cryptosporidium and other microorganisms in environmental samples.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM 88003, USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rivas
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Parrado
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: M N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Flair