title: A novel nanoprobe for the sensitive detection of Francisella tularensis.
abstract: Francisella tularensis is a human zoonotic pathogen and the causative agent of tularemia, a severe infectious disease. Given the extreme infectivity of F. tularensis and its potential to be used as a biological warfare agent, a fast and sensitive detection method is highly desirable. Herein, we construct a novel detection platform composed of two units: (1) Magnetic beads conjugated with multiple capturing antibodies against F. tularensis for its simple and rapid separation and (2) Genetically-engineered apoferritin protein constructs conjugated with multiple quantum dots and a detection antibody against F. tularensis for the amplification of signal. We demonstrate a 10-fold increase in the sensitivity relative to traditional lateral flow devices that utilize enzyme-based detection methods. We ultimately envision the use of our novel nanoprobe detection platform in future applications that require the highly-sensitive on-site detection of high-risk pathogens.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bionano Technology, Graduate School, Hanyang University, Seoul 133-791, South Korea.
authors.forename: Ji-eun
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Bionano Technology, Graduate School, Hanyang University, Seoul 133-791, South Korea.
authors.forename: Youngmin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.affiliation: Department of Bionano Technology, Graduate School, Hanyang University, Seoul 133-791, South Korea.
authors.forename: Yoon
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.affiliation: Center for Biomaterials, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul 136-791, South Korea.
authors.forename: Mintai P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.affiliation: Department of Bionano Technology, Graduate School, Hanyang University, Seoul 133-791, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jangsun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.affiliation: Department of Bionano Technology, Graduate School, Hanyang University, Seoul 133-791, South Korea; Department of Bionano Engineering, Hanyang University ERICA, Ansan 426-791, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jaebum
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Choo
authors.affiliation: Department of Bionano Technology, Graduate School, Hanyang University, Seoul 133-791, South Korea; Department of Bionano Engineering, Hanyang University ERICA, Ansan 426-791, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jong Wook
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.affiliation: Division of High-risk Pathogen Research, Center for Infectious Disease, Korea National Institute of Health, Cheongju 363-951, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jun Ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Jeon
authors.affiliation: Division of High-risk Pathogen Research, Center for Infectious Disease, Korea National Institute of Health, Cheongju 363-951, South Korea.
authors.forename: Gi-eun
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Rhie
authors.affiliation: Department of Bionano Technology, Graduate School, Hanyang University, Seoul 133-791, South Korea; Department of Bionano Engineering, Hanyang University ERICA, Ansan 426-791, South Korea. Electronic address: jonghchoi@hanyang.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Jonghoon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Choi
mesh_terms: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D001052:Apoferritins / Q000737:chemistry; D001694:Biological Warfare; D015374:Biosensing Techniques; D004867:Equipment Design; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D005604:Francisella tularensis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008280:Magnetics; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry*; D010316:Particle Size; D045663:Quantum Dots
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D001052:Apoferritins
keywords: Apoferritin; Biosensing; Francisella tularensis; Immunoassay; Nanoprobes