Biohazard neutralization based on lipid technology

A rapid detection and neutralization method for biowarfare agents would be a great biodefense in war times. With this purpose, liposomes were developed following the lipid film formation, rehydration, and extrusion procedure as the production method. MgOCl2 was encapsulated in the liposomes and it was tested with three different bacterium B. cereus; B. thuringiensis; and B. subtilis. For specificity, the liposomes were modified with a polyclonal antibody against B. cereus and B. subtilis. The liposomes were characterized using a Malvern Zetasizer Instrument, and the study revealed stability of the liposomes stored at 4°C for a period of 15 days. A live/dead assay revealed a significant reduction of bacterium incubated with MgOCl2-liposomes. Smaller reduction percentages, but yet significant, were observed with the MgOCl2-immunoliposomes. A colony growth assay revealed a significant reduction percentage for empty liposomes, MgOCl2-liposomes, and MgOCl2-immunoliposomes incubated with B. thuringiensis.

A gold sol particle immunoassay for measurement of von willebrand factor using the CA-6000 analyzer

The diagnosis of Von Willebrand's disease (VWD) may sometimes be difficult because of the variability of the results obtained over time in individuals. Moreover, blood group, age, pregnancy and inflammatory stimuli influence the level of Von Willebrand Factor (VWF). The purpose of this thesis was to screen and characterize antibodies to Von Willebrand factor and to evaluate the most promising ones in a gold- Sol assay for VWF on the CA-6000 analyzer. Seven different lots of Anti-VWF antibodies, 3 polyclonal and 4 monoclonal Ab's were screened and evaluated. Two of these antibodies (Sunol R01358 and MAVWF-AP) were selected for preparation of a Gold coated antibody solution. The preliminary testing of these gold coated antibodies on CA-6000 Analyzer showed no immunoreactivity toward VWF for both individual and pooled plasma (from normal healthy donors). Although measurement of VWF for normal plasma with this technique was not demonstrated, these data will be valuable for future work on the design of sensitive and accurate automated sol Gold Immunoassays for the diagnosis of VWD.