We have developed novel Bio-Plex assays for simultaneous detection ofBacillus anthracis, Yersinia pestis, Brucella spp., Francisella tularensis,andBurkholderia pseudomallei. Universal primers were used to amplify highly conserved region located within the 16S rRNA amplicon, followed by hybridized to pathogen-specific probes for identification of these five organisms. The other assay is based on multiplex PCR to simultaneously amplify five species-specific pathogen identification-targeted regions unique to individual pathogen. Both of the two arrays are validated to be flexible and sensitive for simultaneous detection of bioterrorism bacteria. However, universal primer PCR-based array could not identifyBacillus anthracis, Yersinia pestis,andBrucella spp.at the species level because of the high conservation of 16S rDNA of the same genus. The two suspension arrays can be utilized to detectBacillus anthracissterne spore andYersinia pestisEV76 from mimic “write powder” samples, they also proved that the suspension array system will be valuable tools for diagnosis of bacterial biothreat agents in environmental samples.
Development of a multiple-antigen protein fusion vaccine candidate that confers protection against Bacillus anthracis and Yersinia pestis
