Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Rupa Iyer

Motivation

A biosensor is a device that detects, records, and transmits information regarding a physiological change or the presence of various chemical or biological materials in the environment. They can detect and measure concentrations of specific bacteria or hazardous chemicals; they can measure acidity levels (pH). In short, biosensors can use bacteria, and detect them, too. Organophosphorous (OP) neurotoxins comprise a unique class of contaminants and chemical warfare (CW) agents that generally show low environmental persistence but have acute and wide range biological activities. The ability to discriminate between classes of OP neurotoxins is critical for the management of the impact of super toxicants because of large number of different pesticides and chemical warfare agents in this class and their varying degree of neurotoxicity. The pesticide degrading soil bacterium pseudomonas dimunita will be used as a model to study biosensors. A plasmid encoded gene in this bacterium is responsible for degradation of pesticides, namely organophosphorous compounds (OP) and is activated only by the presence of these pesticides in the soil, thus providing a unique method of detection of pesticides.

Project Description

Under the guidance of Dr. Iyer and a graduate student, students will:

1. Conduct a literature review of the OP system to understand its relevance in biosensors
2. Study different properties and types of biosensors
3. Understand its relevance in biosecurity

Undergraduate Opportunities

The students will understand a logical progression of a life cycle of a typical biotechnology product, starting with isolation and characterization of microorganisms, use of a microorganism to produce a product, and an application of the product involving nanobiotechnolgy, and applications in environmental biotechnology, bioenergy and biosecurity. The global impacts of organophosphorous pesticides and their impact not only on insects but also on all vertebrates increase the impact and usefulness of the materials. The topic of environmental biotechnology and bioprocessing is also timely, considering the energy crisis and threats of bioterrorism in recent years.