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SUMMARY:CELL-BASED BIOSENSORS IN THE 21ST CENTURY: BACK TO THE BASICS OR A
  QUANTUM LEAP FOR BIOTECHNOLOGY? - Prof. Spiridon KINTZIOS\, Faculty of Ag
 ricultural Biotechnology\, Agricultular University of Athens\, Greece and 
 EMBIO Diagnostics\, Nicosia\, Cyprus
DTSTART:20080807T133000Z
DTEND:20080807T143000Z
UID:TALK13079@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Dr Thanos Mitrelias
DESCRIPTION:	In recent years there has been a rapid increase in the number
  of diagnostic applications based on biosensors\, including live\, intact 
 cells\, tissues\, organs or whole organisms. Cell-based biosensors represe
 nt the next revolution in medical diagnostics\, offering a number of signi
 ficant advantages\, such as high speed\, portability and low cost. The pre
 sent review focuses on the most successful technologies used for the detec
 tion of ultra-low concentrations of bioactive analytes (such as metabolic 
 markers and pathogens) in clinical and other samples. In similar fashion t
 o DNA and protein microarrays\, which deliver multiplex detection via the 
 high-density spatial arrangement of molecular recognition elements\, array
 s of cells at high-density can form the basis of cell-based sensors with e
 xtremely high-throughput capability. The expression of receptors of intere
 st within these arrays could yield cell-based sensors with defined specifi
 cities. In addition\, transfected cell microarrays (such as the CANARY sys
 tem) composed of high-density arrays of mammalian cells expressing de-fine
 d genes\, could be the basis for future high-throughput cell-based protein
  sensing platforms. \n	The artificial insertion of receptor-like molecules
  in the cell membrane is an attractive alternative to cell transformation 
 with genes expressing membrane-bound antibodies. This generic approach is 
 called Molecular Identification through Membrane Engineering (MIME). Inter
 action of MIME cells with target analytes can trigger changes to the cell 
 membrane potential that are measured by appropriate microelectrodes\, acco
 rding to the principle of the Bioelectric Recognition Assay (BERA). BERA i
 s a biosensory method based on a unique combination of a group of cells\, 
 whose immobilization in the matrix preserves their physiological functions
  and measures the expression of the cell interaction with target molecules
 \, through the change in electrical properties. In this way\, when a posit
 ive sample is added to the probe\, a characteristic\, ‘signature-like’
  change in electrical potential occurs upon contact between the target mol
 ecule and the gel matrix. BERA has been used for the detection of a pletho
 ra of analytes in humans\, animals\, plants and agricultural/food commodit
 ies in a remarkably specific\, rapid (1-2 minutes)\, reproducible and cost
 -efficient fashion. The sensitivity of the virus detection with BERA is eq
 ual or even better than with advanced immunological\, cytological and mole
 cular techniques\, such as the reverse transcription polymerase chain reac
 tion (RT-PCR). The BERA biosensor diagnostic system is currently available
  as a desktop\, laboratory-scale prototype that can be operated by both ex
 pert and lay users. The commercialization process of the device includes e
 ngineering for a more compact\, stand-alone unit. The system comprises a c
 onsumable miniature biosensor (with integrated circuitry\, an immobilizati
 on matrix and virus-specifically responding cells)\, a data acquisition sy
 stem and a PC (desktop or laptop). One of the major advantages of BERA is 
 the extended storability of the disposable sensors\, which is also documen
 ted by other research groups. So far\, more than 100\,000 sensors have bee
 n used for screening worldwide. \n	Further advances in microfluidic cell c
 ircuits (like HuREL®) and the development of generic methods for the spec
 ific detection  of target analytes\, like CANARY and BERA\, along with an 
 increasing investment in automated equipment and  user-friendly software\,
  pave the way for the final destination of cell biosensors: the diagnostic
  laboratory.\n
LOCATION:Mott Seminar Room\, Cavendish Laboratory
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