eNose analysis of volatile chemicals from dogs naturally infected with Leishmania infantum in Brazil.

Background: Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in Brazil is a neglected, vector-borne, tropical parasitic disease that is responsible for several thousand human deaths every year. The transmission route involves sand flies becoming infected after feeding on infected reservoir host, mainly dogs, and then transmitting the Leishmania infantum parasites while feeding on humans. A major component of the VL control effort is the identification and euthanasia of infected dogs to remove them as a source of infection.

Chemical modification and immobilisation of laccase from Trametes hirsuta and from Myceliophthora thermophila.

Laccase from two different source organisms, Myceliophthora thermophila and Trametes hirsuta, were subjected to chemical modification in solution by (i) two bifunctional reagents, ethylene-glycol-N-hydroxy succinimide (EGNHS) and glutaraldehyde and (ii) by the monofunctional citraconic anhydride. The untreated and chemically modified forms of both enzymes were then immobilised onto three different types of mesoporous silicate (MPS) particle (MCM, CNS and SBA-15). Thermal stabilities of native, modified-soluble and immobilised laccases were then evaluated.

Detection of fluoroquinolone antibiotics in milk via a labeless immunoassay based upon an alternating current impedance protocol.

This paper describes the construction of a labeless immunosensor for the antibiotic ciprofloxacin in milk and its interrogation using an ac impedance protocol. Commercial screen-printed carbon electrodes were used as the basis for the sensor. Polyaniline was electrodeposited onto the sensors and then utilized to immobilize a biotinylated antibody for ciprofloxacin using classical avidin-biotin interactions.

Discrimination of plant volatile signatures by an electronic nose: aA potential technology for plant pest and disease monitoring.

The volatile organic compounds (VOCs) profile emitted from plants often changes in response to environmental factors, and monitoring the change of such profiles could provide a nondestructive means of plant health measurement An electronic nose (e-nose) was used to discriminate among VOC bouquets emitted by cucumber, pepper, and tomato leaves subjected to mechanical damage or pest and disease attacks compared with undamaged control leaves. Principle component analysis, discriminant function analysis, and cluster analysis were applied to evaluate the data. The results indicate that the e-nose can discriminate among VOCs from undamaged leaves of the three tested species.

Label-less immunosensor assay for myelin basic protein based upon an ac impedance protocol.

This paper describes the development and characterization of a label-less immunosensor for myelin basic protein (MBP) and its interrogation using an ac impedance protocol. Commercial screen-printed carbon electrodes were used as the basis for the sensor. Polyaniline was electrodeposited onto the sensors, and this modified surface then utilized to immobilize a biotinylated antibody for MBP using a classical avidin-biotin approach.