Browse by Category
Browse by Location
Search
Tag Cloud
anthrax Strategic National Stockpile Training exercise Bioterror Biomagnetics National Research Council Homeland Security Biodefense lab Army Medical Research Institute antibiotics Emergency preparedness research Bioweapons NIAID smallpox Detection technology CDC TSA Defense Dept IAEM FEMA immunization Ebola Ricin Hendra Plague treaty West Nile Camouflage Paint Marburg antidote weapons destruction Sarin VHF viruses chemical disposal dna technology prevention Robotics Technology research grants tularemia weapons control foot and mouth disease decontamination E. coli Iraq missile defense Bio-Rescue Dengue fever Botulinum toxin antiviral molecular diagnostics Infectious diseaseSubscribe to our newsletter
RSS Feed
Deep-UV could hold key to fighting bioattacks
by Nick Rees on February 3, 2010
New deep-UV sources have been developed that can aid in the protection of human health, human life and food supplies by detecting and classifying single bacterial spores, cells and trace levels of cellular debris and dissolved chemicals.
Deep-UV sources such as UV-A and UV-B, which are compact, efficient, long lived and low power, are widely recognized as providing more sensitive and more discriminating detection than traditional violet wavelengths because of the strong fluorescence of cross sections provided from fluorescent amino acids in proteins and because they rely on intrinsic biological properties rather than growth-media residues.
Deep-UV is also less susceptible to threat-washing techniques, residual threat moisture and ambient humidity and are capable of detecting putrefied biotoxins.
Two new categories of deep-UV sources and sensors meant to combat biothreats and provide chemical attack protection utilize two miniature, narrow-linewidth gas lasers and p-n junction-free, electron-beam-pumped semiconductor sources.
Standoff sensors developed with deep-UV systems can also identify trace contamination on surfaces from biological, chemical and explosive hazards.
In demonstrated prototypes of deep-UV sensors employing intracavity detection with optical build-up of recirculating optical power, real-time, on-the-fly single-particle Raman signatures for low-volatility chemical threats was shown to be possible. A second prototype was shown to be a sensitive trigger to detect biological agents in flowing water.
More News
- Indian navy to develop NBC training facility
- Report says Iran in possession of chemical warheads
- English man pleads guilty to ricin possession
- Burbank, California purchases biodetection equipment
- Dr. Andres Braun joins TrovaGene, Inc.
- Emergency responders should be immunized against anthrax
- UPMC releases assessment of health preparedness
- Missouri National Guard receives biothreat training
- Program for international biodetection conference announced
- Teledyne receives DoD contract to aid nation's CBRN responders
Read all news