Ohio University’s Chemistry and Biochemistry Colloquium Series presents Dr. Joseph D. Kittle on “The Science of Two Commercial Antibody-based Technology Products” on Monday, Sept. 28, at 4:10 p.m. in Clippinger 194.
Dr. Joseph Kittle
Kittle is Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Ohio University and founder of Molecular Technologies Laboratories LLC.
Abstract: A Universal (Cellular) Biosensor and Electronic Device for Rapid Food Pathogen Detection: The PathOne Food Pathogen System—Antibodies can exhibit exquisite selectivity and affinity to targeted biomolecules. Contemporary food pathogen detection systems use a combination of selective culture of bacteria recovered from food samples and a follow-on detection/identification system that may include Polymerase Chain Reaction detection or standard antibody based methods such as ELISA or lateral flow tests. Such tests may take longer than one day to perform. We have developed a system that contains living mammalian cells engineered to identify pathogens and release a burst of photons. This system makes use of an engineered receptor complex that triggers cellular signaling pathways and the resulting release of calcium from endoplasmic reticulum of the cell activates instantaneous light release from the protein Aequorin, also present in the cell. The entire biosensor detection event takes place in a disposable plastic “lab on a chip,” read by a custom-engineered portable electronic device. We will discuss how the system components work together to, rapidly (~ 5 min) and sensitively detect target pathogens. We will also discuss the universal programming of this system using commercially available antibodies.
A Novel Therapeutic Antibody for Broad Spectrum Treatment of Persistent Bacterial Infections—The second project describes the development of a novel therapeutic antibody targeting bacterial biofilms found in persistent infection. These bacterial biofilms are built by the bacteria to protect and anchor the pathogen in the human host and lead to bacterial drug resistance and high degree of morbidity and mortality. We report on progress in the development of an effective treatment of persistent infections where the biofilm is disrupted by use of a novel antibody approach. The biology of bacterial biofilms, the role of extracellular DNA and DNAB2 proteins (IHF and HU) are described. Murine antibodies that remove DNAB2 proteins from the biofilms are capable of dissolving barrier. A path to a human therapeutic is discussed.
Comments