Sensors
AssigneeBangor University
InventorsChris David Gwenin, Jennifer Helen Halliwell
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a sensor for detecting the presence of a botulinum neurotoxin in a sample, the sensor comprising: (a) an electrically conductive substrate coated with at least one SNAP-25, VAMP or syntaxin protein; and (b) a detection arrangement adapted to enable the detection of the cleavage of at least one SNAP-25, VAMP or syntaxin protein by the botulinum neurotoxin. The invention also relates to methods of making a sensor, methods of detecting and a detection kit for botulinum neurotoxin.
Claims14
A composition for detecting the presence of a botulinum neurotoxin in a sample, the composition comprising:
- a colloid formed from:
- (a) a salt solution;
- (b) charged particles suspended in the salt solution;
- and
- (c) a cleavable coating on the charged particles,
- wherein the cleavable coating comprises at least one SNAP-25, VAMP or syntaxin protein;
- wherein the composition has a first color when the cleavable coating is present on the charged particles suspended in the salt solution;
- and
- wherein the composition has a second color when the coating is cleaved.
A method of producing a sensor for detecting the presence of botulinum neurotoxin in a sample, the method comprising:
- (a) coating an electrically conductive substrate with a colloid formed from:
- a salt solution,
- charged particles suspended in the salt solution, and
- a cleavable coating on the charged particles,
- wherein the cleavable coating comprises at least one SNAP-25, VAMP or syntaxin protein,
- wherein the composition has a first color when the cleavable coating is present on the charged particles suspended in the salt solution, and
- wherein the composition has a second color when the coating is cleaved;
- (b) providing a vessel in which the coating can be placed in contact with the sample and optionally other reagents;
- and
- (c) providing a detection arrangement adapted to enable the detection of botulinum neurotoxin driven SNAP-25, VAMP or syntaxin cleavage events.
A detection kit for detecting the presence of a botulinum neurotoxin in a sample, the kit comprising:
- (i) a colloid formed from:
- (a) a salt solution;
- (b) charged particles suspended in the salt solution;
- and
- (c) a cleavable coating on the charged particles,
- wherein the cleavable coating comprises at least one SNAP-25, VAMP or syntaxin protein;
- wherein the composition has a first color when the cleavable coating is present on the charged particles suspended in the salt solution;
- and
- wherein the composition has a second color when the coating is cleaved;
- and
- (ii) a color scale for assessing a visual color profile of a mixture of the salt solution and the sample between 525-670 nm.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.