Method for detection of buried explosives using a biosensor
AssigneeLockheed Martin Energy Research Corporation
InventorsRobert S. Burlage, David R. Patek, Kirk R. Everman
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Abstract
The present invention provides a method for detecting buried explosives which exude vapors of the explosive chemical to the surface. A biological sensor that is applied on the surface produces a detectable signal when it is contacted by the explosive chemical, producing an identifiable pattern for pin-pointing the explosive. The biological sensor is a genetically altered organism.
Claims39
A method of detecting explosives buried beneath the surface of the ground, comprising:
- spraying a biological sensor comprising a recombinant bacterial organism that responds to contact with said explosives by producing a detectable signal, on the surface of the ground in an area believed to be contaminated by said buried explosives, so that the biological sensor contacts soil of said surface of said ground believed to contain the buried explosives;
- allowing a sufficient time to pass to enable the biological sensor to react with explosive residue in said soil to produce a visually detectable signal;
- and
- examining said surface of the ground believed to contain said buried explosives for said visually detectable signal.
A method of detecting explosives buried beneath the surface of the ground, comprising the steps of:
- 1) spraying a biological sensor comprising a recombinant bacterial organism that responds to contact with said explosives by producing a detectable signal on the surface of the ground in an area believed to contain said buried explosives, wherein said surface of said ground is believed to be contaminated by vapors from said explosives, under conditions such that said biological sensor contacts the soil of said surface of said ground believed to contain the buried explosives;
- 2) allowing a sufficient time to pass to enable the biological sensor to react with explosive residue from said buried explosives in said soil to produce a visually detectable signal;
- and
- 3) examining said soil of said ground surface believed to contain said buried explosives for said visually detectable signal.
A method of detecting explosive residue in soil comprising the steps of:
- a) providing:
- i) a biological sensor comprising a recombinant bacterial strain, and
- ii) a soil sample suspected of containing detectable levels of explosive residue;
- and
- b) contacting said soil sample with said biological sensor under conditions such that a detectable signal is produced in the presence of said detectable levels of explosive residue.
A method of detecting explosive residue in soil comprising the steps of:
- a) providing:
- i) a biological sensor comprising a recombinant bacterial strain, wherein said recombinant bacterial strain is selected from the group consisting of recombinant Pseudomonas, Escherichia and Bacillus, and
- ii) a soil sample suspected of containing detectable levels of explosive residue;
- and
- b) contacting said soil sample with said biological sensor under conditions such that a detectable signal is produced in the presence of said detectable levels of explosive residue.
A biological sensor for detecting explosives comprising a recombinant bacterial strain that responds to contacting a chemical from an explosive by producing a detectable signal, wherein said recombinant bacterial strain is selected from the group consisting of recombinant Bacillus, Pseudomonas, and Escherichia coli.
A biological sensor for detecting explosives comprising a recombinant bacterial strain that responds to contacting a chemical from an explosive by producing a detectable signal, wherein said recombinant bacterial strain is selected from the group consisting of recombinant Bacillus, Pseudomonas, and Escherichia coli, and wherein said chemical from said explosive is selected from the group consisting of trinitrotoluene, hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine and octahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.