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U.S. Department of Energy
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Detection of biological warfare agents using the polymerase chain reaction. Final report, June-August 1991

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:6943738

The detection of biological warfare agents is an important mission for the U.S. Army. This report explores the feasibility of using the polymerase chain reaction as a means of rapid detection of biological warfare agents. Two levels of detection are proposed. The first level is group specific detection, using primers derived from 16S rDNA sequences, to detect various groups of pathogenic bacteria. The second level is species-specific detection using primers derived from DNA sequences, unique to each pathogenic organism targeted for detection. Specific examples of Vibrio cholerae, Francisella tularensis, Yersinia pestis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Bacillus anthracis are described.

Research Organization:
Battelle Columbus Labs., Research Triangle Park, NC (United States)
OSTI ID:
6943738
Report Number(s):
AD-A-259391/1/XAB; CNN: DAAL03-86-D-0001
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English