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6 Biological Markers
Pages 97-103

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From page 97...
... Consequently, remote standoff detection of explosives using biological sensor technology or electronic noses to replace or improve upon the trained canine olfactory sense has been difficult to achieve. Biological or biosensor approaches for explosives detection combine the specificity of molecular recognition of biomolecules with electronics for signal transduction and measurement.
From page 98...
... A recent example used computational biology to analyze a binding protein and predict changes to an amino acid sequence that would create new proteins capable of specifically binding to an analyte such as trinitrotoluene (TNT) .3 By directed mutagenesis, the DNA encoding the binding protein was synthesized and cloned into bacteria.
From page 99...
... Literature studies, exposure analysis, and toxicological properties have been conducted by the military (Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Soldiers Biological and Chemical Command, for example) and its government contactors (GeoCenters, for example)
From page 100...
... Ultimately, the body burden of the parent explosive or metabolites, cellular and subcellular effects, and resulting analytical detection sensitivity are determined by the chronic or acute nature of the exposure history. Consequently, there would likely be significant biosignature differences between bomb makers and bomb carriers who should exhibit differing exposure histories.
From page 101...
... A common symptom of this potentially fatal syndrome is a blue cast to the skin due to NO3 competitive binding to hemoglobin. Analogous to genotoxic environmental pollutants, explosives with mutagenic and/or DNA adducting properties can produce biomarkers of subcellular damage.
From page 102...
... The use of biological signatures could be expanded to direct detection of skin or surface absorbed explosives using laser-induced fluorescence. This could be applicable to both portal scenarios and large unsupervised crowds.
From page 103...
... To effectively integrate the use of biosignatures, research would be needed into how well imaging data bases correlate for behavioral imaging versus biosignature imaging, and whether meaningful orthogonal relationships exist. In like manner, a systems approach would require that an orthogonal relationship be established between biosignatures and other methods of direct explosives detection or imaging.


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