IONIAN Research and Development in BioSensing and BioDefense

Ionian is playing a leading role in the research and development of advanced systems for detecting and identification of CDC category A and B bacterial, viral and toxin biothreat agents in support of military and homeland security applications.

RABIS (Rapid Automated Biological Identification System)

Development Team: Ionian Technologies (Prime) / SAIC / Keck Graduate Institute

Customer: Dept. of Homeland Security, Science & Technology Directorate

Application:  Automatic 24/7 detection of aerosolized biothreat agents in buildings or transportation terminals in a “detect-to-protect” mode.

Description:  RABIS a high speed (<6 min. analysis time) automated system for continuous collection and analysis of air samples providing significantly higher threat specificity/coverage (20 agents) and sensitivity (<100 organisms/liter air) than competing technologies. The system employs flow-through sample lysis and a size exclusion chromatography column for DNA/RNA purification. Ionian’s unique multiplexed isothermal amplification assay performs very high speed exponential amplification of threat DNA and RNA using two genomic targets per threat for high specificity. An intercalating fluorescent dye excited with an LED and observed through a filter with a photodiode detector detects threat presence. If threat presence is detected, an ID analysis of the amplification product is performed using molecular beacons. The system operates either continuously or cued with a UV Laser Induced Fluorescence Trigger sensor for ultra-low cost operation.

Status:  In development and testing (field prototypes in mid-2008)