Patent No. 6,673,563

Description:
This patent relates generally to the field of methods for identifying toxicants and/or isolated component substances in a sample. The types of samples which may be analyzed include either a solid sample, a liquid sample or a gaseous sample. The present invention also relates to the field of biological toxicant identification agents, as a particularly described luminescent biological reagent, for example the luminescent bacteria, are employed in the claimed isolation, identification and quantitation methods and techniques disclosed herein. The present invention also relates to the field of toxicant detecting kits, as a kit for the identification of toxicants is described employing a luminescent biological reagent.

Abstract:
Methods for the isolation and identification of a toxicant in a sample are disclosed. Luminescent biological agents (i.e., bacteria) having sensitivity to a toxicant or an isolatable component in a sample are used to provide visually discernable zones of luminescent inhibition in the presence of a toxicant (or) in the presence of an isolatable sample component as separated by paper or thin layer chromatography. Kits for use in conjunction with the identification of a toxicant in a sample are also described, which include a luminescent biological reagent as the visualizing agent. Particular examples of luminescent bacterial agents useful in the practice of the present invention include Photobacterium leoganthi, Photobacterium phosphoreum, Vibrio fischeri, Vibrio harveyi a luminescent fungi, a luminescent fish extract, a luminescent dinoflagellate and fluorescent microorganisms, such as Cypridina. Potential toxicants, in a liquid sample, a solid sample, or in a gaseous sample may be identified and further chemically characterized using the described methods. The isolation of potential toxicants in a sample through the processing of a sample through a separation phase matrix such as chromatography paper or TLC plate, followed by exposure to luminescent biological agent, provides for a rapid and inexpensive method for identifying pesticides, herbicides and heavy metals in a known or unknown sample.


UTEP Docket No: 1991-001