2010 News
Enzymatic Degradation of Rocket Propellant Waste
Edwards Air Force Base has contracted Agave BioSystems to develop a novel enzymatic process for the biological degradation of hazardous waste propellants, explosives, and pyrotechnics. We have successfully demonstrated the potential for an enzymatic degradation system. Further work will focus on the development of enzyme systems for degradation of an expanded range of explosives. On completion, the enzyme system will be demonstrated in a prototype using various types of waste.
Point-of-Care Diagnostic for Acute Q Fever Using LAMP
The Naval Medical Research Center (NMRC) has contracted Agave BioSystems to develop detection technologies targeted to the bacterium, Coxiella burnetii which causes potentially fatal Q-Fever. Agave BioSystems has developed and successfully tested a system based on loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) which detects the C. burnetii with high specificity and sensitivity. Development of an integrated, compact RT-LAMP diagnostic instrument for acute phase Q fever is in progress.
Phase I SBIRs:
A High-Throughput Blood Esterase Panel Assay – Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR)
Food Toxicity Detection Using C. elegans – U.S. Army Center for Environmental Health Research
A Point-of-Care Field Assay for Dengue Viruses – Navy Medical Research Institute Military Infectious Diseases Research Program
Microfluidic Dielectrophoretic Cell Sorter for Isolating Rare Circulating Tumor Cells – National Institutes of Health
2009 News
Water Toxicity Detection using Genetically Engineered Yeast
Agave BioSystems has been contracted by the Army to develop a novel handheld biosensor for water. This biosensor uses yeast strains engineered to report changes in fluorescence upon exposure to chemical stress. Further work will focus on identifying ideal promoters for this water biosensor to identify toxic industrial chemicals.
Cell-based High Throughput Screening of Compounds Improving Mitochondrial Energetics
Agave BioSystems in collaboration with Cornell University is screening compound collections with cell-based assays monitoring mitochondrial function. Yeast, C. elegans and mammalian cells are used as model systems in this study aiming to identify target pathways for the development of novel mitochondria-directed therapeutics. This work is sponsored by the U.S. Army Research Laboratory.
Protective Enclosure for Military Working Dogs
Agave BioSystems is working together with Gentex Corporation to build an enclosure for the U.S. Army to provide protection for military working dogs against chemical and biological agents. The protective enclosure will function under all field conditions, and provide continuous protection for up to 72 hours.
Portable TTHM water sensor
Edwards Air Force Base has contracted Agave BioSystems to develop a portable sensor for the quick and accurate detection of the total trihalomethane (TTHM) concentration in water. The detection of these disinfection byproducts will be accomplished via chemical methods in a simple and straightforward system that uses minimal user input.
Phase I SBIRs:
Malarial Vaccines Utilizing Viral-Like Particles (VLP) – Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR)
Organophosphate Degrading Enzymes – Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Enzymatic Degradation of Rocket Propellant Waste – Edwards Air Force Base
Point-of-Care Diagnostic for Acute Q Fever Using LAMP – Naval Medical Research Center (NMRC)
Water Toxicity Detection Using Genetically Engineered Yeast – U.S. Army Medical Research Activity
2008 News
Xenopus Melanophore-Based Toxicity Sensor for Water
Agave BioSystems has been contracted to further develop the melanophore-based biosensor to identify chemicals that may be potential water contaminants. The Xenopus based biosensor is based upon dual measures of simultaneous electrical impedance (ECIS) and optical absorbance measurements. The result should be a highly sensitive and accurate sensor for water contaminants. The system will be designed for integration with the Environmental Sentinel Biomonitor (ESB) platform.
Phase I SBIRs:
Cell-based High Throughput Screening of Compounds Improving Mitochondrial Energetics – US Army Research, Development and Engineering Command – Department of Defense in collaboration with Cornell University
Collective Protection for Military Working Dogs – US Army, Natick Contracting Division (R and BaseOPS) AMSRD-ACC-N US – in collaboration with Gentex Corporation
Development of 5-Plex Avian Disease Serology Assays – Luminex Corporation Bioscience Group
Multiplex Lyme Disease Diagnostic – National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID)
Branched DNA Diagnostic for Malaria Parasites – Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR)
Ante-Mortem TSE Diagnosis by Electric Cell-Substrate Impedance Sensing – US Army Medical Research and Materiel Command
Ribozymes for In Vivo Degradation of G-Nerve Agents – Chemical and Biological Defense program – Department of Defense
Field Sensor for TTHM Detection in Treated Drinking Water – Air Force Materiel Command, Air Force Flight Test Center, Edwards Air Force Base - AFFTC/PKEAD
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