A biosensor that could be applied to detecting chemical warfare agents and other toxins in public water
supplies, has been developed by Dr. Robert Marks and at Ben-Gurion University's Institute for Applied
Biosciences. It has been developed together with researchers from the Faculty of Engineering Sciences and the
Department of Biotechnology Engineering.
The bioluminescent optical-fiber probe for safeguarding water supplies uses whole bacterial cells that have been
genetically engineered to react to toxins, such as pesticides. However, it could also have applications
monitoring chemo- and biotoxins used in nonconventional weaponry. Dr. Marks will pursue this line of research
in collaboration with Dr. Orly Yadid-Pecht, Head¹ VLSI laboratory, Israel¹ National Center for Complementary
Metal-Oxide Semiconductor Research. The goal is to create chip sensors.
Current testing procedures for identifying the presence of chemicals in water require sophisticated
instrumentation. In contrast to Dr. Marks' system, they cannot supply biotoxicity information without using fish or
bacteria and require to be conducted in laboratories with with expensive testing equipment. Marks' device is a
self-contained system to which nothing needs to be added beyond the dip-stick-like probe itself. The specially
modified bacteria are genetically engineered to produce light when exposed to chemicals that damage their
genetic material (genotoxins). The bacteria are gel-coated onto one end of an exposed optical fiber, forming a
sensitive chemical detector. When this bioprobe is inserted into a water sample, any genotoxins present in the
water column will cause the bacteria to glow. The light transmitted along the optical fiber is then measured by a
sensitive photodetector.
Recently, Dr. Mark was invited to the USA to demonstrate his easy-to-use, portable biosensor at the
Meadowlands Environmental Research Institute (MERI). MERI offers a scientific collaboration between the New
Jersey Medowlands Commission and Rutgers University Center for Information Management, Integration and
Connectivity (CIMIC). The Institute brings together leading environmental scientists to identify and use the latest
technologies to monitor, protect and improve the environment of the Meadowlands District.
"Every water board in every state in America can take advantage of this technology," says Marks. "You don't
have to bring water to a centralized lab for testing, because this system allows for on-site monitoring of water. A
technician can test waters in a lake and then transmit the results to a central laboratory, while continuing with
tests around the lake. Each test takes about 60-90 minutes. If the central lab finds a high level of biotoxicity, the
technician can return to the spot that very same day, repeat that test, as well as additional ones."
Dr/ Marks is developing other fiber probes that can ascertain the presence of mercury, cadmium or other
contaminants. Chemical and biological attacks on water supplies are of increasing concern. He calls the
possibility "very frightening¹" and believes the new probe could be a vital tool for detecting chemical and
biological assaults on water supplies in Israel and the rest of the world.