Patent ID: 6596496
Filing Date: 2003-07-22
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
A method for detecting the presence of a particulate analyte in a test sample which comprises the steps of:(1) combining a test sample containing the particulate analyte with a reaction mixture comprising (i) microbial spores that sense an analyte-specific signal and respond to that signal by establishing an analyte-independent signal amplification system and (ii) a germinogenic source, (2) incubating said mixture for a time sufficient to allow for enzymatic conversion of the germinogenic source to a germinant and spore germination by a propagating cascade of spore germination generated through de novo synthesized enzymes; (3) detecting spore germination by a measurable parameter; and (4) correlating the presence of the particulate analyte in the test sample by the detecting of spore germination; wherein the target analyte generates the germinant by enzymatic action on the germinogenic source and wherein the target analyte is initially incapable of generating the germinant by enzymatic action on the germinogenic source but is made capable of so doing during the analysis.