page_title: Cell CANARY
section_title: Method
hierarchical_section_title: Cell CANARY / Method
caption_attribution_description: English: Step1: B cells are exposed around by antigens. Step2: antigens are attached with antibodies. Step3: tyrosine kinase leads to IP3 and DAG, Ca2+ is released. Step4: Ca2+ channel is opened and aequorin emits photons. Step 5, photons are detected.
context_page_description: Cell CANARY is a recent technology that uses genetically engineered B cells to identify pathogens. Existing pathogen detection technologies include the Integrated Biological Detection System and the Joint Chemical Agent Detector.
context_section_description: Cell CANARY is one of the newest, fastest, and most viable approaches to pathogen detection in a sample. It has the ability to detect pathogens in a variety of media, both liquid and air, at a fraction of the concentration that older methods required to produce a viable signal. CANARY uses the B cell, a form of white blood cell that forms the basis for natural human defense. An array of these b-cells is attached to a chip. Genes for producing antibodies are naturally on in these b-cells, which allow antibodies to coat the exterior surface of the cells. The genes for coding antibodies are then up-regulated in these cells, which allows for greater antibody production and therefore more of the cell surface to be coated in antibodies.
  This engineering principle allows lower concentrations of antigen to be detected by the cells. Antigens can then bind to the antibodies, resulting in a few naturally occurring B-cell reactions. At the final step of these reactions, Ca2+ ions are released, and in the presence of aequorin, photons are emitted. Aequorin is a photoprotein that can be extracted from marine organisms such as luminescent fish. The emitted photons can then be read by a chip, on which the array of modified B cells have been attached to, ultimately providing a readout of the pathogen(s) present.
  A unique set of responses is exhibited after exposure to each individual pathogen. Therefore, cells will react differently to the introduction of a specific pathogen, the specific nature in which the “canary” cells respond to the pathogen indicates the unique identity of the pathogen that has been introduced. The more responses of a cell to a pathogen that are measured the more precisely the pathogen can be identified. Finally, after determining the presence and identity of the pathogen, all infected people can be effectively treated.
caption: Step1: B cells are exposed around by antigens. Step2: antigens are attached with antibodies. Step3: tyrosine kinase leads to IP3 and DAG, Ca2+ is released. Step4: Ca2+ channel is opened and aequorin emits photons. Step 5, photons are detected.
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