Patent ID: 8114598

Claim:
A method for detecting a Bacillus anthracis in a sample, the method comprising: a) providing a system consisting of: a layer of immobilized metal particles positioned on a surface substrate, wherein the immobilized metal particles have attached thereto a captured nucleotide sequence probe which is complementary to a known first nucleotide sequence section of a specific single nucleotide sequence of the Bacillus anthracis , wherein each capture nucleotide sequence probe is the same; and a free nucleotide sequence probe, wherein each free nucleotide sequence probe is the same, wherein the free nucleotide sequence probe is complementary to a known second nucleotide sequence section of the specific single nucleotide sequence of B. anthracis and has attached thereto a fluorophore, wherein the fluorophore is incorporated at a specific location on the free nucleotide sequence probe so that binding of the free nucleotide sequence probe to the known second nucleotide sequence section of the B. anthracis causes the fluorophore to be positioned from about 50 to about 500 Å from the surface of the immobilized metal particles; b) contacting the sample with the captured nucleotide sequence probe, wherein any B. anthracis in the sample having a nucleotide sequence complementary to the captured nucleotide sequence probe binds to the captured nucleotide sequence probe; and c) contacting any bound B. anthracis sequence with the free nucleotide sequence probe, thereby positioning the fluorophore for enhancing fluorescence emission when excited by an irradiating source and using such emissions to detect the presence of B. anthracis.