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Since its inception in April 2001, Cranfield University at Kitakyushu has worked to develop collaborative projects with universities, industries and public institutions in Japan. From the base at Kitakyushu Science and Research Park strong collaborative links have been forged with Kitakyushu University, Kyushu Institute of Technology and Kitakyushu City. Projects have evolved to benefit the local community and industry.
Biotechnology
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Cranfield University signed a cooperation agreement with Kyushu Institute of Technology in 2001. Academic collaboration began between Professor Phil Warner and Professor Tetsuya Haruyama at Kyushu Institute of Technology in the research field of biosensors. The partnership extended to include the Kitakyushu Aqua Research Institute with the participation of Drs Suzuki and Kadokami.
This project arose from the opportunity provided by an agreement signed in April 2003 between the City of Kitakyushu and Cranfield University to support a three-year collaborative research programme in biotechnology. A need was identified by the Aqua Research Centre of Kitakyushu city to provide screening for unknown but biologically active compounds in the general environment that may be toxic to living organisms.
A number of approaches have been found which can detect known organic pollutant compounds, such as specific dioxins. However, a major disadvantage of current detectors is that they are only able to detect specific compounds, such as dioxins. They are therefore not effective as screening tools for generic pollutants.
The purpose of the proposed work is to develop a detection system for unknown biologically active pollutant compounds and to eventually incorporate it into a sensing device.
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A Generic Method for Detecting Endocrine Disruptors
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Endocrine disruptors are carcinogenic byproducts of industrial processes. Often they are released into the environment as industrial effluent. The current methods used to detect endocrine disruptors are expensive and time consuming. This project aims to develop a novel sensor that aims to reduce the cost of the sensor and amount of time involved for detection.
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Exploiting Steric Hindrance.
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The majority of biologically active pollutants exert their effects by attaching to nuclear receptors. These then bind to DNA, thus regulating transcription. The binding of nuclear receptors to DNA results in the structural change of the DNA molecule. By labelling the molecule, the structural change may be visually detected. The current sensor design involves the modification of DNA with luminol. This then reacts with hydrogen peroxide in an electrochemically catalysed reaction leading to the generation of light at an electrode held at a particular potential. The generated light is detected using a photon counter.
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Proof of Concept Sensing Device.
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In order to prove the concept of steric hindrance, anti-DNA antibody was used to bind non-specifically to the DNA. When the DNA is not bound by antibody, the luminol attached to the DNA is able to generate a signal (diagram above left) When the DNA is bound by antibody, the resultant steric hindrance prevents the eletro-catalysed reaction with hydrogen peroxide from occurring. Thus a signal is not generated. Currently the selection of a suitable nuclear receptor protein that will bind only to a specific sequence of DNA is being investigated. This nuclear receptor protein will then be cloned and expressed before being used in a full prototype device.
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