Electrochemical biosensors for detection of biological warfare agents

This review discusses current development in electrochemical biosensors for detection of biological warfare agents. This could include bacteria, viruses and toxins that are aerosoled deliberately in air, food or water to spread terrorism and cause disease or death to humans, animals or plants. The rapid and unequivocal detection and identification of biological warfare agents is a major challenge for any government including military, health and other government agents. Reliable, specific characterization and identification of the microorganism from sampling location, either air, water, soil or others is required. This review will survey different types of electrochemical biosensors has been developed based on the following: i) Immunosensors ii) PCR (DNA base Sensor) iii) Bacteria or whole cell sensor and iv) Enzyme sensor. This article gives an overview of electrochemical biosensor for detection of biological warfare agents. Electrochemical biosensors have the advantages of sensitivity, selectivity, to operate in turbid media, and amenable to miniaturization. Recent developments in immunofiltration, flow injection, and flow-through electrochemical biosensors for bacteria, viruses, and toxin detection are reviewed. The current research and development in biosensors for biological warfare agents detection is of interest to the public as well as to the defense is also discussed.