System and method for automated bioparticle recognition

Abstract

Disclosed are embodiments of methods, apparatus, systems, compositions, and articles of manufacture relating to identifying the source of bioparticles, such as bioparticles shed by an organism. In embodiments, a method may include collecting a sample of bioparticles from the environment, selecting from that sample the bioparticles most informative for identifying their source, and gathering data from those bioparticles to form bioparticle signatures; the bioparticle signatures may be processed into a multi-dimensional vector which may be compared to a multi-dimensional vector derived from a standard using a pattern recognition strategy. In embodiments, an apparatus may include a particle collection device to collect a sample, a transfer device to select bioparticles, and a detector that restricts the movement of the bioparticles; the restricted movement may be used to produce a bioparticle signature.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method for identifying a biological source, the method comprising:
 collecting from the environment a plurality of bioparticles shed by a biological source organism;   selecting one or more information-rich bioparticles from the plurality of bioparticles;   restricting the movement of the one or more information-rich bioparticles;   detecting a plurality of bioparticle signatures from the one or more information-rich bioparticles;   processing the plurality of said bioparticle signatures into a multi-dimensional vector by combining bioparticle signatures; and   identifying the biological source based upon comparison of said multi-dimensional vector to a standard multi-dimensional vector using a pattern recognition strategy.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the biological source comprises a mammal. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the biological source comprises one or more human beings. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of bioparticles collected from the environment comprise an aerosol. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the one or more information-rich bioparticles comprise material shed from the stratum corneum, hair or bacterial flora. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein detecting a plurality of bioparticle signatures from the one or more information-rich bioparticles comprises detecting a bioparticle signature from an intact bioparticle shed from stratum corneum and/or hair. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein restricting the movement of the information-rich bioparticle comprises restricting the movement of the information-rich bioparticle by dielectrophoresis. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the standard multi-dimensional vector comprises a multi-dimensional vector derived from a bioparticle shed by a known biological source. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the standard multi-dimensional vector comprises a multi-dimensional vector derived from one or more bioparticles collected from a known geographical location and identifying the biological source comprises identifying whether the information-rich bioparticles were shed by one or more organisms present at the known geographical location. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein, when the movement of the one or more bioparticles is restricted, a bioparticle signature is detected by surface plasmon resonance. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein identifying a biological source comprises identifying a geographic location or region associated with the biological source. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the movement of the information-rich bioparticle is restricted by binding to a panel of compounds. 
     
     
         13 . An apparatus for identifying a biological source organism from bioparticles shed by the organism into the environment, the apparatus comprising:
 a particle collector configured to collect a sample containing a plurality of bioparticles;   a selection and concentration system coupled to the particle collector, configured to select one or more information-rich bioparticles from the plurality of bioparticles;   a bioparticle signature detector coupled to the selection and concentration system, the bioparticle signature detector comprising means for restricting the movement of the information-rich bioparticles and means for detecting a plurality of bioparticle signatures therefrom; and   a pattern recognition system linked to the bioparticle signature detector and configured to derive a multi-dimensional vector from the bioparticle signatures by combining the bioparticle signatures and to compare said multi-dimensional vector with a standard multi-dimensional vector in order to identify, from the one or more information-rich bioparticles, the biological source from which the bioparticles were shed.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein the selection and concentration system comprises a portal configured to divert an information-rich bioparticle from a directional flow of a solution containing the plurality of bioparticles. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein the portal is configured to divert the information-rich bioparticle with an electromagnetic field. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein the bioparticle signature detector comprises a dielectrophoresis chamber for restricting movement of the one or more information-rich bioparticles. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein the dielectrophoresis chamber comprises an element placed within an electromagnetic field. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein the detector comprises a panel of compounds. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein the means for detecting a plurality of bioparticle signatures comprises a surface plasmon resonance detector. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the surface plasmon resonance detector comprises a label-free surface plasmon resonance detector or a capillary electrophoresis surface plasmon resonance detector.