Use bee venom to detect explosives

With about one-third of human diets dependent on plants that are pollinated by insects, bees play an essential role in helping us maintain health. A new US study finds bees can help protect us from terrorists who prefer to use the bomb.

Discovery magazine quoted researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) said the protein in bee venom, often called bombolitin, can be used to detect single molecules of explosives nitro- Aromatic, such as TNT. When applied to security sensors in crowded places such as airports, bombolitines will increase the sensitivity of the sensor, making them much more efficient.

To reach the conclusion, the MIT team first used bombolithin coated with carbon nanotubes, which then exposed the sample air samplers from many neighborhoods. Different explosives. While natural carbon nanotubes naturally fluoresce, the inner layer of bombolitin forms a hum at the molecular level.

The team found that wavelengths of fluorescent light change as molecules of nitro-aromatic compounds come into contact with bee proteins. The wavelength change can not be observed with the naked eye but can be detected by a special microscope.

Previously, MIT designed similar sensors, which could detect increased fluorescence in the presence of explosives. However, such technology is thought to be prone to error as the results of the analysis may be affected by ambient light. Observing changes in the wavelength of light will bring about more accurate detection.

The team is now able to identify different types of explosives by combining different types of carbon nanotubes with different types of bombolitines. They also discovered that bee venom also helps detect TNT explosive molecules.

Commercial sensors to detect common explosives at airports are based on the analysis of charged particles in the air. However, such sensors can not detect explosives at the molecular level.

Therefore, many military and civil organizations, as well as civic organizations, are very interested in the new invention of the MIT team. The bee venom detection technology is in the process of patent pending.