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PLoS One

Title:		Behavioural and genetic evidence for C. elegans' ability to detect volatile chemicals associated with explosives
Author(s):		Liao C; Gock A; Michie M; Morton B; Anderson A; Trowell S;
Address:		"CSIRO Entomology and CSIRO Food Futures Flagship, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia"
Journal Title:		PLoS One
Year:		2010
Volume:		20100907
Issue:		9
Page Number:		e12615 -
DOI:		10.1371/journal.pone.0012615
ISSN/ISBN:		1932-6203 (Electronic) 1932-6203 (Linking)
Abstract:		"BACKGROUND: Automated standoff detection and classification of explosives based on their characteristic vapours would be highly desirable. Biologically derived odorant receptors have potential as the explosive recognition element in novel biosensors. Caenorhabditis elegans' genome contains over 1,000 uncharacterised candidate chemosensory receptors. It was not known whether any of these respond to volatile chemicals derived from or associated with explosives. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We assayed C. elegans for chemotactic responses to chemical vapours of explosives and compounds associated with explosives. C. elegans failed to respond to many of the explosive materials themselves but showed strong chemotaxis with a number of compounds associated with commercial or homemade explosives. Genetic mutant strains were used to identify the likely neuronal location of a putative receptor responding to cyclohexanone, which is a contaminant of some compounded explosives, and to identify the specific transduction pathway involved. Upper limits on the sensitivity of the nematode were calculated. A sensory adaptation protocol was used to estimate the receptive range of the receptor. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: The results suggest that C. elegans may be a convenient source of highly sensitive, narrowly tuned receptors to detect a range of explosive-associated volatiles"
Keywords:		"Animals Behavior, Animal Caenorhabditis elegans/genetics/*physiology Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins/*genetics/metabolism *Chemotaxis Explosive Agents/*chemistry/classification Mutation Volatile Organic Compounds/*analysis;"
Notes:		"MedlineLiao, Chunyan Gock, Andrew Michie, Michelle Morton, Bethany Anderson, Alisha Trowell, Stephen eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't 2010/09/11 PLoS One. 2010 Sep 7; 5(9):e12615. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0012615"