Device for pathogen transport

Abstract

This disclosure provides a method for transporting a pathogen under ambient conditions, by culturing the pathogen with an amoeba under conditions that favor the incorporation of the pathogen into a trophozoite, starving the amoeba until it encysts, then culturing under conditions that favor conversion of the amoeba back to a trophozoite. In one aspect, the conditions that favor incorporation of the pathogen into the cyst of the amoeba comprises contacting the pathogen with the amoeba in an iron rich environment. Virus and/or bacteria are pathogens that can be transported by the disclosed method. Amoeba that are useful in the disclosed methods include, without limitation Acanthamoeba castellanii, Hartmannella vermiformis and Naegleria gruberi . The disclosed methods have utility in: transporting pathogens from military field hospitals and clinics to the laboratory; transporting pathogens from global satellite laboratories to clinical laboratories; long term storage of pathogens; enriching contaminated patient samples for pathogens of interest; biosurveillance and detection efforts.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A culture transport device comprising housing having a first compartment and a second compartment, the first and second compartments being separated by a permeable membrane, wherein the second compartment comprises a removable cap comprising a sampling elongated member and a locking device, wherein when the locking device is activated, the permeable membrane is ruptured by the elongated member. 
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the housing of the device is comprised of an impermeable material. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the impermeable material is polyethylene. 
     
     
         4 . A method for transporting a pathogen, comprising contacting the pathogen with the elongated swabbing member of the device of any one of  claims 1 - 3 , and inserting the swab into the second compartment and closing the cap and engaging the locking member.