Potential applications of DNA microarrays in biodefense-related diagnostics

Recent years have witnessed a logarithmic growth in the number of applications involving DNA microarrays. Extrapolation of their use for infectious diagnostics and biodefense-related diagnostics seems obvious. Nevertheless, the application of DNA microarrays to biodefense-related diagnostics will depend on solving a set of substantial, yet approachable, technical and logistical problems that encompass diverse topics from amplification efficiency to bioinformatics. The threat presented by potential agents of biological warfare has fueled interest in the development of sensitive and rapid detection technologies for the identification of pathogenic microorganisms and toxins in the environment. Microarray technologies are being developed for such detection purposes.