Microsecond time-resolved photoluminescent labels are being used increasingly in immuno and DNA assays and diagnostics, biosensors and microbiochip, liquid chromatography and electrophoresis, microscopy, as well as drug detection and drug discover, cytotoxicity measurements (Eu-release), ecology, fingerprint detection, and long distance measurements in biological systems. Numerous and growing numbers of lanthanide chelates, room temperature phosphorescent labels provide dramatic improvements in sensitivity of assays, efficient background signal rejection, real-time measurements, high throughput screening, homogeneous and nonseparation formats of assays.

This course provides attendees with a basic working knowledge of fluorescent in vivo biosensors. Green fluorescent protein (GFP) was only the first of many types used for in vivo biosensing. Novel fluorescent proteins (nFP) from different sources comprise a rapidly growing arsenal of gene-based optical probes for numerous applications in biology, biotechnology, and medicine. This course concentrates <b>First</b>, on the systematization and classification of different nFP and major photophysical and chemical features of nFP. <b>Second</b>, on the principles of operation of molecular biosensors with fluorescent detection in living cells and animals. <b>Third</b>, on the application of nFP for drug design and screening. A survey of available genetic constructions and optical systems used for microscopic fluorescence detection as well as small animal whole-body imaging are included throughout the course.