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Rapid Visual Screening and Programmable Subtype Classification of Ebola Virus Biomarkers
Mustafa Balcioglu1, Muhit Rana1, Mustafa Salih Hizir1
1Department of Chemistry, University at Albany, State University of New York, 1400 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY, 12222, USA.
Advanced Healthcare Materials
|December 20, 2016
Summary
A new biosensing platform visually detects and differentiates all Ebola virus subtypes using oligonucleotide sequences. This cost-effective method identifies as little as 400 amols of target sequences, even in urine samples.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology
- Molecular Biology
- Virology
Background:
- Ebola virus disease outbreaks pose significant public health threats.
- Need for rapid, sensitive, and cost-effective diagnostic tools for Ebolavirus detection and phenotyping.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a programmable, cost-efficient, and multianalyte biosensing platform for visual detection and differentiation of all Ebolavirus subtypes.
- To achieve high sensitivity and selectivity for Ebolavirus detection in complex samples.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a nanoprobe template with programmable units (short single-stranded initiator molecules) for multianalyte detection.
- Enabled visual detection and differentiation of conserved oligonucleotide regions specific to Ebolavirus subtypes.
- Assayed detection limits down to 400 amols (24 × 10^6 molecules) and classified four virus biomarkers simultaneously.
Main Results:
- Achieved naked-eye detection of as little as 400 amols of target sequences.
- Demonstrated simultaneous identification and classification of four virus biomarkers in 16 different combinations.
- Exhibited high selectivity with no false-positive or false-negative results in 16x5 array studies.
- Successfully identified and classified target strands in liquid biopsy mimics from urine specimens.
Conclusions:
- The developed biosensing platform offers a highly programmable, cost-efficient, and sensitive approach for Ebolavirus detection and subtyping.
- This technology has potential applications in rapid diagnostics, particularly in resource-limited settings and for analyzing liquid biopsies.
