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Salivary Detection of Zika Virus Infection Using ATR-FTIR Spectroscopy Coupled with Machine Learning Algorithms and
Stephanie Wutke Oliveira1, Leia Cardoso-Sousa1, Renata Pereira Georjutti1,2
1Innovation Center in Salivary Diagnostic and Nanobiotechnology, Department of Physiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Uberlandia, Uberlandia 38408-100, Brazil.
Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland)
|May 16, 2023
Summary
A new study shows that Attenuated Total Reflection-Fourier Transform Infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy of saliva can accurately diagnose Zika virus (ZIKV) infection. This non-invasive method offers a cost-effective alternative to current diagnostic procedures.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Diagnostics
- Spectroscopy
- Virology
Background:
- Current Zika virus (ZIKV) diagnosis relies on invasive, costly molecular methods.
- Developing non-invasive, cost-effective, and sustainable diagnostic tools for ZIKV is crucial, especially considering its impact on pregnant women.
- Attenuated Total Reflection-Fourier Transform Infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy has shown promise in diagnosing systemic diseases via saliva, but its application in viral infections was unexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential of ATR-FTIR spectroscopy of saliva as a non-invasive diagnostic tool for ZIKV infection.
- To evaluate the accuracy and discriminatory power of salivary spectral profiles in identifying ZIKV-infected individuals.
Main Methods:
- ZIKV was intradermally administered to interferon-gamma gene knockout mice.
- Saliva samples were collected on day three post-infection, coinciding with peak viremia.
- Salivary spectral changes were analyzed using univariate analysis, Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA), and Linear Discriminant Analysis-Support Vector Machine (LDA-SVM).
Main Results:
- Univariate analysis identified a specific vibrational mode (1547 cm⁻¹) indicative of ZIKV infection in saliva.
- PCA analysis revealed distinct spectral clustering between ZIKV-infected and control groups, with three principal components explaining 93.2% of the variance.
- Spectrochemical analysis using LDA achieved 93.3% accuracy, 87.5% specificity, and 100% sensitivity. LDA-SVM analysis demonstrated 100% discrimination.
Conclusions:
- ATR-FTIR spectroscopy of saliva shows high accuracy in diagnosing ZIKV infection.
- This method presents a promising non-invasive, cost-effective, and reagent-free alternative for ZIKV diagnostics.
- Further research could validate ATR-FTIR as a valuable tool for managing future ZIKV outbreaks.
