Rapid and accurate detection of genetic material has become the foundation of medical diagnostics, especially in identifying infectious diseases and patient biomarkers. During the COVID-19 pandemic, diagnostic techniques have been resurgent, targeting viral nucleic acids or proteins.
Rapid antigen detection has been widely applied due to its scalability and simplicity. However, protein-based tests require high-quality antibodies deployed late into the pandemic. Nucleic acid-based approaches are generally easier to develop because they have higher sensitivity and intrinsic flexibility.
Innovative Pathogen Detection Technique
At the Karolinska Institute of the University in Solna, Sweden, a group of researchers have developed an innovative method that uses DNA nanoballs in detecting pathogens. The researchers aim to streamline nucleic acid testing for pathogen identification, and their findings could pave the way for creating a simple, electronic-based test.
The novel approach uses the combination of molecular biology and electronics to develop a pioneering detecting tool. Principal researcher Vicent Pelechano from the Department of Microbiology, Tumor, and Cell Biology is confident about the potential of this technology in detecting an array of pathogenic agents in real-world settings.
In this project, the researchers modified a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) to generate tiny 1-2 µM DNA nanoballs if the sample contains the pathogen. These DNA nanoballs are directed through small channels and are electrically identified as they cross between two electrodes. This novel method has demonstrated exceptional sensitivity in distinguishing as few as ten target molecules and providing rapid results using a motionless, compact system in less than one hour.
The method also offers label-free detection that can speed up the rollout of new diagnostic kits. By integrating low-cost, mass-produced electronics with lyophilized reagents, the technology can have the potential to provide an affordable, widely deployed, and scalable point-of-care device. The research team also explores the possibility of integrating this method into other areas, such as food safety, environmental monitoring, and antimicrobial resistance detection.
How Does Nucleic Acid-Based Testing Work?
A nucleic acid test (NAT) detects a particular nucleic acid sequence of an organism's specific subspecies or species, usually a virus or bacteria that acts as a human pathogen. Nucleic acid-based approaches work by organism-specific DNA or RNA sequences from the microorganism. In this technology, the sequences may or may not be amplified in vitro.
Unlike other detection methods, nucleic acid-based testing is generally specific, susceptible, and can be used for all categories of microbes. Since each test is typically specific to a single organism, the healthcare provider must know the diagnostic possibilities and request tests accordingly.
Pathogen identification using nucleic acid c acid has become more common in clinical settings because the resulting rapid identification allows the patients to be subject to specific antimicrobial therapy and prevents prolonged management of empiric drugs. Detecting genetic materials allows early disease diagnosis because identifying antigens and antibodies requires time to start appearing in a person's bloodstream.
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