Raji Muhabat Adeola, Aloraij Yumna, Alhamlan Fatimah, Suaifan Ghadeer, Weber Karina, Cialla-May Dana, Popp Jürgen, Zourob Mohammed
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Alfaisal University, Al Zahrawi Street, Al Maather, Al Takhassusi Rd, Riyadh, 11533, Saudi Arabia.
Department of Chemistry, Alfaisal University, Al Zahrawi Street, Al Maather, Al Takhassusi Rd, Riyadh, 11533, Saudi Arabia.
Talanta. 2021 Jan 1;221:121468. doi: 10.1016/j.talanta.2020.121468. Epub 2020 Jul 31.
The flu viruses are respiratory pathogens which, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), infect 5-10% of the world population resulting in 3-5 million cases of severe illness and 290,000 to 650,000 annual deaths. Early diagnosis and therapeutic intervention can ameliorate symptoms of infection and reduce mortality. The conventional diagnosis of viral infections, including flu viruses, has evolved over the years with diverse approaches, however, there are inherent short comings associated with these testing. There is an urgent need for rapid and low-cost diagnostic assays, due to the enormous annual burden of influenza diseases and its associated mortality. In this study, novel, low cost and easy to use colorimetric flu virus biosensor assay was developed. The sandwich assay format was utilized using antibodies immobilized onto cotton swabs, for the rapid detection of flu A and B viruses. These swabs serve as sample collection, analytes pre-concentration as well as sensing tool. The proof of concept was established for this assay in buffer and mucus samples. The limit of detection (LOD) of the colorimetric assay was 0.04 ng mL for Flu A and Flu B respectively and with linear dynamic range between 0.04 ng ml to 40 ng ml for both viruses in mucous samples. The assay can be performed at the patient's bed side by minimally skilled hospital personnel without the need for instrumentation. Cross-reactivity assays testing was done using Flu viruses specific activated swabs reacted with other common respiratory viral pathogens' antigen, in order to assess the specificity of the swabs.
流感病毒是呼吸道病原体，根据世界卫生组织（WHO）的数据，全球5%-10%的人口会感染流感病毒，导致300万至500万例严重疾病，每年有29万至65万人死亡。早期诊断和治疗干预可以缓解感染症状并降低死亡率。多年来，包括流感病毒在内的病毒感染的传统诊断方法不断发展，有多种途径，然而，这些检测方法存在固有的缺点。由于流感疾病每年造成的巨大负担及其相关死亡率，迫切需要快速且低成本的诊断检测方法。在本研究中，开发了新型、低成本且易于使用的比色法流感病毒生物传感器检测方法。采用夹心检测法，将抗体固定在棉签上，用于快速检测甲型和乙型流感病毒。这些棉签可作为样本采集、分析物预浓缩以及传感工具。在缓冲液和黏液样本中验证了该检测方法的概念。比色法检测甲型和乙型流感病毒的检测限分别为0.04 ng/mL，在黏液样本中两种病毒的线性动态范围均为0.04 ng/mL至40 ng/mL。该检测可由技术要求不高的医院工作人员在患者床边进行，无需仪器设备。使用流感病毒特异性激活棉签与其他常见呼吸道病毒病原体抗原反应进行交叉反应检测，以评估棉签的特异性。
