Engineering DNAzyme-gold nanoparticle diagnostic device

Mosquitos carry many infectious pathogens that can significantly affect a patient's health aswell as other people that the patients come into contact with. Currently, there is a major globalscare with the transmission of the Zika virus, which has been implicated in cerebral brainmalformations among fetuses and newborns. Given advances in transportation vehicles,there is a significant risk of the virus being imported back to countries where the mosquitoscarry it are found. There remains an urgent need to develop simple methods to rapidlydiagnose Zika virus infection as it continues to spread to new locations. Rapid diagnosis inareas with reduced access to testing laboratories will allow appropriate management ofpregnant women who become infected and implement control measures as the virus spreadsto new, often remote areas. Here, in this project, our aim is to develop a unique colour-basedtest using nanotechnology components to be able to rapidly diagnose patients that arepresenting symptoms for the Zika virus, as well as two other important mosquito borneviruses, dengue and chikungunya virus. Testing of the 3 viruses is important to determineproper treatment, as patients infected with either of three viruses may present the samesymptoms. We will further develop a smartphone readout system that enables thequantification and monitoring of transmission of Zika virus. A team consisting of an engineerand two medical doctors is assembled to build and test this diagnostic device. Ourcommercial partners have the infrastructure to build the device and reagents, test thediagnostic systems, and to globally sell and distribute the technology for use in patient care.