Development of DNA toehold switch based Zika virus sensor
Loading...
Authors
Jimcosky, Kara
Issue Date
2019-05
Type
Electronic thesis
Thesis
Thesis
Language
ENG
Keywords
Chemistry
Alternative Title
Abstract
The Zika virus (ZIKV) is a flavivirus known to cause several birth defects such as microcephaly and underdeveloped neural tissue in unborn babies of infected mothers. Individuals with ZIKV also have a risk of contracting severe Guillain-Barre Syndrome, an autoimmune disease that destroys nerve cells and can cause paralysis. Current methods for ZIKV detection include IgM Antibody Capture Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (MAC-ELISA) and Reverse-Transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR). Cross-reactivity of the IgM antibodies with other flaviviruses such as Dengue virus (DENV) and Chikungunya requires additional confirmation via plaque-reduction neutralization testing (PRNT), an expensive, and complex process. This work presents a unique, DNA-based method of detection which is specific, sensitive, simple, cost effective, and could ultimately become field applicable.
Description
May 2019
School of Science
School of Science
Full Citation
Publisher
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY