09 Jul New Molecular Device Can Quickly Detect Dangerous Superbugs

MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Yingfu Li, PhD
Professor, Dept of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences and
Dept of Chemistry and Chemical Biology
McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada

Medical Research: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?

Dr. Li: Simple, accurate and sensitive diagnostic tests are highly sought-after in modern medicine. Take bacterial infection as an example. Many microbial pathogens pose serious threats to public health and are responsible for many annual outbreaks that result in numerous human illnesses and deaths. Early and accurate detection of specific pathogens has long been recognized as a crucial strategy in the control of infectious diseases because such a measure can provide timely care of patients, prevent potential outbreaks, and minimize the impact of on-going epidemics. To detect the infection early, we need highly sensitive tests.

We have developed a molecular device made of DNA that can be turned on by a molecule of choice, such as a biomarker for a disease. When it gets switched on, the system will undergo massive signal amplification allowing for extremely sensitive detection of the target molecule. The test has the best sensitivity ever reported for a detection system of this kind – it is as much as 10,000 times more sensitive than other detection systems. The scientific report can be found at http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/anie.201503182/abstract

Medical Research: What should clinicians and patients take away from your report?

Dr. Li: he test we have developed is very versatile and can be applied for various diseases. We are in the process of developing several clinically useful tests that can be used to easily and quickly identify dangerous superbugs including C. difficile and MRSA.

Medical Research: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?

Dr. Li: We wish to adapt this assay on paper, so as to create litmus paper-like sensors. These simple devices would completely eliminate the need for lab instruments, allowing users—family physicians, for example—to run the test.

Citation:

Meng Liu, Wenqing Zhang, Qiang Zhang, John D. Brennan, Yingfu Li. Biosensing by Tandem Reactions of Structure Switching, Nucleolytic Digestion, and DNA Amplification of a DNA Assembly. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 2015; DOI: 10.1002/anie.201503182

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Yingfu Li, PhD Professor, Dept of Biochemistr (2015). New Molecular Device Can Quickly Detect Dangerous Superbugs 

Last Updated on July 9, 2015 by Marie Benz MD FAAD