Lead Inventors:
Joanne Macdonald, Ph.D.; Pavithra Vijayakumar
Rabies Fatalities Avoidable with Immediate, Affordable Post-Exposure Prophylaxis
Rabies and related neurotrophic viruses continue to be a significant cause of death in the developing world. Fatalities can be avoided with the immediate administration of a post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) regimen shortly after possible viral exposure. Since existing intra-vitam tests for rabies and related viruses are of limited reliability and require considerable expertise and expensive equipment to perform, most persons who may have been exposed to the virus are advised to undergo PEP. Because the costs of PEP are unaffordable in much of the developing world, there is a need for a low-cost, efficient, and rapid test for rabies that can clearly indicate whether a person who has potentially been exposed to the virus requires PEP and can account for the possibility of exposure to other viruses that cause rabies-like symptoms.
Automata Comprised of DNA Logic Gates Can Provide Immediate, Affordable Diagnosis
The technology is an automata that comprises several DNA logic gates. When exposed to complementary input, these gates change in configuration to release enzymes that cause fluorescence by cleaving an appropriate substrate. Each gate is designed to detect one of several virus types; if the appropriate gates are placed in a grid of wells, the fluorescence induced by the presence of a particular virus will spell out a character and digit corresponding to the viral identity.
Applications:
• Can be used to quickly determine whether a person who has been bitten by an animal has been infected with rabies or related viruses.
• Can discriminate between rabies and related viruses.
Advantages:
• In contrast to PCR-based assays that are time-consuming and expensive, this technology is easier to use, less expensive, and can provide an immediate diagnosis after possible viral exposure.
Patent Status: Patent Pending
Licensing Status: Available for Sponsored Research Support