Sensor Development and Zika Virus Detection [Image 2 of 2]

FORT BELVOIR, VA, UNITED STATES

08.16.2016

Courtesy Photo

Defense Threat Reduction Agency's Chemical and Biological Technologies Department

The rapid design, assembly and validation of paper-based biomolecular sensors for the
portable detection of Zika virus is shown here. Using sequence information from online databases, primers for isothermal RNA amplification and toehold switch-based RNA sensors are designed in silico using algorithms. Sensors are embedded into paper discs and freeze-dried along with a cell-free transcription and translation system, to be deployed in the field as colorimetric diagnostics. In the diagnostic test, viral RNA is extracted, isothermally amplified, and used to rehydrate the freeze-dried sensors, resulting in a color change from yellow to purple in the presence of Zika RNA. Strain differentiation at single-base resolution is provided by a CRISPR-based module which connects to a secondary paper-based test that also provides colorimetric output.

• Date Taken: 08.16.2016
• Date Posted: 08.16.2016 12:07
• Photo ID: 2795487
• VIRIN: 160816-A-AB123-002
• Resolution: 2237x2208
• Size: 439.46 KB
• Location: FORT BELVOIR, VA, US