The team identified special four-stranded structures (called G-quadruplexes) in viruses like HIV-1 and monkeypox (MPV) and then tailored the molecules that emit light when it meets these G-quadruplexes (GQs).
Credit: Reuters Photo
Bengaluru: Researchers from Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR) in Bengaluru have developed a novel diagnostic tool for detection of DNA/RNA pathogens like bacteria and viruses, which is said to be better than the widely accepted PCR tests.
The project began as a way to detect SARS-CoV-2 (covid-19) said the corresponding author of the research article Prof Thimmaiah Govindraju.
“By the time we were successful with the detection of Covid-19, the third wave of the pandemic had already passed. But good thing about this platform is modular. We made use of this technique to improve detection of monekeypox and HIV-1,” he added.
First, the team identified special four-stranded structures (called G-quadruplexes) in viruses like HIV-1 and monkeypox (MPV) and then tailored the molecules that emit light when it meets these G-quadruplexes (GQs).
The fluorogenic molecular probe developed by Sumon Pratihar, Ramjayakumar Venkatesh, Mohamed Nabeel Mattath, and Thimmaiah Govindaraju also delivers more than 250-fold enhancement in detection output upon binding with a MPV GQs.
“This small molecule is called a light up probe, which by itself will not have much light emission, but after binding to this four-stranded structure that we identified, it lights up,” remarked Prof Govindraju.
“Since the probe is detecting a very specific structure in the virus, the chances of cross-activity with other molecules are lowered significantly. As a result, the number of false positives are also drastically reduced, making this a more precise and reliable method of detection,” he added.
The researchers found that just by measuring the light intensity they can detect MPV and also measure the viral load.
The team has filed a patent on the new diagnostic technology called GQ Topology-Targeted Reliable Conformational Polymorphism (GQ-RCP) platform. Recently, using this new technique, Sumon Pratihar, Vasudhar Bhat S V, and Krithi K Bhagavath led by Prof Govindaraju improved the detection of HIV-1 (type 1) virus, a retrovirus known to be the cause of Auto Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) worldwide.