Dengue Virus “Trap”

Researchers recently developed a method for identifying the dengue virus that is faster and more cost-effective than traditional laboratory testing. The technique should also be more sensitive, enabling diagnosis even before symptoms develop.

The surface of the dengue virus contains proteins (also called antigens) that attach to the cells of the organism it infects. These proteins are arranged on the spherical surface in a specific pattern that may vary from virus to virus. The researchers constructed a DNA scaffold that mirrors that pattern (in this case, a five-pointed star) and placed molecules that the antigens will bind with at strategic locations. Once the scaffold is attached, the star fluoresces to signal the presence of the dengue virus. The test can be performed in about two minutes at a cost of about 50 cents.

Multiple points of attachment make the bond very strong, and because the DNA star specifically targets viruses with that pattern, precision is very high. The same principle can be adapted to other viruses and even other cells, such as cancers. Techniques like this could prove to be instrumental in the fight against COVID-19.