Development and Validation of (Bio)Sensors for the Identification of Pathogens

Summary

The recent COVID-19 pandemic has revealed the need to develop tests that are accurate, rapid, and inexpensive for the diagnosis of infectious diseases. This problem is relevant not only for viruses, but also for bacteria and parasites: the identification of pathogens at low concentrations by simple and accurate methods is still largely unsatisfied because these microorganisms are structurally complex and are incorporated in composite and diverse biological samples, which can create relevant interferences in pathogens' detection. Direct diagnostic approaches, such as microscopic examination, culture and molecular testing are carried out in equipped laboratories and require long waiting times to obtain the results. Recently developed point-of-care (POC) tests are a group of technologies that miniaturize tests into portable devices such that they can be performed both in well-equipped laboratories and outside the conventional laboratory setting. The present study aims to explore the feasibility and adaptability of newly developed platforms to detect: 1. a virus (SARS-CoV2), 2. a bacterium (Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and 3. a protozoan parasite (Leishmania infantum) in clinical specimens, such as blood and respiratory samples. These newly developed platforms are expected to overcome the current limitations of molecular testing (high cost, time required and need for well-equipped laboratories) and rapid testing (high number of false-negative results). In addition, the newly developed platforms may have important clinical application in low-income countries, which will benefit from a simple and inexpensive approach to detect the many infectious diseases that affect millions of people each year.

Conditions

• Infections
• Infection, Bacterial
• Infection Viral
• Infection, Parasite
• SARS CoV 2 Infection
• Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Infection
• Leishmania Infantum Disease

Interventions

OTHER

Nanobiotechnology platforms

The analyses will be carried out using the novel devices, which are of two types: 1. The first type of nanobiotechnological platform encompasses the hybridization of pathogen nucleic acids - that may be present in the clinical specimen - by employing specific molecular probes. 2. The second type of nanobiotechnological platform encompasses the use of capture bacteriophages or "bait Phages" to specifically detect bacterial or protozoan cell surface antigens (in the case of P. aeruginosa or L. infantum respectively) or viral particles (in the case of SARS-CoV2) and the use of reporter bacteriophages ("transducer Phages") for the transduction of the electrochemiluminescent signal.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Bologna

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Tiziana Lazzarotto, PhD · University of Bologna, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2024-05-30

Primary Completion

2025-10-31

Completion

2025-10-31

Countries

• Italy

Study Locations