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In a groundbreaking development, Cornell University researchers have unveiled a bioelectric device capable of detecting and classifying coronavirus variants, promising to revolutionize our response to future pandemics. This innovative biochip simulates the cellular environment, providing a rapid and effective tool for early virus characterization.
Advanced Viral Detection Technology
The device employs a biomembrane on a microchip, mimicking the biological steps of infection. This enables swift characterization of variants, bypassing the complexities of living systems. “We see variants like delta and omicron emerging periodically, causing widespread concern about vaccine efficacy,” said Susan Daniel, professor of chemical engineering at Cornell. “It takes time to determine the threat level of a variant, but our device can classify these variants quickly, allowing for informed decision-making.”
Unique Features of the Biochip Platform
Unlike traditional methods, the new platform replicates the infection initiation process at the cellular membrane level, tricking the virus into behaving as it would in a host cell. This allows researchers to assess how effectively a variant can deliver its genome across the biomembrane, indicating its potential threat level. “Our assays take minutes to run and are ‘label-free,’ meaning we don’t need to tag the virus to monitor its progress,” Daniel explained.
Potential Implications for Viral Research
The ability to recreate biological conditions and modify them offers a unique tool for understanding infection mechanisms. “This platform lets us decouple aspects of the infection sequence, identifying factors that promote or hinder infection,” Daniel said. This insight is crucial for developing targeted interventions and vaccines.
Adaptability Across Various Viruses
The biochip’s platform can be tailored for other viruses, such as influenza and measles, provided researchers understand the specific biological triggers for infection. “Every virus has its own way of doing things. Once we know these mechanisms, we can adapt the platform to accommodate them,” Daniel noted.
Collaborative Efforts and Support
The research, detailed in a paper published on July 3 in Nature Communications, is a collaborative effort involving doctoral student Ambika Pachaury and researchers from the University of Cambridge. The project received support from DARPA, the Army Research Office, Cornell’s Smith Fellowship for Postdoctoral Innovation, the Schmidt Futures program, and the National Science Foundation.
This revolutionary biochip not only holds promise for managing future coronavirus variants but also offers a versatile tool for tackling various viral threats, marking a significant advancement in pandemic preparedness.
Reference: “Recreating the biological steps of viral infection on a cell-free bioelectronic platform to profile viral variants of concern” by Zhongmou Chao, Ekaterina Selivanovitch, Konstantinos Kallitsis, Zixuan Lu, Ambika Pachaury, Róisín Owens and Susan Daniel, 3 July 2024, Nature Communications. DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49415-6
