Handheld Aptamer-Magnetic Bead-Quantum Dot Assays for Crimean-Congo Fever

Operational Technologies Corporation (OpTech) has completed a successful Phase I proof-of-concept for a plastic-adherent DNA aptamer-magnetic bead (MB) plus aptamer-fluorescent nanoparticle assay for Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) virus in serum. By partitioning the assay away from the bulk solution, the signal-to-noise ratio increases greatly. Assays have been lyophilized and rehydrated with little or no loss of performance against key surface peptides, an albumin-peptide conjugate and irradiated CCHF virus. Therefore, OpTech proposes to continue development by testing the assay in serum with viable CCHF virus of several types and other related and unrelated viruses in BSL-4 laboratory facilities of the Southwest Research Foundation for Biomedical Research (SwFBR) co-located with OpTech in San Antonio. OpTech will conduct several rounds of live virus testing with the SwFBR and, if necessary, re-select aptamer sequences to detect the broadest possible array of CCHF viruses with ultrasensitivity. OpTech’s commercial off-the-shelf handheld and battery-operated fluorometer will also be refitted with a new LED excitation source, red band pass emission filter, power adaptor for military vehicles, coupler to a PDA or small laptop, and more user friendly firmware. All assay engineering changes, protocols and formulations will be documented in detail in order to seek FDA approval.