Molecular diagnostics offers an advantage of the genotype-specific identification of microorganisms. Nucleic acid amplification combined with a hybridization probe analysis allows bacterial strain typing and analysis of antibacterial drug resistance determinants. In attempt to deliver molecular diagnostics to those who need it, a number of point-of-care compatible assay has been suggested. Here, we took advantage of isothermal amplification of a pathogen’s nucleic acids followed by the detection of the amplified fragment using deoxyribozyme-based hybridization probes with a color change as a signal readout. Our unique approach to the probe design allows for accurate sequence-specific detection of bacterial and/or viral nucleic acids with a possibility of differentiation between closely related species or strains (down to single-base differences in the analyzed genome fragments). The probes overcome a challenge of interrogating the targets with stable secondary structures. By embedding a molecular computation element into the probe design, a more user-friendly output, such as an alphanumerical character, can be employed.

Approaches toward point-of-care molecular diagnostics of infectious diseases

2019 Spring National Meeting

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