RNA sensor development for Zika virus detection

• Grant number: 16/02520-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: August 01, 2016
• End date: July 31, 2018
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Genetics - Molecular Genetics and Genetics of Microorganisms
• Principal Investigator: Danielle Biscaro Pedrolli
• Grantee: Gabriela Barbosa de Paiva
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas (FCFAR). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araraquara. Araraquara , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The accurate diagnosis of viral diseases such as Zika, Dengue and Chikungunya relies on time-consuming and expensive laboratory procedures like ELISA and RT-PCR. Therefore, they have limited use, causing difficulty in the precise diagnosis, especially in epidemic situations as experienced in Brazil in 2015. The differentiation between infections by the three-mentioned virus has gained importance since cases of Guillain-Barre syndrome and microcephaly in newborns were associated with Zika infections. In this work, we propose the development of RNA sensors for identification of Zika virus. Such molecular sensors will be based on a regulatory RNA system capable of activating gene expression in vitro in the presence of viral RNA. The gene product will then be displayed in response to the test. (AU)