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Novel DNA sensor can rapidly detect antibiotic-resistant pathogens

23 March 2021 | News

Researchers develop novel culture-free self-driven DNA nanosensor that can rapidly and accurately detect antibiotic-resistant pathogens

Photo Credit: u-fukui.ac.jp

Photo Credit: u-fukui.ac.jp

The persistent overuse of antibiotics has led to the evolution of antibiotic-resistant pathogens, or “superbugs,” which can cause severe life-threatening infections that must be diagnosed and treated early on. However, antibiotic sensitivity assays used to detect resistance rely on cell culture that can take several days. Overcoming this limitation, researchers have now designed a novel self-driven DNA nanosensor that can rapidly detect methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, a lethal superbug, with high sensitivity and specificity. Novel DNA nanosensor is a cost-effective and rapid detection device that can strengthen the war against antibiotic resistance. Findings are published in Biosensors and Bioelectronics.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), a particularly vicious group of superbugs that have developed resistance to the antibiotic methicillin, is a major cause of hospital-acquired infections. However, antibiotic sensitivity tests are incredibly lengthy processes.

In their search for a simpler and more reliable detection tool, researchers from Taiwan and Japan have now developed a highly sensitive culture-free and self-driving DNA nanosensor that can accurately detect lethal superbugs like MRSA. The nanosensor is primarily based on Brownian motion, a term used to refer to the self-driven random and erratic movement of microparticles.

Dr. Hiroaki Sakamoto, an Associate Professor at the University of Fukui, Japan, and co-author of the study, says,  “We have designed a novel Brownian motion-enabled DNA nanosensor that can specifically detect MRSA DNA with high sensitivity, enabling rapid and precise sensing of a microorganism’s DNA by diffusometry without sophisticated DNA amplification or cell culture.”

The preparation of these sensors took place in three steps. First, the researchers prepared short sequences of DNA, called oligonucleotide probes, that could recognize two different target sequences in the DNA of MRSA. To one of these probes, they attached fluorescent beads to be used for accurate visual quantification of particle movement. To the other, they attached bulky gold nanoparticles, which decrease the diffusivity or the rate of movement of the nanobead. When mixed together with MRSA DNA, the researchers saw that both the probes “sandwiched” the DNA, making their detection easy and rapid. The researchers also confirmed the specificity of the sensor from its inability to bind other DNA from other bacteria such as Escherichia coli.

The team’s novel biosensor design not only eliminates the need for time-consuming and laborious cell culture, but also simplifies sensor configuration without the requirement of any complex fabrication, resources, and external energy sources. Moreover, the nanosensor significantly decreases the detection time to a mere 10 seconds! Besides, it has a low limit of detection and can detect minute concentrations of up to 10 pM, thus facilitating quick and accurate diagnosis of infectious pathogens from extremely limited samples. It can also be customized for the detection of other pathogens apart from MRSA by modifying the target DNA binding sequence.

Regarding the important long-term applications of their work, Prof. Sakamoto explains, “In order to coexist with the threat of infectious pathogens, rapid and simple testing detection technology that can enable timely diagnosis and treatment is essential. Even if a new pathogen emerges, the social disruption that may occur due to the outbreak can be minimized as much as possible in future using DNA detection sensors.”

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