Super-rapid diagnosis of ocular viral infections by single virus detection with solid-state nanopore

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K09695
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 56060:Ophthalmology-related
• Research Institution: Osaka University
• Principal Investigator: Noriyasu Hashida 大阪大学, 大学院医学系研究科, 寄附講座准教授 (30456959)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: ウイルス / 感染症 / ナノポア / PCR / １分子検出

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We developed a nanopore detector that can rapidly detect viral particles at the single molecule level using changes in current when they pass through nanopores (through holes) in a silicon substrate with diameters of several hundred nanometers or less. To achieve single virus identification, we combined this detector with artificial intelligence (AI) that can deeply learn current waveforms. The result is a highly accurate and fast system for identifying live viruses. Herpesvirus infections will be employed as representative ocular diseases of significant importance in ophthalmology. We investigated the potential advantages of AI-nanopore technology in detecting and identifying infectious agents in cultured herpesviruses and clinical samples from herpesvirus-infected patients rapidly on-site.

Free Research Field

眼科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

従来のウイルス感染の判定は、ウイルスゲノムのPCR法による検出であったが、臨床検体を検査会社に提出して結果が得られるまでに数日の期間を要し、自施設に検査機器がある場合でも数時間を要する。より迅速な診断が求められる臨床の現場で、本研究で解析予定のナノポア検出器は、検出にかかる時間が数分でウイルス粒子の１分子検出が可能でしかもオンサイトで可能になるため、従来のヘルペスウイルス・アデノウイルス感染症をはじめとしたウイルス性眼感染症克服に向けた新しい迅速診断技術を提供できる可能性がある。