Engineered RNA-sensor on filter-paper discs that can distinguish between Zika and Coronavirus

Engineered RNA-sensor on filter-paper discs that can distinguish between Zika and Coronavirus

Publication date: Jun 25, 2025

Together, we started meeting our Canadian collaborators, designing sequences, and requesting DNA synthesis companies to make the desired sequences. To this end, we borrowed a viral sequence called the translational enhancer from the virus T7, which infects bacteria (called a bacteriophage). Very few people knew what was going to happen next or that it would be two years before we would return to something like normalcy. Using just 37 base pairs of the COVID genome, part of the N-gene, we replaced the existing Zika Virus sensor. One additional step was required to reduce costs further, and then we sent the sensors by courier to our collaborators in Chile. Despite all kinds of hurdles, from restrictions surrounding in-lab work to a lack of funding and experience, we moved ahead. We could also hire a project assistant, Rudvi Pednekar, who also came on board.

Concepts Keywords
2025image Based
Biotechnology Began
Canada Canadian
Talented Covid
Tuberculosis Detect
Discs
India
Lab
Pardee
Rna
Sensor
Sensors
Synthetic
Viral
Virus

Semantics

Type Source Name
disease IDO cell
disease MESH death
disease IDO organism
disease MESH COVID-19
drug DRUGBANK Spinosad
disease IDO protein
disease MESH tuberculosis
pathway KEGG Tuberculosis
drug DRUGBANK Kale
disease IDO bacteria
disease IDO production

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