Aptamer-Based Detection Platform for Rapid and Accurate Dengue Virus Diagnosis

A new study has developed a novel dengue virus diagnostic method combining aptamer technology with Loop-mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP), which holds promise as an ideal choice for resource-limited areas. This method can rapidly and accurately detect the dengue virus, garnering widespread attention for its convenience and low cost.

The research team tested 60 serum samples, utilizing high-affinity aptamers to capture dengue virus RNA. Results showed that the method could detect 38 dengue virus infection cases within 3.5 hours, achieving a sensitivity of 95% and a specificity of 100%, performing exceptionally well compared to traditional RT-PCR methods. More importantly, the technology showed no cross-reactivity when tested against other viral samples, such as Zika virus, demonstrating its extremely high specificity.

The main advantages of this technology lie in its simplicity and low cost. The study indicates that the APTA-RT-LAMP method does not require specialized equipment for testing, making it suitable for use in remote or resource-poor regions. Not only can this technology provide rapid results, but its accuracy also matches that of the RT-PCR method, with virtually no false positive results. This suggests that the method has the potential to become a standard technology for dengue virus detection.

The research team emphasizes that the development of this technology will not only aid in diagnosing dengue virus but also has the potential for application in diagnosing other tropical viral diseases. Future research will focus on larger-scale clinical trials to ensure the feasibility of this technology in practical applications.

Reference：

https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/spectrum.03583-23