Descrizione del progetto
Diagnostica molecolare rapida, accurata ed economica sul campo o in ufficio
I test rapidi di diagnostica decentrata (POC) sono fondamentali sul campo, specialmente durante le epidemie di malattie infettive. A differenza dei risultati dei test di laboratorio, essi possono anche ridurre i tempi di attesa dei pazienti e accelerare il trattamento. Le dimensioni del mercato globale della diagnostica molecolare POC sono state valutate in oltre 1,5 miliardi di dollari nel 2018, ma sono necessari miglioramenti significativi. Una delle tecniche più sensibili per identificare i patogeni a bassa densità richiede l’amplificazione dell’acido nucleico. Attualmente, questo processo prevede passaggi complessi e il controllo della temperatura insieme a problemi di riproducibilità. FreeATPOC sta sviluppando nuovi metodi per l’amplificazione dell’acido nucleico per consentire l’elaborazione a temperatura ambiente e il rilevamento tramite smartphone, per una diagnostica molecolare POC rapida, accurata ed economica.
Obiettivo
Molecular diagnostics is still primarily a lab-based method. Emerging technologies for application at the point of care (POC) or need, i.e. where a patient or a sample is, have started gaining a big part of the molecular diagnostics market. Interestingly, available methods are divided in two groups: sophisticated instruments for ultra-sensitive temperature-regulated enzymatic amplification of nucleic acids and extremely simple paper-based immuno-diagnostic kits. Complexity, the main disadvantage of the former, results in their poor translation to several applications at the POC. Simplicity, often accompanied by failures, of the latter is the reason for their slow adoption even in resource limited areas. Our vision is an instrument-free approach that combines the advantages of both groups, i.e. a method that does not use heaters or modules that require electricity, infrastructure and maintenance, but, still, takes advantage of enzymatically-amplified nucleic acids detection. To achieve the above, novel diagnostic tools for genetic amplification based on ligases, polymerases and restriction enzymes operating at ambient temperature will be developed, combined with quantitative smartphone colorimetric/UV detection. The global applicability of the new approach will be demonstrated during infectious disease (Influenza and HIV) testing in human samples (blood and swabs) and plant pathogens (Xylella fastidiosa) in plant-tissues. In all cases, we aim for a time-to-result of less than 60 min, demonstrated sensitivities down to the clinically/field relevant values and a final cost in the order of $1 per assay. Combination of Free@POC concept with newly developed predictive models will expand its utility to monitoring disease outbreaks and their spreading. This new generation of instrument-free molecular diagnostics is expected to revolutionize nucleic acid analysis at the POC but also in applications beyond resulting in substantial societal as well as economic benefits.
Campo scientifico
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculesnucleic acids
- medical and health scienceshealth sciencesinfectious diseasesRNA virusesinfluenza
- medical and health scienceshealth sciencesinfectious diseasesRNA virusesHIV
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringinformation engineeringtelecommunicationsmobile phones
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculesproteinsenzymes
Parole chiave
Programma(i)
Invito a presentare proposte
Vedi altri progetti per questo bandoBando secondario
H2020-FETOPEN-2018-2019-2020-01
Meccanismo di finanziamento
RIA - Research and Innovation actionCoordinatore
70013 Irakleio
Grecia