Project Number: 5430-32000-005-16
Project Type: General Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Dec 31, 2010
End Date: Sep 30, 2013

Objective:
The long term goal of this project is the development of rapid, reliable, and sensitive diagnostic assays for the identification of zoonotic viruses that are suitable for use in point-of-care facilities, as well as in the field for use during times of natural or intentionally caused disease epidemics.

Approach:
The feasibility of this goal will be demonstrated in the proposed research by the development of Au nanoparticle-mediated indirect and direct capture assays for arboviruses including Rift Valley Fever Virus (RVFV) or antibodies to these viruses. The detection technology is based upon surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy, an analytical tool that is well known for its high detection specificity and sensitivity and which affords several advantages over other nucleic acid detection and immunological technologies currently in use. This includes the reduction in assay costs by affording sensitivity without current amplification technologies and easy adaptation to point-of-care use. The primary focus of the proposed studies will be the demonstration and evaluation of the relative efficacies of alternative in vitro model assays, followed by the translation of these findings to the development of an optimized assay for detecting genetic material, antigen or antibodies to arboviruses.