Medical advancements and modern scientific techniques strive to solve challenges posed to human communities, especially healthcare threats. Viruses are one of the major threats and tend to make themselves resistant to drugs and evolve new mechanisms for survival by making subtle changes in their DNA called as mutations. Today among the many viruses, Dengue virus has been a serious problem causing mortality in widespread areas. Although treatments and drugs have been developed, it is essential to make sure that we’re ready to face worse cases in future. Every family of organisms have a common DNA sequence conserved through the course of evolution, called as consensus sequences. A strategy to detect the consensus sequence of dengue virus has been attempted in a new study by researchers from Amity University, Noida and Maharishi Dayanand University, Rohtak , so that we will be able to identify even if the virus disguise themselves with DNA mutations. The researchers have introduced a new sensor to detect Dengue virus using the new technique
A DNA molecule has two strands complementary to each other, like a zipper. Probe DNA (pDNA), a single-stranded DNA sequence complementary to the consensus sequence of dengue virus was synthesized in the new study. pDNA has a tendency to bind to a target DNA (tDNA) (i.e. dengue viral DNA) when brought in proximity. The researchers used Methylene blue (MB), which serves as an indicator of pDNA-tDNA interaction by emanating electrical signals. It was also found to react differently with pDNA and pDNA-tDNA hybrid. Normally, MB binds with pDNA giving out increased response but the signal intensity decreases after the interaction as it is sandwiched between two strands of DNA. Thus, following the electrical activity reveals the dengue contamination in patient samples. The support material has been studied thoroughly by various techniques and optimal concentration of pDNA that can be loaded onto them for best signal detection has also been determined. This technique surpasses the disadvantages faced by the previous sensors, such as cross reactivity and specificity towards a particular serotype. The new sensor can be used for fast detection of dengue in suspected patients by placing it in the samples and recording the electrical activity.