Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer Aptasensor for Norovirus Detection

摘要

Norovirus (NoV) is known to be a highly contagious seasonal virus. It is the main cause for acute gastroenteritis and affects people of all ages. An early detection of NoV could prevent a sudden outburst and save thousands of lives. Current detection systems are based on molecular assays. For example, RT-qPCR assays are widely used for the rapid, sensitive and accurate detection of NoV in biological specimens. However, the molecular methods are drastically laborious, time consuming and expensive and difficult to use for on-site measurements. Therefore, a fast, simple and inexpensive method for NoV measurement is highly required. The objective of this study is to develop a fast, simple and inexpensive on-site NoV detection method based on aptamers and fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) by graphene oxide (GO). By using the aptamer specific to murine NoV (AG3), we developed a FRET aptasensor for murine NoV (MNV). AG3 would attach strongly on to GO surface, but by increasing the pH in the probe solution AG3 would detach from the GO surface proportionally to the MNV concentration. Using this method, a successful calibration curve was generated for MNV. The reproducibility, selectivity and limit of detection of this method is currently under consideration.