The Analytical Spectroscopy and Sensors research group has a long history in the development of electrochemical sensors for the detection and quantification of contaminants and clinical parameters of interest that present difficulties to be measured with the usual methods.In recent years, they have developed analytical procedures to quantify Ochratoxin A, Fumonisin, Deoxynivalenol, and Cocaine. Its latest target has been Human Cytomegalovirus (HCMV), a genus of Herpesvirus that can cause serious infections. It mainly attacks the salivary glands and its infection can be serious or fatal for patients suffering from immunodeficiency, as well as for fetuses during pregnancy. They generally affect both immunocompetent and immunosuppressed people.
Until now, detection of this virus has been carried out using long antibody and glycoprotein capture systems, after amplification by PCR, which implied slow, expensive procedures and required many laboratory operations.
The sensor developed by the GEAS group allows to detect and quantify quickly and selectively: although there is more than one type of virus in the sample, it only detects the ‘target’. Contrary to widespread popular belief, a ‘sensor’ is not strictly necessary to be a physical object: ‘The development of a sensor requires the design of a specific biorecognition procedure and a device for converting that biorecognition into a measurable signal. The method is applied first in artificial doped samples and later in real urine samples ”, explains emeritus professor of Analytical Chemistry Juan Ramón Castillo.
The main contribution of this method is the immediacy and high selectivity it offers. It only responds to Cytomegalovirus, without interference. The group’s publication in the Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis establishes a comparison with the rest of the methods currently used in cases of HCMV detection.
The work corresponds to a collaboration with the Professor of Analytical Chemistry Julia Arcos, from the University of Burgos, who works in the field of enzymatic electrochemical sensors, and with a group from the University of Beira (Portugal). Researchers from the three universities involved in this project have worked with Cytomegalovirus as a target for almost three years.
This commercially developed sensor could be used in the hospital setting, in cases where it is necessary to quickly and easily determine if the Herpesvirus causing a serious infection is of the Human Cytomegalovirus genus.
Reference: Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis 156 (2018) 372-378