NEW YORK (GenomeWeb) – Biosensors hold the potential to rapidly detect DNA or RNA without the need for nucleic acid amplification. Researchers at Purdue University have now developed a new biosensing method using impedimetric sensors and have applied it to mosquito-borne viruses in proof-of-principle studies.

The ultimate goal is to combine the technique with a rapid, paper-based sample prep method employing thermally actuated wax valves in order to create a point-of-care assay system to detect viruses such as Zika and dengue in human and mosquito vector samples.