ECL-based Infectious Pathogen (bio)SEnsor

Introduction

Infectious diseases are a threat to mankind since their appearance in human history. Despite the advances in science and technologies, such threats are still recurrent, as recently shown by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020-2021. This situation has revealed the urgent need for novel tools for pathogen detection that would be reliable, fast, cheap, portable, and simple.

Project Goal

The goal of ECLIPSE is to address this need with a new platform exploiting innovative ultrasensitive protocols for the detection of pathogens. ECLIPSE builds on the combination of interdisciplinary elements to facilitate the transfer to industry, including:

1. ElectroChemiLuminescence (ECL): A very sensitive transduction mechanism for realizing simple, portable, and cheap devices.
2. Bio-, nano-, and supramolecular-based signal amplification structures: These structures increase the sensitivity of detection.
3. Two recognition strategies:
   • The Phage-Sandwich technology for the whole pathogen.
   • The Surface Cooperative Hybridization technology for microbial and viral nucleic acid.

These elements work together to afford high affinity and selectivity, thus leading to high reliability.

Test Cases

We will demonstrate the feasibility and adaptability of the ECLIPSE platform with three test cases:

• A virus: SARS-CoV-2
• A bacterium: Pseudomonas aeruginosa
• A protozoan parasite: Leishmania infantum

The platform is designed to be applied to many other infectious agents, making it a "ready for the next pandemic" technology.

Impact

ECLIPSE is expected to become a game-changer in European countries, where it could be a cornerstone for fast testing and reliable tracking of infections. Additionally, it will benefit developing countries by providing a cheap and simple approach to detect the many infectious diseases that affect millions of people every year.

Validation

The project results will be validated and demonstrated at partners' premises.