DNA Microarray Scanner Used to Combat Infectious Diseases

Basic Principles of DNA Microarray Scanners

DNA microarray scanners are composed of precisely arranged biomolecules (nucleic acids, proteins, peptides, glycans, etc.) on a carrier surface (usually a microscope slide) at known positions, forming a tiny matrix. Patient serum, cell lysates, or purified DNA samples are incubated on the DNA microarray scanner. Fluorescent scanners, such as InnoScan, are then used to detect fluorescence with higher sensitivity and a wider dynamic range, gathering reliable data. DNA microarray scanners excel over other technologies because they can simultaneously detect multiple interactions, possess high throughput capability, and can test a large number of samples using small amounts of reagents and samples.

Use of DNA Microarray Scanners for Infectious Pathogen Detection and Disease Diagnosis

DNA microarray scanners can detect pathogens, such as viruses or bacteria. The multi-parameter detection capability of DNA microarray scanners allows detection of different viruses on a single slide. One DNA microarray scanner can simultaneously test 100 different viruses. In 2015, Martinez and colleagues designed a DNA microarray scanner for simultaneous detection of various gastrointestinal viruses linked to pediatric gastroenteritis. They validated the DNA microarray scanner for detecting 10 different viruses, showing sensitivity similar to or higher than RT-PCR. Researchers also noted that DNA microarray scanners could be used to analyze co-infections with more than one virus, helping understand the cause of pediatric gastroenteritis. Similarly, the SMAvirusChip developed by Khan MJ and colleagues is a DNA microarray scanner designed to detect viruses transmitted by small mammals and arthropods. The SMAvirusChip v2 DNA microarray scanner chip contains 8 regions, each with 15,000 60-mer oligonucleotide probes, capable of detecting 416 viruses, including Dengue (DENV) and Zika viruses. The authors tested the sensitivity of the SMAvirusChip v2 using serially diluted Dengue virus samples and compared it to classical RT-PCR. Results showed it was 10 times less sensitive than RT-PCR, with a detection limit of 2600 RNA copies per milliliter. These studies collectively demonstrate the effectiveness of using DNA microarray scanners as tools for patient virus monitoring and screening.

Some diseases are challenging to diagnose due to a lack of specific physical symptoms or clinical markers. For example, upper respiratory tract diseases may be caused by various viruses but have the same clinical symptoms. Diagnostic difficulties can complicate patient diagnosis and affect epidemiological monitoring. To address this problem, Marina Plotnikova from the Smorodintsev Influenza Research Institute in St. Petersburg, Russia, developed an antibody DNA microarray scanner capable of distinguishing six common viruses of upper respiratory diseases: IAV, IBV, RSV, hAdV, hPIV2, and hPIV3.

This detection is a miniaturized multiplex ELISA sandwich assay based on DNA microarray scanners, with a detection limit slightly lower than classical ELISA. The advantages of this detection method include multi-parameter detection and time savings. The authors claim it is possible to increase the number of pathogens detected simultaneously to about 50.