DNA-based electrochemical biosensor development for pathogen detection

Abstract

Infectious diseases have dramatically increased in recent decades resulting in nearly 13 million deaths every year, mainly due to slow diagnosis, delayed treatment, and lack of equipment necessary for early detection of disease and prevention of its spread. It is vital to develop rapid and accurate diagnostic techniques for the detection of these life-threatening microorganisms, as the current detection systems have sensitivity or specificity problems and are generally time-consuming. Since electrochemical methods offer high sensitivity, portability, accuracy, and cost-efficiency, they are an excellent platform to use in the development of new biosensors. This work demonstrates initial steps toward the development of detection systems for pathogenic fungus Histoplasma capsulatum, and pathogenic bacteria V. cholerae, using electrochemical detection methods. The first part of the dissertation presents a DNA-based enzymatic bioassay platform developed to identify Histoplasma DNA in sample solutions. The second part demonstrates the potential for azure A to be used as an electro-active intercalation molecule in DNA hybridization sensors. Square wave voltammetry and chronoamperometry were used as electrochemical detection methods to determine DNA hybridization.--Author's abstract