A team of researchers from Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) recently discovered a new method called parallel protein analysis to detect mircoorganismal activity in human bodily fluids. They have designed a test that can identify thousands of different proteins and detect the presence of viruses. The new method is very quick and cost effective. One of the chemists involved in the research, Professor Carsten Sönnichsen, said “ we see possible applications this technique in medicine where it could be used, for example, for the rapid diagnosis of a wide range of diseases” reflecting on likely uses of the test. The analysis is almost as easy as a simple pregnancy test. All that is needed for the test is a tiny drop of blood, saliva, or some other bodily fluid. The accuracy and reliability of the testing makes it possible to determine if the protein came from a harmless microorganism or a dangerous pathogen.

The sensors on the machine need to be as small as possible with nano-particle size being the most desirable. JGU chemists designed their machine to have sensors the size of the tip of a pin. Even this small surface area is capable of performing hundreds of different individual tests. The ‘testing strip’ is composed of a glass capillary tube and gold nano-particles.  The gold nano-particles serve as sensors because they are prepared with short strands of DNA that bind to specific proteins. When the protein attaches to one of these strands, the corresponding nano-particle changes its color. A spectrometer is used to detect the changes.

Four proteins were used to show the capabilities of the new process to detect concentrations at the nanomolar level and to show how the sensors can be used more than once. The authors go on to say “we see the potential to extend our method to the simultaneous detection of hundred or even thousands of different target substances.” The potential of this low-cost technique is profound. It could be used for many things including identifying environmental toxins, different flu strands, and even doping drugs.