Application of MagLev-based isolation technology for rapid and sensitive detection of Influenza virus

Influenza is a viral pathogen responsible for annually claiming thousands of lives (~650 000 per year) and posing a significant threat to all human life. In Canada, Influenza pandemics lead to direct economic losses including medical costs (estimated mean cost per treatment: $14,612.00), and indirect losses such as substantial workplace absence (Avg 10.8 days). Additionally, the mutative nature of the virus results in annual shifts to circulating strains adding complexity to treatment and identification by making it difficult to study and synthesize preventative vaccines for the circulating virus and all of its forms. Consequently, an elusive goal of infectious disease research and prevention is the development of a rapid and sensitive test capable of isolating and detecting novel Influenza strains quickly to ultimately decrease the spread of illness. Although several strategies have been developed for isolation and detection of influenza in a timely manner, these approaches have limitations, mainly due to requiring hours of processing that contribute to potential contamination, significant loss in viral load and whole infectious particles.
Magnetic levitation is a new technique being used to isolate specific ions and proteins from complex solutions.

Faculty Supervisor:

Sepideh Pakpour

Student:

Partner:

Tufts University

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Biotechnology; Health and Related Sciences & Technology; Life Sciences (not health)

University:

The University of British Columbia - Okanagan

Program: