Design of a novel platform for CMV detection in new-borns and immunosuppressed patients

Author

Ibáñez Fort, Joan

Abstract

Currently, the development of new diagnostic techniques is experiencing unprecedented growth. Much of this growth is due to the emergence of new diseases that raise alarms about the importance of early detection, in order to minimize the problems that may affect the patient. However, there are many diseases that, although already known, also require from new detection techniques. One of these known diseases is an infection caused by a virus known as cytomegalovirus. While they are viruses that do not cause serious complications to healthy adult individuals, for immunocompromised or new-born patients it can lead to more relevant health problems.
All of these infections have been diagnosed using different techniques that have evolved throughout history. Recently, the CRISPR-Cas13a enzyme system for the detection of genetic material has shown potential to be used as a diagnostic technique for different viral diseases in humans.
In this project, a bibliographic review of the cytomegalovirus as well as the symptoms of its infection and the current techniques used to diagnose it have been carried out. At the same time, work has been done on the design of a diagnostic methodology based on the use of microfluidic chips combined with DNA isothermal preamplification and the detection of genetic material from the CRISPR-Cas13a system.

Director

Fornaguera i Puigvert, Cristina 

Degree

IQS SE - Undergraduate Program in Biotechnology

Date

2021-09-07