title: Artificial receptors in serologic tests for the early diagnosis of dengue virus infection.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Because of the range and nonspecificity of clinical presentations of dengue virus infections, we felt there was a need to create diagnostic tests. We used artificial receptors for the virus to develop serologic assays to detect dengue virus infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  We coated a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) with molecularly imprinted polymers specific for nonstructural protein 1 of flavivirus. These artificial receptors were specifically created on a QCM chip by polymerization of monomers and were cross-linked in the presence of the epitope site of nonstructural protein 1. We tested serum samples from patients with confirmed cases of dengue reported to the Center for Disease Control in Taipei. Samples were diluted 100-fold; no other sample pretreatment was used. The QCM response was compared with results of monoclonal ELISA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  QCM signals were >15 Hz in 18 of 21 (86%) of dengue samples and in 0 of 16 control samples. The correlation (r2) of the QCM response and the ELISA result was 0.73. Within-run and run-to-run imprecisions (CV) were 4%-28% and 10%-32%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The described assay offers a serologic technique for diagnosis of early viremia. The results illustrate the potential of well-organized polymers on the highly sensitive sensor system for diagnostic and biotechnological applications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, National Dong-Hwa University, Hualien, Taiwan. dftai@mail.ndhu.edu.tw
authors.forename: Dar-Fu
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Tai
authors.forename: Chung-Yin
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Tzong-Zeng
authors.initials: TZ
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Jyh-Hsiung
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Pei-Yun
authors.initials: PY
authors.lastname: Shu
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D015374:Biosensing Techniques; D003715:Dengue / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000821:virology; D003716:Dengue Virus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D000939:Epitopes; D006801:Humans; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D011791:Quartz; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D000939:Epitopes; C100315:NS1 protein, Flavivirus; D011108:Polymers; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins; D011791:Quartz