title: Qualitative and quantitative detection of T7 bacteriophages using paper based sandwich ELISA.
abstract: Viruses cause many infectious diseases and consequently epidemic health threats. Paper based diagnostics and filters can offer attractive options for detecting and deactivating pathogens. However, due to their infectious characteristics, virus detection using paper diagnostics is more challenging compared to the detection of bacteria, enzymes, DNA or antigens. The major objective of this study was to prepare reliable, degradable and low cost paper diagnostics to detect viruses, without using sophisticated optical or microfluidic analytical instruments. T7 bacteriophage was used as a model virus. A paper based sandwich ELISA technique was developed to detect and quantify the T7 phages in solution. The paper based sandwich ELISA detected T7 phage concentrations as low as 100 pfu/mL to as high as 10(9) pfu/mL. The compatibility of paper based sandwich ELISA with the conventional titre count was tested using T7 phage solutions of unknown concentrations. The paper based sandwich ELISA technique is faster and economical compared to the traditional detection techniques. Therefore, with proper calibration and right reagents, and by following the biosafety regulations, the paper based technique can be said to be compatible and economical to the sophisticated laboratory diagnostic techniques applied to detect pathogenic viruses and other microorganisms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3A 2A7, Canada; Department of Chemical Engineering, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh. Electronic address: mohid@buet.ac.bd.
authors.forename: Mohidus Samad
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H9R5X3, Canada.
authors.forename: Tripti
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pande
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3A 2A7, Canada. Electronic address: theo.vandeven@mcgill.ca.
authors.forename: Theo G M
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: van de Ven
mesh_terms: D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D017123:Bacteriophage T7 / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods*; D010209:Paper
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral
keywords: Antibodies; Paper diagnostics; Sandwich ELISA; T7 bacteriophages; Viruses