DNA-BASED NANO-CONSTRUCTS FOR VISUAL DETECTION OF RIFAMPIN RESISTANT MYCOBACTERIUM TUBERCULOSIS

Ryan Connelly, Sheila Solarez, and Yulia V. Gerasimova

Department of Chemistry, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32816-2366, USA

DNA is a promising biomaterial for the construction of nano-devices and biosensors. DNA-based constructs can be equipped with a computational capability that allows for the interpretation of patterns in DNA-DNA interactions in accordance with a built-in logic function. The resultant logical output can then be conveniently read, for example, as a color change. Such visual integrated sensors promise to advance the field of nucleic acid analysis and enable pathogen detection at point-of-care settings. Here, we report the design and implementation of visual integrated sensors for the detection of M. tuberculosis, a causative agent for tuberculosis disease. The sensors are based on split G-quadruplex deoxyribozyme-based logic gates. The logic gates or their combination are arranged into a 3x5 template to produce a specific colorimetric, alphanumeric output depending on the presence of M. tuberculosis and, if bacteria are present, whether or not they are resistant to rifampin, a common drug used to treat the disease. Therefore, by providing a visual message, the array of integrated sensors can unambiguously detect the presence of either rifampin-sensitive or resistant M. tuberculosis within minutes without the need for sophisticated and expensive equipment.