Test for common illness virus developed in region

The biosensor technology developed by researchers at Leeds University can not only detect the presence of adenovirus but also the strain and the number of particles present.

The virus causes many illnesses ranging from the common cold to gastroenteritis. People with strong immune systems are not badly affected by it but for those whose system is weak or depressed it can prove fatal.

Existing tests for viruses remain complicated, time consuming and require specialist preparation of samples to identify virus DNA. But using the new technique, they could be much quicker, simpler and ultimately less costly and lead to faster treatment for patients.

Professor Paul Millner, of the university’s faculty of biological sciences, who supervised the study, said: “This is a significant leap forward in testing for viruses.

“For the first time we’ve been able to test for the presence of a whole virus, rather than having to seek out its genetic material, and the first time the number of virus particles has been counted using a lab-on-a-chip device.”

The new technique uses antibodies attached to an electrical sensor. By measuring the sensor’s electrical changes, researchers were able to identify how many virus particles were present and determine the type of virus.

Rebecca Caygill, the PhD student behind the study, said: “There’s a long way to go before the technology might reach a doctor’s surgery, but we’ve proven the concept.”

The research was funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council and ELISHA Systems Ltd, which is commercialising the biosensor.