Want to listen to viruses?

2001/09/03 Carton Virto, Eider - Elhuyar Zientzia

• Mikrobiologia
• Medikuntza

Researchers from the University of Cambridge have presented a novel method of virus identification in the journal Nature Biotechnology. The method is based on the sound that viruses make by releasing them from quartz crystals and is faster than usual, since the results are given in two hours. At least in the laboratory it has been very reliable.

Characteristic sound

The secret of the technique is in very small quartz crystals. First, quartz crystals are covered with an antibody for the virus to stick to the skin. Then the glass is vibrated in an electric field. Increasing the force of the electric field increases the vibration of the crystal until the virus is released. The virus, once released, emits a characteristic sound and the quartz crystal acts as a microphone: it receives the sound and turns it into an electric signal. Researchers receive the signal and identify the virus.

The laboratory has worked with the influenza virus, a good example of identifying viruses such as HIV or hepatitis virus, with very satisfactory results. Cambridge researchers believe that the new technique can be a very suitable diagnostic tool and, in this sense, have created the company Akubio.

The company will be responsible for the commercialization of technology, as well as the development of a small instrument of identification of proteins and DNA based on the same idea.

Additional information:
Nature
Science