Development of a Fluorescent Enzyme-Linked DNA Aptamer-Magnetic Bead Sandwich Assay and Portable Fluorometer for Sensitive and Rapid Leishmania Detection in Sandflies

• Published in: Journal of fluorescence 2014, Vol.24 (1), p.267-277
• Main Authors: Bruno, John G., Richarte, Alicia M., Phillips, Taylor, Savage, Alissa A., Sivils, Jeffrey C., Greis, Alex, Mayo, Michael W.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analytical Chemistry; Animals; Aptamers, Nucleotide - chemistry; Aptamers, Nucleotide - metabolism; Biochemistry; Biological and Medical Physics; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Biophysics; Biotechnology; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Fluorescence; Leishmania major; Leishmania major - chemistry; Leishmania major - isolation & purification; Leishmania major - metabolism; Original Paper; Peroxidase - chemistry; Peroxidase - metabolism; Protozoan Proteins - chemistry; Protozoan Proteins - isolation & purification; Protozoan Proteins - metabolism; Psychodidae - metabolism; Psychodidae - parasitology
• ISSN: 1053-0509; 1573-4994
• DOI: 10.1007/s10895-013-1315-6

A fluorescent peroxidase-linked DNA aptamer-magnetic bead sandwich assay is described which detects as little as 100 ng of soluble protein extracted from Leishmania major promastigotes with a high molarity chaotropic salt. Lessons learned during development of the assay are described and elucidate the pros and cons of using fluorescent dyes or nanoparticles and quantum dots versus a more consistent peroxidase-linked Amplex Ultra Red (AUR; similar to resazurin) fluorescence version of the assay. While all versions of the assays were highly sensitive, the AUR-based version exhibited lower variability between tests. We hypothesize that the AUR version of this assay is more consistent, especially at low analyte levels, because the fluorescent product of AUR is liberated into bulk solution and readily detectable while fluorophores attached to the reporter aptamer might occasionally be hidden behind magnetic beads near the detection limit. Conversely, fluorophores could be quenched by nearby beads or other proximal fluorophores on the high end of analyte concentration, if packed into a small area after magnetic collection when an enzyme-linked system is not used. A highly portable and rechargeable battery-operated fluorometer with on board computer and color touchscreen is also described which can be used for rapid (