Development of a general point-of-care diagnostic platform for sexually transmitted infections using high-affinity aptamers

As we are combating a rise in cases of several sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBIs) within Canada and outside, we must have a fast and accurate method to detect the infections at the point of care and are useful under resource-limited settings. The goal of this proposal is to adapt and optimize existing technologies for the detection of bacterial and viral pathogens into rapid point-of-care tests for gonorrhea, syphilis, and mpox as three representative STBBIs. The tests target specific protein biomarkers associated with each pathogen using man-made strands of DNA called aptamers. Upon binding to the intended biomarker, each aptamer will convert the presence of the matching pathogen into an easily detectable signal using an easy-to-use device. The devices for the test are simple and cheap, like at-home COVID-19 tests or glucose meters. The test focuses on swabs from skin lesions and throats as a sample source, ensuring the test can be performed by untrained people. Fast reactions, in combination with test components that are highly stable in storage conditions, allow the entire process to be completed in ~20 minutes by untrained people, making it suitable for use in any care setting. Our team has already completed proof-of-concept studies for most components of the test. We will aim to optimize and integrate the components into a testing kit and validate the results with real-life samples. We have clinicians on our team who have access to suitable real-life samples and plan to work with a Canadian company to eventually manufacture and distribute the tests. Taken together, we think our proposed approach can help detect STBBIs more quickly and accurately. This fast detection allows for immediate treatment, limiting the spread of these diseases. Additionally, the proposed tests can be used in resource-limited regions.