SMILE - Early stage detection and differentiation of respiratory virus with a multimodal screening platform based on microfluidics and DNA biosensors

Lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) are a leading cause of mortality and morbidity in children worldwide, especially among the population of low-and middle-income countries (LMICs). LRTI stand as the most common childhood illnesses and account for almost half of the hospitalizations below the age of five. While 70% of LRTI in young children are caused by viral pathogens, the lack of access to rapid, accurate and costeffective diagnostics in primary health care structures in LMICs massively contributes to complications, extended hospital stays and long-time sequelae.

The SMILE project (Saliva-based MIcrofluidic “Lab-on-chip” devicE for Paediatric Respiratory Viral Illness diagnostics) will iteratively develop and optimize a highly sensitive, accurate and cost-effective microfluidic device (MFD) for the early diagnosis of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), Metapneumovirus (HMPV), Parainfluenzavirus (HPIV), Influenza A & B (IAV, IBV) and Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in low volume saliva samples. In addition, the environmental screening strategy will target SARS-CoV-2, IAV/IBV and RSV as key indicators of epidemic outbreaks.

Team contributions include the fundamental engineering of DNA biosensors for viral RNA screening using probe design, surface chemistry, functional nanoparticles (EPFL) with microfluidics technology, optoelectronics, prototyping (SUPSI), followed by application and diagnostic validation in human clinical samples, biobank, reference diagnostics, regulatory requirements, training and oversight (Swiss TPH) in the clinical setting of Switzerland and Ivory Coast, through patient recruitment, sample management, documentation (CSRS).

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