Dengue Fever Traps Made of DNA

Nov-29-19 An innovative DNA trap fights Dengue fever by detecting the virus in the bloodstream and capturing it before it infects the cells.

The traps were created by researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, who used structural DNA nanotechnology to fold small pieces of DNA into a five-pointed star. Molecules that the Dengue viral latches bind to, call aptamers, are attached to the tips and vertices of the star structure, where they align with the latches the virus uses to attach itself to cells. The Dengue virus is attracted to and trapped by the DNA structure, preventing the virus from infecting the cells. The DNA structures will also become fluorescent as the virus attaches to them, which can be seen under a microscope and aids in the diagnosis of the disease.

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