Location: Virus and Prion Research
Project Number: 5030-32000-228-017-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Aug 1, 2022
End Date: May 28, 2025
Objective:
Develop biosensors to improve diagnostics and study the pathogenesis of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in white-tailed deer.
Approach:
The research effort being proposed will involve 2 approaches to meet the objective. For Approach A, we propose a subepidermal biosensor for the recognition and quantification of chronic wasting disease (CWD) prion protein using molecularly imprinted cavities (MIC). We will investigate selectivity, sensitivity, response time, lifetime, power consumption, and transmission distance of the subepidermal prion biosensor. The procedures include (1) calibrating sensor responses to various concentrations of prions, (2) testing selectivity in the presence of interfering proteins, (3) compensating environment variations (skin temperature, moisture, and environmental humidity) induced measurement errors, and (4) conducting initial animal testing with deer. For Specific Approach B, we propose a wireless capsule sensor for measuring the pH, temperature, and mobility of a deer’s rumen. The capsule sensor will be placed in the rumen for long-term monitoring, providing valuable information about the pathobiology of chronic wasting disease. We will validate the sensor in terms of pH, accuracy, power transfer, data transmission, and a lifetime of the sensor.
