Annually, 2.5 billion individuals risk contracting the dengue virus and a lack access to a simple diagnostic test for this disease. We aimed to design a diagnostic test for dengue infection by genetically engineering E. coli to express surface dengue envelope proteins. The resulting bacteria should agglutinate with dengue antibodies to form bacterial films, indicating an immune response to dengue virus in a patient serum sample. Here we demonstrate a successful proof-of-concept using E. coli expressing GFP on the surface, and are able to detect anti-GFP antibodies to a sensitivity of 0.005 ug/mL. Our system lays the groundwork for the development of a cost effective dengue screening tool, which will enable diagnosis on a broad scale and improve survival.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• McQueston, Shelby M
• Fennessy, Niamh Alice
• Thompson, Hannah Joan

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-042517-105736

Advisor

• Buckholt, Michael Allan
• Farny, Natalie

Year

• 2017

Date created

• 2017-04-25

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Biochemistry
• Biology & Biotechnology

Rights statement

• In Copyright

Last modified

• 2021-01-29