Universal Pathogen Capture via Viral Marking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for detecting blood-borne pathogens, such as bacterial infections, are slow and require prior knowledge of the pathogen, making it difficult to diagnose sepsis promptly, which can be fatal.
Innovation Solution
Introducing a viral agent that causes unknown pathogens in a sample to display a universally recognized element, allowing for their capture using a binding partner, enabling the isolation of pathogens regardless of their type, even at low concentrations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If traditional lab culture methods are used to detect bacterial infections, then the diagnosis can be performed with simple equipment, but the detection time is extended to days, delaying sepsis prevention
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a viral agent that causes unknown pathogens to display a universally recognized element before capture. This preliminary action of modifying the pathogen to express a common marker enables subsequent rapid detection and isolation, transforming a slow culture-based approach into a fast capture-based method without requiring days of incubation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a viral agent as an intermediary to transfer a universally recognized element (such as a fluorescent protein or epitope) to the unknown pathogen. This intermediary approach allows the pathogen to be marked for detection without requiring prior knowledge of its identity, enabling rapid identification and isolation while maintaining diagnostic accuracy
2Adaptability or versatility
If molecular methods requiring prior pathogen knowledge are used, then the detection can be performed rapidly, but the method becomes inapplicable when the pathogen identity is unknown
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal detection system where the viral agent can infect and mark multiple types of unknown pathogens with a single universally recognized element. This universal approach allows one capture moiety (such as an antibody or aptamer against the marked element) to isolate any pathogen that has been marked, regardless of its specific identity, thereby achieving both versatility and productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The viral agent serves as a universal intermediary that bridges the gap between unknown pathogen diversity and the need for specific detection. By introducing this intermediary that imparts a common marker, the system can detect and isolate any pathogen type without requiring pre-existing knowledge of the specific pathogen's molecular characteristics
3Measurement precision
If capture methods requiring prior pathogen knowledge are used, then the isolation can be specific, but the method requires extensive information about the pathogen that is not always available
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary modification of the unknown pathogen by introducing a viral agent that causes the pathogen to display a universally recognized element. This preliminary marking action enables subsequent specific isolation using capture moieties targeted against this element, achieving high specificity without requiring any prior information about the pathogen's natural surface markers or molecular characteristics
Solution Approach 2:
The viral agent acts as an intermediary information carrier that provides the necessary targeting information. Instead of requiring extensive information about the unknown pathogen, the system uses the viral agent to introduce a known, recognizable element that serves as a handle for specific capture, thereby eliminating the information gap while maintaining isolation specificity
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Facilitates early detection and characterization of bacterial infections, reducing the incidence and impact of sepsis by allowing for the isolation of unknown pathogens from samples, including those present at low concentrations, using methods like affinity purification and magnetic separation.
Implementation Method 1
Introducing a viral agent that causes unknown pathogens in a sample to display a universally recognized element
Implementation Method 2
allowing for their capture using a binding partner, enabling the isolation of pathogens regardless of their type
Implementation Method 3
using methods like affinity purification and magnetic separation
Data Source
AI summary
The invention generally relates to methods for universal target capture.