About This Project

Phages are hard-to-detect bacteria viruses, crucial for understanding microbial ecosystems. We aim to characterise phage presence and abundance by developing a portable, low-cost, open-source instrument for microfluidic droplet ddPCR based on a UC2 light sheet microscope. This tool will democratise access to phage quantification, advancing research in diagnostics, ecology, and phage therapy, transforming our understanding of viral infections.

Ask the Scientists

What is the context of this research?

Detecting the number of viruses in a sample, called "viral load", is crucial for understanding and fighting infections. Current methods, like quantitative PCR (qPCR / RT-PCR), are costly and don't directly reveal the exact amount of viruses in a sample, requiring complex calibrations. Digital droplet PCR (ddPCR) is more sensitive and solves this issue, but its use is limited by the large, expensive equipment - impractical for this task. We aim to develop an affordable, portable device combining a light-sheet microscope with ddPCR or droplet assays based on LAMP reactions or biosensors. We hypothesise that we can portably and cheaply detect phages and other viruses with such a setup, which we will build, test and share in this project.

What is the significance of this project?

Quantifying the viral load of phages in environmental and patient samples is crucial for understanding their role in microbial ecosystems, antibiotic resistance, and their potential as therapeutic agents. Accurate measurement of phage abundance can aid in diagnostics, inform targeted treatment strategies, and provide insights into ecological dynamics, ultimately improving public health and environmental management. Our project democratizes access to high-sensitivity phage detection, overcoming limitations of current techniques. By revolutionizing phage detection, our instrument will empower researchers to develop new strategies against antibiotic resistance and improve public health worldwide - especially in low and medium resource settings.

What are the goals of the project?

In our project, we aim to compare the robustness of droplet-based detection assays in quantifying the absolute abundance of phages in complex samples under lab conditions, with a sensitivity and dynamic range surpassing that of qPCR. For this means we design a prototype that marries a light-sheet microscopy and ddPCR, offering a portable solution for phage viral load detection. A key goal is to ensure this instrument is low-cost, promoting wide use. Collaboration with international partners to replicate and refine the design is integral, as we aim to optimize its open-source documentation. Given additional funding beyond our minimum goal, we hope to expand the student team and the range of components tested to develop and disseminate an improved design.