A groundbreaking new method has been developed that can quickly determine whether a virus is infectious, potentially transforming how we respond to future pandemics.
Known as FAIRY (Fluorescence Assay for Viral Integrity), this innovative assay can rapidly assess viruses for their susceptibility to antivirals, providing valuable insights into the effectiveness of measures like disinfectants that can disrupt the spread of infection.
Dr. Samuel Jones from the School of Chemistry at the University of Birmingham led the team behind the development of the FAIRY assay. Dr. Jones explained, “On average, a new potentially pandemic virus is discovered every four years, and there are numerous known viruses that could potentially cross species barriers. However, existing methods do not offer a quick way to determine if a virus sample contains intact infectious viruses without lengthy cell cultivation.”
The current standard method for assessing viral infectivity relies on cultured cells, which is time-consuming, requires specialized personnel, and necessitates specific cell lines that may not be available for all viruses. This approach also restricts testing to antivirals that are not harmful to cells, making it challenging to discover new disinfectant solutions.
The FAIRY assay functions by using a dye that can typically enter viruses through pores in their protective protein shell. By attaching this dye to a larger molecule that prevents it from entering the viral shell, the dye binds to the viral genetic material (DNA or RNA), producing a fluorescent signal.
This innovative assay can determine whether a virus is intact and therefore infectious.
The researchers tested the effectiveness of the assay using a range of viruses, including herpes simplex virus (HSV-2), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and dengue virus, confirming the versatility of the FAIRY assay in assessing different types of viruses.
The FAIRY assay showed promising results when tested with various virucidal chemicals like hydrogen peroxide and ethanol, indicating its potential for quickly analyzing compounds that can neutralize viral infectivity.
Dr. Jones highlighted, “This straightforward and cost-effective assay can efficiently evaluate the effectiveness of multiple disinfectants and their ability to combat viral infectivity, all within a single microplate test. During the next pandemic, it could significantly expedite the screening of disinfectants with antiviral properties.”
The details of the FAIRY method are outlined in a paper published today in ACS Biomacromolecules.
The development of the FAIRY assay originated from research conducted at the University of Manchester. The University of Birmingham Enterprise has filed a patent application for the compounds and methods used in determining viral integrity and is actively seeking commercial partners for licensing or collaboration, anticipating strong interest from standard testing companies and research organizations.
