Virus assay using antibody-functionalized peptide nanotubes

Robust trace-level detection of viruses is crucial to meet urgent needs in fighting the spread of disease or detecting bioterrorism events. We report a new method for rapid and highly sensitive detection of viruses utilizing fluorescent antibody nanotubes. When viral pathogens were mixed with these antibody nanotubes, the nanotubes rapidly aggregated around the viruses to form a networking structure. Trace quantities of viruses such as herpes simplex virus type 2, adenovirus, vaccinia and influenza type B were detected on attomolar order by changes in fluorescence and light scattering intensities associated with aggregation of dye-loaded antibody nanotubes around viruses. High specificity of each antibody nanotube toward its targeted virus was demonstrated by quantifying concentrations of two different viruses in mixtures. This antibody nanotube assay detects targeted pathogens within 30 minutes after incubation with antibody nanotubes. This antibody nanotube assay could fill a pressing need to detect and quantify viruses both rapidly and sensitively.