(88a) Development of an Electroactive Platform for Detection of Virus Fusion to Host Membranes

Every year, new virus outbreaks are reported and have potential to cause pandemics with devastating socio-economic impacts, with the coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) serving as a prime example. Recent viral outbreaks in this decade have alluded to the importance of quick and accurate viral sensing strategies so that the infected individual can begin their treatment and limit contact with uninfected individuals quicker, mitigating the impact of an outbreak. PCR, one of the most common viral detection methods, is a specific and sensitive detection technique, but requires trained personnel and sophisticated machinery, which can slow response times. An ideal detection method should integrate the specificity and sensitivity with the speed necessary to diagnosis patients rapidly.

Enveloped viruses (such as influenza virus, coronavirus) enter host cells by binding to a receptor and then fusing its viral membrane to the host cell membrane to insert its genome. We propose a novel sensing platform that leverages the virus’s propensity to bind specifically and fuse to a host cell membrane. We can couple a biomimetic membrane on top of an electrically conductive polymer (PEDOT:PSS) to probe the electrical responses of the system once viral fusion has occurred. Successful viral fusion to the membrane in a matter of minutes may cause a detectable change in electrical response, serving as the readout of a viral infection. Using influenza virus as a proof-of-principle, we first show that we can form the biomimetic membrane incorporating the influenza viral receptor on PEDOT:PSS. We then visualize influenza single virion fusion on PEDOT:PSS and demonstrate that the kinetics of this fusion event are comparable to influenza fusion on a non-conductive polymer. Lastly, using electrical impedance spectroscopy, we provide evidence that influenza viral fusion causes a detectable change in electrical response, demonstrating that it is possible to exploit viral membrane fusion as a diagnostic strategy.