Rapid, Low-Cost Detection of Classical Swine Fever Virus Using Cell-Free Paper-Based Biosensors

Classical swine fever (“CSF”) is a highly contagious viral disease affecting domestic pigs and wild boars. Infections with this virus can have a devastating impact on food supply and trade. Since there are no treatments available for this disease, infected pigs have to be killed to maintain disease freedom in CSF non-endemic countries. While CSF has been eradicated from North America, it remains widespread in other areas of the world. Therefore, surveillance is key for maintaining food security and ensuring swine industry’s economic prosperity. The current method of CSF detection includes laboratory-based and relatively expensive real-time RT-PCR assays that require trained technical staff and complex equipment. Here, we report successful design, assembly and preliminary validation of affordable, user-friendly and field-deployable cell-free paper-based sensors for the detection of CSF viral RNA.