Highly dynamic multianalyte assays - Simultaneous detection of nucleic acids and proteins in one go

• Applicant: Dr. Susanna Früh
• Subject Area: Analytical Chemistry
• Term: from 2018 to 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 397660978

Today, various bioanalytical methods are used to detect different classes of biomolecules like proteins or nucleic acids. Particular assays are designed and optimized for each class of biomolecules and are important tool in areas of application like in-vitro diagnostics, drug development or food safety. However, in these areas it is more and more important to analyze several different classes of biomolecules at once. Thus combining the capability of analyzing different classes of biomolecules like proteins and nucleic acids into one single assay would lead to a massively simplified workflow in terms of labor and time consumption as well as the use of some specialized equipment can be omitted. It would mean a substantial economic advance if protein and nucleic acid detection can be performed on one single platform. With the help of the "DFG Sachbeihilfe" an innovative concept for such a multianalyte assay shall be explored. Through the conversion of nucleic acid information into protein information, the simultaneous detection of different classes of biomolecules shall be realized using only one measurement principle. The characterization of this novel multianalyte assay approach and integration on a point-of-care platform is pursued on the basis of an example of use: In the case of bacterial infections of wounds in hospitals, the interplay between pathogen identification using nucleic acid detection and host immune response (inflammation) using protein detection shall be explored on one single platform. An improved wound management based on this analysis could facilitate fast and specific intervening in each particular case as well as a more efficient antibiotic therapy. This is of great value especially regarding the threat of antibiotic resistances.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants