Abstract
Unlike traps that only lure and kill insects, UCF researchers developed a low-cost Passive Insect Surveillance Sensor Device that also indicates whether an insect carries a specific infectious disease. This device can operate without electricity, has no moving parts, and does not require someone to send specimens to a lab. Thus, virtually anyone anywhere can use the device to better assess and respond to possible health threats from vector species in real-time (such as Dengue fever, Zika or chikungunya), even in the more remote regions of the world. Additionally, the device is modular and can be scaled to detect one or more targeted diseases simultaneously.
Technical Details
The device consists of the following:
- A payload reservoir with a releasing wick.
- A bait containing two essential parts: a) A sugar water insect attractant or insect food source b) A detector conjugate that comprises a DNA aptamer-gold nanoparticle conjugated to a specific detector molecule that binds specifically to a pathogen protein. The protein can be specific to a virus, bacterium or parasite which causes disease in humans, livestock or other mammals.
When an insect infected with a targeted pathogen enters the trap and ingests the bait, the detector molecules bind to the pathogen protein and cause a colorimetric readout that is clearly visible.
Benefit
Modular and scalableAbility to detect one or more targeted diseasesSimple trap construction is self-contained, protected from the environment, durable and portableInexpensive, with no moving parts and does not require electricity or combustionEasily deployable anywhere and activates with a simple pinchMarket Application
Disease education and preventionVector-borne diseases
Brochure
