昆州研究人员或可控制Ebola病毒爆发 可进行快速检测

周星星1832

（本报讯）由于昆州研究人员研发出了一种分子计算器，例如埃博拉（Ebola）这样致命的病毒可以被更快地发现。阳光海岸大学的高级讲师Joanne Macdonald称，她已经发明了一种计算器，这种计算器可以用分子电路学来诊断并且区分病毒之间的区别。 　　Macdonald博士的研究团队开发出了可以模仿埃博拉病毒以及Marburg病毒的合成DNA，并且证明了，这种计算器能够区分它们之间的区别。 　　如果是埃博拉病毒，计算机屏幕会显示粉红色的“E”，如果是Marburg，计算机就会显示绿色的“M”。 　　Macdonald博士称，该计算器系统会进一步发展，这样就可以识别其它的病毒，可能还会帮助遏制危险病毒的爆发情况。 　　“在此之前，你必须做很多不同的测试才能区分不同的病毒之间的区别。”她在接受澳洲联合新闻社（AAP）采访时称。 　　“我们认为，我们有能力将所有这些测试都嵌入到一个设备中去。” 　　“你越早知道你有这种病毒，你就能越早对该病毒爆发的区域以及对于阻止其爆发做出相应的决定。” 　　“如果这是一种动物病毒，你可以采取诸如让该动物安乐死的方法来阻止病毒的传播。” 　　该计算器系统仍旧处于概念阶段，但是Macdonald博士希望在未来两年内，可以用它来测试真正的病毒样本。 　　今年，西非埃博拉病毒的爆发已经造成了670多人死亡。目前还没有对该埃博拉病毒的治愈方法。该种病毒主要通过与血液以及其它体液的直接接触而传播。 　　昆州政府正在对Macdonald博士的研究进行资助，以期能够早点检测到有破坏性的Henra病毒以及澳洲蝙蝠狂犬病毒（bat lyssa virus）。 　　由昆州大学开发出来的一种新计算器可能会成为控制诸如埃博拉（Ebola）之类病毒的重要武器                                 登录/注册后可看大图

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jambo

阳光海岸大学这么牛啊

俺一直以为它是个偏僻小山村里面的小小的大学而已

谢谢楼主分享新闻

jambo

Scientist’s DNA computer detects deadly viruses

Monday 28 July 2014

At a time when the deadliest outbreak of Ebola in history is making world headlines, so too is a USC scientist who has developed a molecular computer that could hold the key to faster detection of the virus.

USC Senior Lecturer in Molecular Engineering Dr Joanne Macdonald has created a computer that uses molecular circuitry to identify synthetic DNA that mimics both the Ebola and Marburg viruses.

“In effect, we have developed a diagnostic tool that uses molecules themselves to detect viruses, with the results displayed as a single letter or code,” Dr Macdonald said.

She said the system, which can currently recognise Ebola and Marburg viruses, would be further developed to aid in early detection of a wide range of pathogens, with the potential to help contain outbreaks and improve patient care.

A research paper by Dr Macdonald and eight other international researchers was this month published in the international edition of prestigious chemistry journal Angewandte Chemie and featured in both Chemistry World and Scientific American.

Dr Macdonald, who holds a joint appointment with Columbia University in New York, previously made headlines as part of a research team that developed a DNA-based machine that could play noughts and crosses against people.

“Building on that research, I have created new circuits that create visual displays similar to a graphics processing unit on a conventional computer,” she said.

Dr Macdonald said that because the molecular computer’s circuits are made of DNA they can also interact with the environment.

“We made synthetic DNA that mimics a short part of the Ebola virus and the Marburg virus and we demonstrated that our computer circuit could diagnose and tell the difference between them.”

“The computer screen displays a Pink ‘E’ for Ebola or a green ‘M’ for Marburg, which is significant because it’s the first time that a single test can present two different readouts depending on what is present.”

Dr Macdonald said she and her USC research team were now working to add further detection systems, including displays for Hendra and Australian bat lyssavirus, to the same device. Her research is being funded by the Queensland Government Department of Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts.

– David Cameron
http://www.usc.edu.au/university ... ects-deadly-viruses