Nano gold kits create new hope for diagnosis of influenza virus in poultry

Iranian researchers from Tehran University used gold nanoparticles to produce a new type of diagnosis kit which is able to detect the poultry suffering from influenza virus. Results of this research have applications in veterinary to diagnose the disease and to segregate the poultry that are infected by influenza virus. The separation of infected poultry from the vaccinated ones is one of the major problems in the veterinary industry in the country. Some tests have been designed entitled DIVA in order to distinguish the infected animals or poultry from the vaccinated ones. The produced kit has the ability to do so. In this research, the peptide derived from protein NS1 immunodominant of influenza virus was used to diagnose flu in poultry. Due to its small size, the peptide cannot be used in Western blot test, because it diffuses when it is imposed to high voltage. By using nanotechnology, gold nanoparticles were used in this research to hold the peptide in the surface of the sheet of Western blot test. Gold nanoparticles bond with amine acid functional groups existing in the peptide, and they prevent the diffusion of the peptide during the Western blot test. As a result, the suspicious serums can be examined by using the antigen in the next steps, and the disease can be diagnosed. Results of the research have been published in September 2012 in The Journal of Applied Poultry Research, vol. 21, issue 3. For more information about the details of the research, study the full article on pages 563-566 on the same journal.