Innovative Sensor Rapidly Detects Bird Flu in Air Samples

Recent outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, have driven the need for rapid and effective detection methods to curb its spread. **Researchers in ACS Sensors have introduced a groundbreaking prototype sensor designed to identify the H5N1 influenza virus, commonly responsible for bird flu, in air samples.** This portable, cost-effective sensor detects the virus at levels below the infectious dose, potentially offering a swift solution for airborne virus monitoring. **Bird flu, known for its rapid spread through respiratory droplets, poses a public health risk, especially due to its frequent mutations that could enable human transmission.** Traditional detection methods, such as PCR-based tests, require elaborate lab work and sample preparation. Therefore, an immediate detection tool like this sensor could intercept potential outbreaks before they escalate. The sensor employs Electrochemical Capacitive Biosensor (ECB) technology, previously used for SARS-CoV-2 detection. The sensor's design features a network of Prussian blue nanocrystals and graphene oxide on a carbon electrode, equipped with aptamers or antibodies specific to H5N1. When viral particles bind to these probes, they alter the sensor’s capacitance, indicating the virus's presence. In trials with aerosolized inactivated H5N1, the sensor delivered results within five minutes, detecting 93 viral copies per 35 cubic feet (1 cubic meter), below the infectious threshold. Compared to digital PCR tests, the sensor demonstrated over 90% accuracy. This efficient detection method shows promise for real-time air monitoring, potentially safeguarding both animal and human populations from the spread of avian influenza.