Manipulating light for the detection of viruses in resource-limited settings

Neglected tropical diseases, including filoviruses, constitute a class of diseases affecting some of the most impoverished and vulnerable populations worldwide. Despite their significant impact, there is a pressing need for diagnostics that can effectively and rapidly detect pathogens in field settings. Herein, we present a portable diagnostic platform leveraging plasmonic fluors and lateral flow assays for the detection of filoviruses. Plasmonic fluors are a class of engineered, ultrabright fluorescent probes whose versatility and amenability towards use in a variety of diagnostics is a major clinical strength. Our resulting assay has a rapid turnaround time and sensitivities amenable for field deployment.