Vectorchip
ABSTRACT
Mosquito bites transmit a number of pathogens via salivary droplets deposited during blood-feeding, resulting in potentially fatal diseases. Little is known about the genomic content of these nanodroplets, including the transmission dynamics of live pathogens. Here we introduce Vectorchip, a low-cost, scalable microfluidic platform enabling high-throughput molecular interrogation of individual mosquito bites. We introduce an ultra-thin PDMS membrane which acts as a biting interface to arrays of micro-wells. Freely-behaving mosquitoes deposit saliva droplets by biting into these micro-wells. By modulating membrane thickness, we observe species-dependent differences in mosquito biting capacity, utilizable for selective sample collection. We demonstrate RT-PCR and focus-forming assays on-chip to detect mosquito DNA, Zika virus RNA, as well as quantify infectious Mayaro virus particles transmitted from single mosquito bites. The Vectorchip presents a promising approach for single-bite-resolution laboratory and field characterization of vector-pathogen communities, and could serve as a powerful early warning sentinel for mosquito-borne diseases.
What is Vectorchip?
Vectorchip is a low-cost, scalable microfluidic platform enabling high-throughput molecular interrogation of individual mosquito bites. In Vectorchip, an ultra-thin PDMS membrane which acts as a biting interface to arrays of micro-wells. Freely-behaving mosquitoes deposit saliva droplets by biting into these micro-wells. By modulating membrane thickness, we observe species-dependent differences in mosquito biting capacity, utilizable for selective sample collection. We have demonstrated the use of Vectorchip with RT-PCR and focus-forming assays to detect mosquito DNA, Zika virus RNA, as well as quantify infectious Mayaro virus particles transmitted from single mosquito bites. Vectorchip presents a promising approach for single-bite-resolution laboratory and field characterization of vector-pathogen communities and could serve as a powerful early warning sentinel for mosquito-borne diseases.
Vectorchip is a microfluidic device integrated with a PDMS “artificial skin” membrane for molecular diagnostics of individual mosquito bites on a chip. It allows for quantitative interrogation of single mosquito bites on a chip and can identify the species of biting mosquitoes, detect pathogens, and monitor the spread of mosquito-borne diseases. The device can be used for vector and pathogen surveillance testing in field sites, analysis of pathogen transmission dynamics in the lab, and studying vector biting behavior on chip.
