Desenvolvimento de sensores eletroquímicos para diagnóstico de infecção fúngicas

Abstract

DEVELOPMENT OF ELECTROCHEMICAL SENSORS FOR THE DIAGNOSIS OF FUNGAL INFECTIONS. Fungal infections, such as those caused by Candida albicans, Aspergillus fumigatus, Pneumocystis jirovecii, and Cryptococcus neoformans, are responsible for millions of deaths each year, especially in tropical and subtropical regions. The global increase in the number of immunocompromised individuals, including cancer patients, transplant recipients, people living with HIV/AIDS, and ICU patients, has significantly expanded the population vulnerable to these infections. Early diagnosis, however, remains a clinical challenge due to the lack of specific signs and symptoms in the initial stages, making laboratory methods essential to reducing morbidity and mortality. Conventional techniques such as optical microscopy, histopathology, fungal culture, and PCR often need to be combined to achieve high accuracy. In this context, this work proposes the development of an electrochemical magneto-immunoassay for the detection of fungi in human serum samples. Anti-chito-oligomer antibodies, provided by FIOCRUZ-Manguinhos, were used as specific bioreceptors for chitin, a structural component of the fungal cell wall. These antibodies were immobilized onto magnetic particles (Ab/MPs) for selective capture and onto gold nanoparticles (Ab/AuNPs) for signal amplification. The developed platform aims to provide a sensitive, rapid, and adaptable alternative for point-of-care diagnosis, especially in resource-limited settings.