Potential of spiropyran as a detector for severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS)

Abstract

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS), spread by Ixodidae accompanied by high fever and thrombocytopenia. SFTS has a case high fatality rate because SFTS is easily confused with scrub typhus and effective vaccine and drug are not present. Hereby, in this research, I devised a quick detection system based on the organic photoswitchable compound spiorpyran, which can interact with nucleotides and viral dsRNA produced during their replication. dsRNA-driven gradual absorbance change of merocyanine, spiropyran derivative, was quantitatively measured. Also, I verified the cellular dsRNA is detectable through the spectral change by the samples affected by a demethylating agent. Finally, I confirmed significant absorbance change in RNA from the whole blood of scrub typhus and the healthy group. In summary, these findings reveal the interaction between dsRNA and spiropyran and suggest the potential for distinguishing SFTS and scrub typhus contingent on the amount of viral dsRNA.