Rapid diagnosis of ocular viral infections via single-virus detection using solid-state nanopore: A diagnostic evaluation study

Rapid and precise identification and discrimination of causative pathogens are required in the treatment of infectious diseases. Quantitative real-time PCR is used to detect and identify infectious viruses before treatment. Although it is an established modality, results take several hours, even in well-equipped hospitals. It is difficult to simultaneously detect many pathogen types because only a single-virus genome can be amplified per PCR. Recently, an AI-based nanopore machine has been used to identify individual viruses based on electrical conductivity. Here, we recognized a single virus using an AI-based detection system and successfully identified viral particles in clinical samples without the need for any prior treatment. We used a nanopore detector and discriminated among viruses using an AI-based waveform analysis. The efficacy of the AI nanopore detector as an on-site clinical analysis device was validated in cultured herpesvirus samples, and its discrimination capability was verified with clinical samples. The AI nanopore analysis of cultured viruses revealed that <i>Alphaherpesvirinae</i> and <i>Betaherpesvirinae</i> within the same <i>Herpesviridae</i> family can be distinguished with a relatively high accuracy. The AI nanopore rapidly detected viral particles and can be useful as an on-site clinical diagnosis tool. We demonstrated the multiplex discrimination of herpetic viruses in clinical ocular samples, proving that the AI nanopore is an ultra-high-speed and highly sensitive detection tool that can be used in various medical fields.