RAPID: Developing a novel biosensor for rapid, direct and selective detection of COVID-19 using DNA aptamer-nanopore

为了应对新冠肺炎疫情的爆发，伊利诺伊大学香槟分校的卢教授和芝加哥伊利诺伊大学的荣教授合作开发了一种新的、可广泛部署的检测传染性冠状病毒(SARS-CoV-2)的方法。该传感方法旨在将传染性病毒与非传染性病毒以及其他病毒和干扰物种区分开来。对感染病毒的快速准确检测为患者提供了及早接受适当治疗的机会，防止患者在不知情的情况下将感染病毒传播给他人，消除了对非传染性患者的不必要隔离，并使评估关键位置的表面是否已得到适当消毒成为可能。本研究旨在开发一种模块化和可扩展的适体-纳米孔传感器，用于直接检测完整的冠状病毒。具体地说，本研究将鉴定和合成与传染性SARS-CoV-2结合而不是非传染性形式的DNA适配子，具有高度的特异性和亲和力。单纳米通道膜中传染性SARS-CoV-2的检测将使用稳态测量进行，这比常用的阻性脉冲传感技术占用的资源更少。该传感方法不需要样品前处理或RNA扩增，因此简化了测试程序，并将交叉污染的机会降至最低。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, Prof. Lu of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Prof. Rong of the University of Illinois at Chicago collaborate to develop a novel, widely deployable method for detecting the infectious coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). The sensing method is designed to enable differentiation of infectious virus from those rendered non-infectious, as well as other viruses and interfering species. Rapid and accurate detection of the infectious viruses provides to patients the opportunity to receive proper treatments early on, prevents patients from unknowingly spreading the infectious virus to others, eliminates unnecessary quarantine of non-contagious patients, and enables assessment of whether surfaces at critical locations has been properly disinfected. This research aims to develop a modular and scalable aptamer-nanopore sensor for direct detection of the intact coronavirus. Specifically, this research will identify and synthesize DNA aptamers that bind the infectious SARS-CoV-2, but not the non-infectious forms, with high specificity and affinity. Detection of infectious SARS-CoV-2 in the single nanochannel membrane will be performed using steady-state measurements, which is less resource intensive than the commonly used resistive pulse sensing technique. The sensing method does not require sample pre-treatment or RNA amplification and, thus, simplifies the testing procedure and minimizes the chance of cross contamination.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.