Development of a coupled inactivating transport medium and RNA purification protocol for SARS-CoV-2

检测导致新冠病毒的SARS-CoV-2的标准方法被称为“RT-PCR”（逆转录，聚合酶链反应）。RT-PCR的工作原理是直接检测患者样本中的病毒遗传物质，因此它需要病毒遗传物质（其基因组）在这些样本中保持完整才能起作用。因此，用于筛查的样本需要像具有传染性一样处理，这就需要使用专门的设施进行处理。理想情况下，临床样本将被收集到一种运输介质中，这种介质可以灭活病毒，同时确保其遗传物质在RT-PCR中保持完整。这样就可以在不需要专门设施的情况下处理样品，以保护操作人员免受潜在感染。存在一些这样的介质，但通常是基于腐蚀性很强的化学物质，这意味着它们不一定能在某些环境中使用。在这个项目中，我们的目标是开发一种新的安全运输介质，用于收集用于RT-PCR的患者样本。这种运输介质基于一种化学物质，这种化学物质在人类安全使用的历史很长，不存在与腐蚀性化学物质相关的问题。此外，通过修改这种化学物质，我们的目标是提高运输介质的性质，使其有助于RT-PCR检测病毒。最后，本项目开发的药剂也可作为开发临床、工业和个人用新型消毒剂产品的基础。

The standard method for detecting SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for causing COVID-19, is called "RT-PCR" (reverse transcription, polymerase chain reaction). RT-PCR works by directly detecting the virus genetic material in patient samples and as such it requires the virus genetic material (its genome) to be intact in these samples in order to work. Because of this samples for screening need to be handled as if they are infectious and this requires the use of specialist facilities for handling.Ideally, clinical samples would be collected into a transport medium that would inactivate the virus whilst ensuring that its genetic material remains intact for RT-PCR. This would allow handling of samples without the need for the specialist facilities required to protect operators from potential infection. Some such media exist but are usually based on very caustic chemicals meaning that they cannot necessarily be used in some settings.In this project we aim to develop a new safe transport medium for the collection of patient samples for RT-PCR. This transport medium is based on a chemical that has a long history of safe human use and doesn't have the issues associated with caustic chemicals. Additionally, by modifying this chemical we aim to enhance the properties of the transport medium such that it will aid in the detection of virus by RT-PCR. Finally, the agents developed from this project can also be used as the basis for the development of new disinfectant products for clinical, industrial and personal use.