SOMAmer technology to diagnose coronavirus infection: veterinary and zoonotic implications.

该项目旨在研究开发一种多重诊断侧流设备（LFD），以识别和区分冠状病毒感染，帮助更有效地决策干预措施，并从单一样本中识别感染的发生和共同发生。这个哲学博士项目将利用适体技术，这是类似于抗体的功能。适体是寡核苷酸、小的单链DNA或RNA结构，能够特异性结合选定的蛋白质靶标，因此是诊断和治疗应用的理想选择。此外，与传统的单克隆抗体应用相比，适体在开发诊断工具的速度、成本和灵活性方面提供了进一步的实用性。此外，先进的高度修饰的DNA适体，特别是利用SOMAmer技术（慢解离速率修饰的适体），为长期储存提供更大的稳定性。

This project aims to research the development of a multiplex diagnostic Lateral Flow Device (LFD) to identify and differentiate coronavirus infections, aid more effective decision-making on interventions, and identify the occurrence and co-occurrence of infections from a single sample. This DPhil project will utilise aptamer technology, which is analogous to antibodies in function. Aptamers are oligonucleotides, small single-stranded DNA or RNA structures capable of specific binding to a selected protein target and therefore are ideal for diagnostic and therapeutic applications. Aptamers in addition offer further utility in terms of speed, cost, and flexibility in developing diagnostic tools compared to traditional monoclonal antibody applications. Furthermore, advanced highly modified DNA aptamers, specifically utilising SOMAmer technology (Slow off-rate modified aptamers) offer greater stability for long term storage.