Development of Lateral Flow Assays to detect neutralizing antibodies to monitor immunity status of Canadians

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Audacia Biosciences, a Canadian Biotechnology company, and Dr. Trant's research team at the University of Windsor, will be collaborating on generating a new, simple to use, mass producible, and fast-response, COVID-19 test to determine who is immune from the disease. Immunity to COVID-19 can arise either through vaccination or through prior exposure to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes the disease, but we are learning that reinfection is possible, and we know that vaccines will not be 100% effective. Coronaviruses in general do not generate a long-lasting immune response, and it is unlikely that SARS-CoV-2 will be an exception. This means that as the virus continues to spread in the population in the coming years, and especially once vaccines are deployed, we will want to monitor our immune status to determine if we need a booster shot, or need a different vaccine. Most vaccines in clinical trials will work by getting our bodies to initiate an immune response against the virus' spike protein, partially through the presence of neutralizing antibodies that enrobe the Spike and prevent it from helping the virus enter our cells. The research collaboration is looking to take advantage of this common method of action to develop a test, similar in concept to an at-home pregnancy test (that also uses antibodies), that can determine whether and how many of these protective antibodies are circulating. This will be essential for us to return to greater normalcy and will help us protect more vulnerable members of society. This project, consequently, not only advances the business interests of a Canadian company to create a globally-relevant test, but also provides a very important social benefit to Canada.