Development of COVID-19 Dual Diagnostic Test of Viral RNA and Proteins using DNA Aptamers and Real-Time PCR

准确和广泛的检测对于确定COVID-19红色区域、跟踪其传播以及确保受感染患者得到快速治疗至关重要。基于rt - pcr的COVID-19检测似乎很敏感，但存在可能影响特异性的重大问题。该项目与加拿大Lumex仪器公司和渥太华大学的Maxim Berezovski教授合作，利用Lumex rRT-PCR仪器开发了一种病毒RNA和病毒蛋白的联合检测方法，旨在提高检测的特异性和敏感性。病毒RNA将通过三组针对核衣壳基因的引物检测，这些引物既可用于检测类sars冠状病毒的普遍检测，也可用于特异性检测2019-nCoV。此外，病毒蛋白（N蛋白和S蛋白）将被DNA适体检测到。这种对病毒RNA和蛋白质的双重检测将提供对生物体液（血液、唾液、痰液、鼻咽拭子或口咽拭子）中COVID-19的全面诊断。整个分析将在2小时内完成，包括样品制备，试剂添加和结果分析。

Accurate and widespread testing is critical in identifying COVID-19 red zones, tracking its spread, and ensuring infected patients are treated quickly. RT-PCR-based tests for COVID-19 appear to be sensitive but present significant issues that could affect specificity. This project, in partnership with Lumex Instruments Canada and Prof. Dr. Maxim Berezovski at the University of Ottawa, develops a combined test of the viral RNA and viral proteins using Lumex rRT-PCR instrument aiming to increase specificity and sensitivity of the assay. The viral RNA will be detected by three sets of primers that target the nucleocapsid gene and are designed for both universal detections of SARS-like coronavirus as well as specific detection of the 2019-nCoV. Also, the viral proteins (N and S proteins) will be detected by DNA aptamers. This dual detection of the viral RNA and proteins will provide a comprehensive diagnosis of COVID-19 in biological fluids (blood, saliva, sputum, nasopharyngeal or oropharyngeal swabs). The total analyses will be performed on-chip in 2 hours, including sample preparation, reagents addition and analysis of results.