Unmet Need
The SARS-CoV-2 virus causing COVID-19 disease represents a globally growing pandemic infection. The virus has infected 20.6 million individuals and results in 746,000 deaths as of August 2020. In order to keep the infection at bay and to keep others safe, it is important to test and detect SARS-CoV-2 as soon as possible. PCR is the gold standard for detection of the virus, but this method has significant costs, is not widely available, and, most importantly, cannot detect evidence of past infection. Thus, there is a need for a new way to detect the current and past presence of SARS-CoV-2 without the limitations of the current gold standard.
Technology Overview
The inventors have created methods to test for neutralizing antibodies against the receptor binding domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV-2. The test is hemagglutination-based and utilizes routine blood bank testing technology. The methods can be completed on bench top testing with no equipment for very cheap. Alternatively, the test could be completed using automated machines conducting the same assays. The assay would consist of tagging the red blood cell surface with a novel fusion protein of the RBD spike protein, which connects to a single chain variable fragment against an antigen on the surface of red blood cells. This yields a target for agglutination by neutralizing anti-coronavirus antibodies.
Stage of Development
The method has been tested and is undergoing further developments.
Publications
1. WO2004094667A2
2. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications. Volume 553, 14 May 2021, Pages 165-171
