Study on SARS-CoV-2 Aerosol Detection

In a recent study, researchers have unveiled an effective point-of-care testing platform that directly detects SARS-CoV-2 aerosols in the exhaled breath of patients, providing results in under 60 seconds. The study was published in the Journal of American Chemical Society.

Airborne transmission via virus-laden aerosols has been identified as a dominant route for the spread of respiratory diseases, including COVID-19. However, screening patients for respiratory virus aerosols has long been a technical challenge. This new platform offers a direct and non-invasive solution to this problem, revolutionizing the field of viral diagnostics.

The platform's core components include:

• A hand-held breath aerosol collector
• A llama-derived nanobody, which specifically targets the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein

This nanobody is bound to an ultrasensitive micro-immunoelectrode biosensor, which detects the oxidation of tyrosine amino acids present in SARS-CoV-2 viral particles. Notably, the electrochemical biosensor directly detects the virus itself, providing a higher level of accuracy compared to surrogate or signature-based testing methods.

Laboratory and clinical trial results have demonstrated that this innovative platform performs with impressive accuracy, producing results within 20% of those obtained using standard testing methods. Even more astonishing is its sensitivity, capable of detecting as few as 10 viral particles in a sample. This remarkable sensitivity ensures early detection, allowing for timely intervention and containment measures.

With results available within a minute, healthcare professionals can rapidly identify and isolate infected individuals, mitigating the risk of virus transmission in hospitals, clinics, and public places. Moreover, the non-invasive nature of the test could encourage more people to get screened, contributing to early detection and containment efforts. As new viruses emerge, this technology can be readily adjusted to target specific pathogens, providing an agile and effective response to emerging threats.

Reference

Ghumra, D. P., Shetty, N., McBrearty, K. R., Puthussery, J. V., Sumlin, B. J., Gardiner, W. D., Doherty, B. M., Magrecki, J. P., Brody, D. L., Esparza, T. J., Yuede, C. M., Cirrito, J. R., & Chakrabarty, R. K. (2023). Rapid Direct Detection of SARS-CoV-2 Aerosols in Exhaled Breath at the Point of Care. In ACS Sensors. American Chemical Society (ACS). https://doi.org/10.1021/acssensors.3c00512