Developing a SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Test Using Engineered Affinity Proteins

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has clearly established how vital rapid, widely accessible diagnostic tests are in controlling infectious diseases and difficult slow it is to scale existing technologies. Here, we demonstrate the use of rapid affinity pair identification via directed selection (RAPIDS) method discover multiple pairs for SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein (N-protein), a biomarker COVID-19, from vitro libraries 10 weeks. with highest sensitivity was then integrated into min, vertical-flow cellulose paper test. Notably, as-identified proteins were compatible roll-to-roll printing process large-scale manufacturing tests. test achieved 40 80 pM limits detection 1× phosphate-buffered saline (mock swab) saliva matrices spiked cell-culture-generated viruses also capable N-protein characterized clinical swab samples. Hence, this work paves way toward mass production paper-based assays which can address shortages faced due dependence on nitrocellulose current techniques. Further, results reported herein indicate promise RAPIDS engineered binder timely flexible development clinically relevant response emerging diseases.