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A single-component luminescent biosensor for the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein
Matthew Ravalin1, Heegwang Roh2, Rahul Suryawanshi3
1Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
Biorxiv : the Preprint Server for Biology
|June 23, 2022
Summary
Researchers developed a novel luminescent biosensor for detecting SARS-CoV-2 spike antigen. This single-component reagent is easy to produce and enables detection using a cell phone camera, offering a promising diagnostic tool.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology
- Molecular Diagnostics
- Biosensor Development
Background:
- Current protein detection methods often rely on complex antibody reagents, necessitating simpler alternatives.
- There is a need for easily producible and deployable diagnostic reagents for viral antigens like SARS-CoV-2 spike protein.
Approach:
- Designed a single-component, recombinant, luminescent biosensor.
- Engineered the biosensor for expression in common laboratory organisms, *E. coli* and *S. cerevisiae*.
- Utilized Binding Activated Tandem split-enzyme (BAT) technology for signal generation.
Key Points:
- The biosensor successfully detected recombinant SARS-CoV-2 spike antigen and cultured virus in both homogenous and immobilized assay formats.
- A chemiluminescent signal is generated, enabling detection with an un-augmented cell phone camera.
- This approach simplifies detection and reduces reliance on specialized equipment.
Conclusions:
- The developed BAT biosensor offers a versatile and accessible platform for detecting SARS-CoV-2 antigens.
- This technology has potential applications in diagnostics and as a reagent for detecting various proteins of interest.
- The single-component, recombinant nature simplifies production and deployment compared to traditional antibody-based methods.
