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A Rapid User-Friendly Lab-on-a-Chip Microarray Platform for Detection of SARS-CoV-2 Variants
Emily Mattig1, Paul C Guest2, Harald Peter3
1Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Branch Bioanalytics and Bioprocesses (IZI-BB), Potsdam, Germany.
Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton, N.J.)
|July 15, 2022
Summary
A novel lab-on-a-chip platform rapidly identifies bacterial species and antibiotic resistance in under 15 minutes. This technology can be quickly adapted to detect genetic mutations in emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology
- Microbiology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants with increased infectivity and immune evasion poses a significant global health challenge.
- Accurate and rapid identification of pathogens and their resistance mechanisms is crucial for effective treatment and control.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a rapid, automated nucleic acid microarray hybridization platform for pathogen identification.
- To demonstrate the platform's adaptability for detecting genetic mutations, including those found in SARS-CoV-2 variants.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the Fraunhofer lab-on-a-chip platform for automated nucleic acid microarray hybridization and readout.
- Achieved identification of bacterial species and antibiotic resistance markers.
- Assessed the platform's capability for rapid adaptation to new biomarkers.
Main Results:
- The platform enabled identification in less than 15 minutes.
- Demonstrated successful identification of bacterial species and antibiotic resistance.
- Showcased the potential for rapid adaptation to identify genetic mutations relevant to SARS-CoV-2 variants.
Conclusions:
- The Fraunhofer lab-on-a-chip platform offers a fast and efficient solution for pathogen identification.
- This technology has the potential to accelerate the detection and characterization of emerging infectious disease threats, including viral variants.
