One of the groups of experts has proved that prototype equipment can detect COVID-19 infected samples along with a variety of viral levels in collaboration with the UHCW NHS Foundation. The researchers also demonstrated that the method worked well using spiking protein from problematic variations, which is a major advantage of employing the glycan-binding technique.
This research plainly shows that glycan-recognition technologies may be utilized to detect viruses, and the educational group is working on furthering this technique as part of a collaboration.
Alternative To Antibodies In Viral Infections Like COVID
Coronavirus has led the experts to think about various options that can help the human body stay protected against such infections in the future. They have started going for options of antibodies with which the body can prevent infection of all types.
It may be provided to the body as a vaccine or in any other form but needs to make it stronger than before.
Throughout the COVID-19 epidemic, lateral flow diagnostics (LFDs) were routinely employed to quickly identify patients who had an ongoing illness. Antibodies that stick to the SARS viruses are used in those LFDs.
Professor Matthew Gibson’s study group has started collaborating alongside Iceni Diagnostics to create an alternate detecting technology based on glycans (‘sugars,’) that uses synthetic polymer chains to adhere the peptidoglycan to the surfaces of particles. Glycans are typically used by infections as a ‘handle’ for attaching to our bodies, and the researchers mimicked this mechanism to identify SARS-COV-2.
Professor Matthew Gibson of Warwick Medical School and the Department of Chemistry had this to say about the study: “This work shows the potential of using glycans as alternative detection reagents, compared to the traditional antibody-based techniques. The use of our polymeric linkers, which allow us to present the glycan on the nanoparticles, shows the benefit of true cross-disciplinary and cross-sector collaboration. This work shows that our approach can work with primary clinical samples and we are actively developing this into a real-world device with our partners.”
Professor Dimitris Grammatopoulos of Warwick Medical School added: “This is a testament to the cutting-edge scientific research taking place. Initial results of this prototype showed it can perform favorably in comparison to established COVID-19 tests concerning cost, time, accuracy, and reliability. We are delighted to collaborate on this research.”
In conclusion, notwithstanding all of the lingering concerns and obstacles, tremendous success has been achieved in the creation of diagnostics. Ongoing global initiatives were being made to disseminate and facilitate the creation of novel diagnostics assays and the delivery of test kits all over the world.
A variety of organizations are assisting such initiatives by requesting assay producers to present their testing items for independent assessment or by investing heavily in improved cooperation to create more precise and quicker diagnosis options. The COVID-19 diagnostics industry is expected to prosper well into the present as comparable efforts and information exchange, as well as cooperative technical breakthroughs, become accessible.
Iceni Diagnostics’ chief scientific officer, Professor Rob Field, concluded: “Our ambition was to exemplify how an academic and industry collaboration can translate hard-core scientific discoveries into practical solutions, and this study has proven we can do this by combining our deep experience in glycoscience. The successful testing of the prototype device and glycan-based platform will now enable us to progress our viral and other pathogen pipelines, and we are delighted to continue working with the Warwick team on this program.”
The findings of such examinations could be utilized to aid epidemiological evaluation and regulate the restoration to regular activity. Several concerns about serological testing, such as their amount of sensitivities and accuracy, remained unanswered. Furthermore, it must be established that the existence of antibodies towards SARS-CoV-2 corresponds to the virus resistance.
