“Without cumbersome PCR test” Catch a mutated virus within 30 minutes

• – KIST researchers develop a mutated coronavirus detection system within 30 minutes

[헤럴드경제=구본혁 기자] Following the delta mutation, the highly contagious omicron mutation appears, and the mutation and spread of the coronavirus is not slowing down. In the case of a coronavirus that has so many mutations, it is essential to develop a diagnostic platform that can quickly and accurately detect the mutated virus in order to prevent the spread.

The Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) Biomaterials Research Center, Dr. Kwanhee Lee and Dr. Hojun Kim, announced on the 26th that they have developed a biosensor platform that can detect a coronavirus with PCR-level sensitivity within 30 minutes in the field regardless of mutation.

Currently, gene-based PCR diagnosis requires at least 6 hours, and examinees must be isolated until the results are available. Also, since PCR test can be diagnosed only when a specific gene sequence is present, the diagnostic ability is inevitably reduced in the case of a mutant having a different gene sequence. Even in the case of a simple test kit that has been widely used recently, there is a limit to diagnosing a mutated virus because the virus is identified by putting an antibody that reacts to a specific protein structure in the kit and reacting.

To solve this problem, the research team focused on ACE2, the infection receptor of the coronavirus that exists in our body. Since even a mutated virus binds to ACE2 to penetrate the human body, it was thought that a high-sensitivity biosensor to which ACE2 was applied would enable general-purpose detection of viruses. To this end, a field-type semiconductor biosensor platform based on electrical signals coupled with ACE2 receptors was manufactured, and the biosensor platform was optimized by synthesizing a virus that mimics the physical characteristics of coronavirus. As a result of the diagnosis with the biosensor platform developed in this way, it succeeded in detecting the real coronavirus and various synthesized mutated viruses in real time in the field with the sensitivity of the PCR test level.

Detection schematic diagram of the ultra-sensitive semiconductor-based biosensor platform and the detection result of the COVID-19 mutant virus.[KIST 제공]

Dr. Lee Kwan-hee said, “The technology that combines the ACE2 receptor with a high-sensitivity semiconductor biosensor has made it possible to develop a diagnostic system that can detect mutated viruses in the field. It is expected that this will contribute to the establishment of an infection prevention system and social safety net.”

The results of this research were published in the latest issue of ‘Nano Letters’, an international scientific journal in the field of nanotechnology.

nbgkoo@heraldcorp.com