Scientists from Queens University and the University of British Columbia in Canada have created a biosensor that will help assess the infectivity of some of the new mutations in coronavirus infection. Research published on bioRxiv.
The device evaluates the interaction of the coronavirus spike and the ACE2 enzyme, through which it enters the body. The specialists attached one fragment of the luciferase protein to the thorn, and another to the enzyme. When the two components are combined, luciferase glows. It is noted that the intensity of the light can be used to estimate how many spikes have associated with ACE2. Analysis takes 30 minutes.
The device can also be used to assess the effectiveness of drugs against coronavirus. If the SARS-CoV-2 spike blocking drug is effective, the system will not emit light as the luciferase fragments will not join.
Earlier, scientists at Bilkent University in Ankara created a device that detects the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus in ten seconds. The device, dubbed Diagnovir, is capable of detecting coronavirus in saliva samples. The sample is mixed with a special solution, placed on the pathogen detection chip, and if the biosensor detects the presence of a pathogen, the optical system changes its color.