ILS Bhubaneswar To Test Aptamer-Based Affordable Coronavirus Detection Kit

Bhubaneswar: An aptamer-based affordable diagnostic kit, developed by researchers with the support of Department of Science and Technology (DST), will soon be tested at the Institute of Life Sciences (ILS), Bhubaneswar.

The aptamer-based technology is a relatively new technique that will be able to differentiate various types of coronavirus infections.

The diagnostic kit will be developed at the Birla Institute of Technology (Mesra) lab with the support of Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), a body under DST, according to a PTI report. The research involves detection of a target protein using a bioinformatics tool against which the diagnostic kit has to be developed.

This study has taken a special domain of spike protein in consideration for the development of the diagnostic kit.

“The researchers are developing an aptamer-based diagnostic kit for detection of SARS-Co-V2 infection. Their study will first ensure the detection of coronavirus infection, while subsequently, the kit will also differentiate the various types of coronavirus infection (SARS Co-V1, MERS), including COVID-19 infection,” the statement said.

Another advantage is that this kit will be able to detect coronavirus infection in a short span of time as it will be a rapid diagnostic kit for detection based on change in colour.

“It can detect a number of infections in a precise and efficient manner. Besides, it makes detection of COVID-19 infection less costly and the devices can be stored in less stringent conditions, making it more effective over conventional antibody-based detection techniques, especially for rural and remotely-located population,” the statement said.

The general coronavirus infection may be detected on the basis of a conserved domain present in all three coronavirus infections (SARS Co-V1, MERS & COVID 19), while the differential kit will be developed on the basis of a combination of conserved and non-conserved domain present in SARS-CoV2 virus, SARS-CoV2 virus and MERS virus, respectively.