Unified platform for genetic and serological detection of COVID-19 with single-molecule technology

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic raises the need for diverse diagnostic approaches to rapidly detect different stages of viral infection. The flexible and quantitative nature of single-molecule imaging technology renders it optimal for development of new diagnostic tools. Here we present a proof-of-concept for a single-molecule based, enzyme-free assay for multiplexed detection of SARS-CoV-2. The unified platform we developed allows direct detection of the viral genetic material from patients' samples, as well as their immune response consisting of IgG and IgM antibodies. Thus, it establishes a platform for diagnostics of COVID-19, which could also be adjusted to diagnose additional pathogens.

Imaging Techniques: Essential Tools for the Study of SARS-CoV-2 Infection

“…A single molecule assay, which does not require any enzyme, usually used in conventional methods such as RT-PCR, was developed for a direct detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA from patient's samples (Furth et al, 2021). It consists a first step of in vitro hybridization of the viral RNA with 2 types of DNA probes: biotin-labelled capture probes and fluorophore-labelled detection probe.…”