Engineered M13 Phage Capture of SARS-CoV-2 at Low Viral Loads
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current diagnostic methods for SARS-CoV-2 virus detection are not sufficiently rapid or effective, particularly in capturing and concentrating the virus from biological samples for accurate diagnosis.
Innovation Solution
Engineered M13 phages displaying specific peptides (FHKGGYEKTWKLGD or EFTSKAR) on the major coat protein are used to capture SARS-CoV-2 virus, immobilized on surfaces like magnetic beads, metallic materials, or semiconductors, enabling direct virus capture and concentration from samples.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional diagnostic methods are used for SARS-CoV-2 detection, then the diagnostic process can be performed with standard equipment, but the detection speed and effectiveness are insufficient and cannot rapidly capture and concentrate the virus from biological samples
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces engineered phages as an intermediary substance that specifically binds to SARS-CoV-2 virus particles. These phages act as a bridge between the virus and the detection system, enabling rapid capture and concentration of the virus from biological samples while maintaining high detection reliability through specific antigen-antibody interactions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs preliminary concentration of the virus through phage binding before detection. By pre-concentrating viral particles using engineered phages that specifically bind to SARS-CoV-2, the system prepares the sample in advance, enabling faster subsequent detection steps while ensuring reliable results through enhanced signal strength from concentrated viral material.
2Measurement precision
If phage display technology is used to generate antibodies for therapeutic purposes, then specific affinity antibodies can be obtained, but the system complexity increases and the application is limited to therapeutic rather than diagnostic purposes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the diagnostic function from the phage display technology by using engineered phages specifically for virus capture and concentration in diagnostic applications. This separates the diagnostic utility from therapeutic applications, simplifying the system while maintaining high binding specificity through the engineered phage-spike protein interactions.
3Quantity of substance
If virus concentration from biological samples is performed using conventional methods, then standard procedures can be followed, but the concentration efficiency is insufficient to detect low viral loads
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the binding parameters by using engineered phages with optimized affinity for SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. This parameter optimization enables highly efficient virus concentration from biological samples, achieving sufficient viral load concentration for detection even from samples with initially low viral content through enhanced specific binding interactions.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The method effectively captures and detects SARS-CoV-2 virus down to low viral loads, comparable to RT-PCR sensitivity, using engineered phages with high specificity and affinity for the Spike S1 protein.
Implementation Method 1
Engineered M13 phages displaying specific peptides (FHKGGYEKTWKLGD or EFTSKAR) on the major coat protein are used to capture SARS-CoV-2 virus, immobilized on surfaces like magnetic beads, metallic materials, or semiconductors, enabling direct virus capture and concentration from samples
Implementation Method 2
Engineered M13 phages displaying specific peptides (FHKGGYEKTWKLGD or EFTSKAR) on the major coat protein are used to capture SARS-CoV-2 virus, immobilized on surfaces like magnetic beads, metallic materials, or semiconductors
Data Source
AI summary
A phage for the specific capture of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, said phage being an M13 phage engineered to display on the P8 protein of its coat either FHKGGYEKTWKLGD sequence peptides or EFTSKAR sequence peptides, said peptides having specific affinity for the Spike S1 protein of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.