SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein Microarray for Multi-Variant Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods, such as ELISA, are inadequate for quickly and accurately assessing the protection efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines and drugs against SARS-CoV-2 variants and for categorizing the severity of COVID-19 infections, as they cannot detect immune responses to multiple variants in a single test and vary in effectiveness among individuals.
Innovation Solution
A protein microarray is developed that immobilizes the extracellular domain or receptor binding domain of SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins on a substrate, allowing for the detection of immune responses in a single test by applying serum or plasma, enabling rapid assessment of vaccine or drug efficacy and categorization of infection severity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If ELISA is used to detect antibody titers, then the detection can be performed, but it can only detect protection ability against wild-type SARS-CoV-2 and cannot detect multiple variants in a single test
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the detection system into multiple distinct spots on a single microarray chip, with each spot containing a specific variant's spike protein (wild-type, Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, Omicron). This segmentation allows simultaneous detection of antibodies against multiple variants in one test, resolving the contradiction between versatility and complexity by organizing multiple detection functions into a structured array format.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal microarray platform that can detect antibodies against all major SARS-CoV-2 variants using a single test system. The microarray chip serves multiple functions: it detects binding antibodies, neutralizing antibodies, and provides comparative analysis across variants, eliminating the need for separate ELISA tests for each variant while maintaining comprehensive detection capability.
2Productivity
If conventional detection methods are used, then the process is simple, but the speed and throughput of detection are insufficient for rapid assessment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple detection functions into a single microarray chip that can assess antibodies against six different variants simultaneously. By merging what would traditionally require multiple separate ELISA tests into one integrated platform, the system achieves high throughput detection while reducing the time required for comprehensive variant assessment, directly addressing the productivity-time contradiction.
3Adaptability or versatility
If vaccine protection ability is evaluated using traditional methods, then the evaluation is limited to wild-type, but comprehensive evaluation against variants is needed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the vaccine efficacy evaluation into multiple specific assessments within a single test, with each microarray spot dedicated to a specific variant. This allows comprehensive evaluation of vaccine protection against wild-type and all major variants using the same serum or plasma sample, expanding the evaluation scope without requiring additional samples.
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 protein microarray effectively detects the protection ability against wild-type SARS-CoV-2 and variants, facilitating the evaluation of vaccine and drug efficacy and categorizing infection severity, thereby reducing the risk of death from COVID-19.
Implementation Method 1
immobilizing an extracellular domain or a receptor binding domain of a spike protein from the wild-type SARS-CoV-2 virus or variants thereof on a substrate of the protein microarray
Implementation Method 2
detecting the protection ability of the COVID-19 vaccines, antibody drugs, or small molecule drugs against wild-type SARS-CoV-2 virus and several SARS-CoV-2 variants infections
Data Source
AI summary
A protein microarray, a use thereof, and a detection method thereof are provided. The protein microarray includes a carrier with a protein array block on a surface thereof and at least two kinds of proteins immobilized on the protein array block. The at least two kinds of proteins include an extracellular region or a receptor binding region of the spike protein of a virus or a variant thereof. The protein microarray can detect the protective efficacy of vaccines, antibody drugs, or small molecule drugs against viral infection, or detect the immune response of an individual after vaccination or infection with a variant strain of the virus. The detection method of protein microarray includes the steps of adding the serum, a first fluorescent labeled human angiotensin converting enzyme 2, and a second fluorescent labeled anti-human immunoglobulin antibody to the protein microarray array and detecting optical signals.