On March 2020, 03, a research group led by Professor Akihide Liang of the School of Medicine, Yokohama City University, used the ELISA method * 09 and the immunochromatography method * 1 to anti-antibodies contained in the serum of patients with the new coronavirus. Announced that it succeeded in detecting viral antibody (IgG).

Professor Liang et al.'S research group prepared the proteins that make up the coronavirus by the wheat cell-free protein synthesis method * 3, which is the technology possessed by Professor Liang, and a serological diagnostic method for 2019-nCoV infection (COVID-19). We proceeded with research on (antibody detection method) and succeeded in detecting IgG antibody using this protein, which leads to the serum diagnostic method of the new coronavirus using the ELISA method and the immunochromatography method.

In general, IgG antibody produced after virus infection rises about one week after the onset, so it may not necessarily reflect the infection status, but 1-new coronavirus (COVID-2019) is in many cases. In the case, the incubation period is relatively long, about several days to 19 weeks, and it rapidly worsens about 2 to 5 days after the onset of symptoms, leading to pneumonia. It is expected to be useful for treatment selection.

In fact, in the analysis using clinical specimens (10 cases) derived from COVID-19 patients more than 6 days after the onset, all PCR-positive patient specimens showed a positive reaction.In addition, since this antibody measurement method can retrospectively verify the presence or absence of a history of new coronavirus infection, it is considered to be useful in future epidemiological investigations.

The ELISA method quantitatively analyzes the antibody titer, has high detection sensitivity, and is suitable for processing a large number of samples. Since the immunochromatographic method enables qualitative analysis by visual judgment, it does not require a special device and is simple. The possibility of virus infection can be investigated in a short time by operation.

In the future, after considering increasing the number of cases, the company plans to further improve the serodiagnosis method for this new type of coronavirus and promote empirical research in collaboration with related organizations.

 

* 1 ELISA method (Enzyme-Linked Immuno Sorbent Assay): One of the immunological measurement methods using an antigen or antibody.The target antigen or antibody contained in the sample solution is captured by a specific antibody or antigen, and detection and quantification are performed using an enzymatic reaction.

* 2 Lateral flow test: An immunoassay reagent that applies antigen-antibody reaction and capillarity.It is possible to visually detect pathogens with a simple operation, and it has already been put to practical use in influenza virus and pregnancy diagnosis.

* 3 Wheat cell-free protein synthesis method: A technique for synthesizing proteins stably and efficiently by simply adding a substrate such as an amino acid and the target mRNA to a wheat germ extract from which protein synthesis inhibitors have been removed.By using this method, it is possible to synthesize a large amount of viral proteins, which has been difficult to synthesize in the past.

Reference: Yokohama City University "Successful detection of antiviral antibody contained in the serum of patients with new coronavirus infection (COVID-19) "

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