The coronavirus test conducted on domestic cats demonstrated the assay's ability to detect viral infection within a week of exposure to SARS-CoV-2 virus.
Researchers have made a significant breakthrough enabling them to discover SARS-CoV-2 virus exposure in all animal species, facilitating the tracking of coronavirus variants in both wild and domesticated animals (1✔ ✔Trusted Source
Development of monoclonal antibody-based blocking ELISA for detecting SARS-CoV-2 exposure in animals
Go to source). The virus that causes COVID-19 in humans also infects a variety of animals, said University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign pathobiology professor and virologist Ying Fang, who led the new research. So far, the virus has been detected in cats, dogs, rodents, deer, apes and a variety of farm and zoo animals. The virus also mutates in these hosts, potentially leading to new variants that can endanger their – and human – health.
All-Species Coronavirus Test for Wider Surveillance
“Highly sensitive and specific diagnostic reagents and assays are urgently needed for rapid detection and implementation of strategies for prevention and control of the infection in animals,” the researchers wrote in the journal mSphere, where their findings are reported.‘Cross-species coronavirus test developed offers a valuable tool for conducting SARS-CoV-2 field surveillance in animal populations. #coronavirustest #coronavirusinanimals’
The new coronavirus test focuses on antibodies against a protein, called the N-protein, that is embedded in the virus’s nucleocapsid – a structure made up of proteins and nucleic acids contained within a viral membrane. The N-protein makes a better target than the membrane-bound viral proteins that are usually used in tests for antibody responses, Fang said. “The N-protein is more abundant and it is more conserved than the proteins used in most tests,” she said. This means that the structure of the protein is more consistent across species, making it a good target for all-species antibody tests.
The team used an N-protein-based blocking ELISA protocol for their test. This method involves coating an ELISA plate with the N-protein, then adding a serum sample of whatever animal is being tested. If the animal has been infected with the coronavirus, its serum will contain anti-N-protein antibodies, which will bind to the N-protein-coated plate. The scientists then wash the plate and add a secondary biotin-tagged monoclonal antibody that targets the N-protein. If the animal is positive for coronavirus infection, its antibodies will block the secondary antibodies from binding to the N-protein. If the animal has not been infected, the monoclonal antibodies will attach to the coated plate and generate a color signal when specific chemicals are added to the plate.
The researchers validated their test using samples from various animals with known SARS-CoV-2 infection status, finding the tests had more than 97% sensitivity and 98% specificity.
The National Institutes of Health supported this research.
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- Development of monoclonal antibody-based blocking ELISA for detecting SARS-CoV-2 exposure in animals - (https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/msphere.00067-23)