IMAGE: Researchers Stephan Riesenberg (left) and Lukas Bokelmann (right) in the laboratory of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology. view more
Cliu: MPI f. Evolutionary anthropology
Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) is the most widely used diagnostic method for the detection of RNA viruses such as SARS-CoV-2. However, it requires expensive laboratory equipment and the lack of global feedback for RNA purification has increased the need to find simple but reliable alternatives. Another option is the qPCR RT-LAMP (isothermal extension of the reverse reverse center loop) technology. This test increases the desired target sequences of the virus at a constant temperature, using minimal equipment compared to qPCR. In 2020, it was modified to detect SARS-CoV-2. It has also been shown that instead of a swab, which many people find unpleasant, it can be done on gargle lavage samples.
First author Lukas Bokelmann and colleagues have now developed an improved colorimetric RT-LAMP assay, called Cap-iLAMP (loop-centric expansion and extension), which extracts and viral RNA condensation from a pool of gargle wash samples. After a brief tilt, the test result – orange / red for negative yellow, bright for positive – can be explained visually or by using a freely available smartphone app.
The improved verification method performs better than previous similar methods. “Cap-iLAMP significantly reduces faults and single infectious samples are found in a tank among 25 unprotected samples, thus reducing the technical cost of each test to just around 1 Euro per individual,” said the senior author Stephan Riesenberg, a researcher at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology. ”Our approach overcomes problems associated with conventional RT-LAMP and could be addressed involved in several other pathogens. “
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Original publication:
Lukas Bokelmann, Olaf Nickel, Tomislav Maricic, Svante Pääbo, Matthias Meyer, Stephan Borte, and Stephan Riesenberg
Point-of-care testing for SARS-CoV-2 by combining hybridization capture with enhanced colorimetric LAMP
Nature Communication, 5 March 2021
Contact:
Lukas Bokelmann
Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig
+49 341 3550-545
[email protected]
Dr. Stephan Riesenberg
Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig
+49 341 3550-519
[email protected]
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