Researchers) NISHIHARA Ryo, Senior Researcher, KIHARA Yoshiki, Technical Staff, KURITA Ryoji, Group Leader, Health and Medical Research Institute, ASHIBA Hiroki, Senior Researcher, Sensing System Research Center
- Novel coronavirus spike proteins catalyze the light emission of Cypridina luciferin
- Cypridina luciferin emits light only with a spike protein even in the presence of various proteins
- Expected to be a simple and rapid detection method for novel coronaviruses
Detection of SARS-CoV-2 using the enzymatic function of the spike protein itself
The PCR test is used for definitive diagnosis due to its high sensitivity, but it is difficult to test a large number of specimens quickly because it takes about 2 hours to perform the test. The antigen detection, a simpler method, requires more than 10 minutes to test, and a simpler and faster virus detection method than these conventional techniques is needed.
Researchers at AIST, in collaboration with RIKEN, have discovered that a "spike protein" on the surface of the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) induces Cypridina luciferin, a bioluminescent substrate of sea fireflies, to emit light.
This finding is also promising as a detection method for spike proteins. Cypridina luciferin reacts only with the spike protein of the novel coronavirus, even in saliva containing various proteins. Taking advantage of this phenomenon, the spike protein could be detected within one minute by simply mixing saliva and Cypridina luciferin. This method provides a potential platform for detecting novel coronaviruses more conveniently and quickly than existing generic PCR or antigen tests.