SARS-CoV-2 Detection with De Novo-Designed Synthetic Riboregulators
İlkay Çisil Köksaldı, Sıla Köse, Recep Erdem Ahan, Nedim Hacıosmanoğlu, Ebru Şahin Kehribar, Murat Alp Güngen, Aliye Baştuğ, Bedia Dinç, Hürrem Bodur, Aykut Özkul, Urartu Özgür Şafak Şeker
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 is a human pathogen and the main cause of COVID-19 disease, announced as a global pandemic by the World Health Organization. COVID-19 is characterized by severe conditions, and early diagnosis can make dramatic changes for both personal and public health. Low-cost, easy-to-use diagnostic capabilities can have a very critical role in controlling the transmission of the disease. Here, we are reporting a state-of-the-art diagnostic tool developed with an in vitro synthetic biology approach by employing engineered de novo riboregulators. Our design coupled with a home-made point-of-care device can detect and report the presence of SARS-CoV-2-specific genes. The presence of SARS-CoV-2-related genes triggers the translation of sfGFP mRNAs, resulting in a green fluorescence output. The approach proposed here has the potential of being a game changer in SARS-CoV-2 diagnostics by providing an easy-to-run, low-cost diagnostic capability.