RESET - Rapid chEap Scalable and Easy deTection

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  RESET - Rapid chEap Scalable Easy deTection Kit

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  SARS Cov-2 Virus detection using split-protein technology

Inspiration

The current SARS CoV-2 testing struggles to be expanded for frequent worldwide testing due to shortages in lab facilities, trained personnel, and supply chains for reagents and materials. Thus, there is an urgent need for alternative testing methods that are novel and not PCR-based. We are a group of scientists and entrepreneurs and we developed an antigen-based technology platform called RESET, for Rapid chEap Scalable and Easy deTection of viral particles in human samples, that will enable massive testing, a crucial step for the safe reopening of the worldwide economy.

Further, we envision that this novel technology platform has immense potential post-pandemic also and can be quickly repurposed for many other uses including detection of other pathogens, environmental screening purposes and even testing for contamination in food manufacturing facilities.

What it does

RESET combines SARS CoV-2 specific nanobodies with a technology known as split-protein system that will be made using yeast fermentation. The patient’s sample is taken and if it contains viruses, RESET will specifically bind, the two parts of the split-protein system will be combined and the reporter system becomes active. A color formation is the readout and it will be detected using a mobile smartphone app.

How we built it

Thanks to our knowledge and the vast scientific literature, we developed this idea that has multiple advantages:

• Easy growth of yeast strains anywhere in the world;
• No reliance on specific manufacturers’ kits or instruments;
• RT-PCR kit availability issue is bypassed, since NO need of RNA extraction;
• Potential easy-use from untrained people, if sampling can be managed (SALIVA is shown from several studies to be a promising alternative to current nasopharyngeal swabs);
• Large scale production for global repeated testing.

Challenges we ran into

We managed to optimize a scientific idea and develop a solid business plan in a very short time. Additionally, we elaborated the initial idea in a concrete solution successfully merging scientific known concepts and the multidisciplinary expertises of the team members. Once the proof-of-concept is achieved using real patient samples, the product upscaling and distribution will be facilitated by industrial partnering.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

The EUvsVirus hackathon has brought global team-members together to work hard with passion and commitment, thanks to the invaluable advices from the assigned mentors (Ron Gill and Massimo Pellegrino). We all collectively improved a brilliant scientific idea, making incredible leaps, to develop it into a concrete solution: RESET, that can overcome materials and reagents shortage, one of the limiting points of currently used PCR-based detection kits. RESET, together with other Covid-19 detection techniques (e.g. PCR and LAMP), could expand the capacities for massive testing and crucially help the global community to safely reopen economies.

What's next

We are looking for funding agents and laboratory partners to perform the proof-of-concept and small-scale prototypes. The further step will be the collaboration with industrial partners to scale-up and enable a global supply for a real point of care solution.