Article
Biophysics
Liping Huang, Ying Li, Changyou Luo, Youqian Chen, Nadia Touil, Hicham-El Annaz, Shaoqi Zeng, Tang Dang, Jiawei Liang, Wenjun Hu, Hao Xu, Jiasheng Tu, Lin Wang, Yan Shen, Gang L. Liu
Summary: Researchers have developed a NanoPISA platform for evaluating the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines. The platform can rapidly detect SARS-CoV-2 NA in serum samples and yields results comparable to other commonly used detection methods.
BIOSENSORS & BIOELECTRONICS
(2022)
News Item
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Clare Watson
Summary: The increase in childhood type 1 diabetes has provided researchers with new opportunities to investigate the cause of the disease.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Adriana Martinez-Cuazitl, Gustavo J. Vazquez-Zapien, Miguel Sanchez-Brito, Jorge H. Limon-Pacheco, Melissa Guerrero-Ruiz, Francisco Garibay-Gonzalez, Raul J. Delgado-Macuil, Maria G. Garcia de Jesus, Miguel A. Corona-Perezgrovas, Armando Pereyra-Talamantes, Monica M. Mata-Miranda
Summary: This study utilized ATR-FTIR spectroscopy to analyze salivary samples from COVID-19 patients and healthy individuals, establishing specific salivary vibrational modes and successfully differentiating between the two groups using an MLRM model. The COVID-19 patients exhibited symptoms such as low SaO(2), cough, dyspnea, headache, and fever, with elevated levels of C-reactive protein, lactate dehydrogenase, fibrinogen, d-dimer, and ferritin in laboratory tests. Additionally, changes in amide I and immunoglobulin regions were observed in the FTIR spectra analysis, contributing to the discrimination between COVID-19 patients and healthy individuals.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Dan H. Barouch
Summary: This article reviews the protective effects of vaccination and prior infection on severe Covid-19, and proposes future research directions.
NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Qin Liu, Qi Su, Fen Zhang, Hein M. Tun, Joyce Wing Yan Mak, Grace Chung-Yan Lui, Susanna So Shan Ng, Jessica Y. L. Ching, Amy Li, Wenqi Lu, Chenyu Liu, Chun Pan Cheung, David S. C. Hui, Paul K. S. Chan, Francis Ka Leung Chan, Siew C. Ng
Summary: By integrating clinical features and multi-omics data, the authors identified specific gut microbiome patterns associated with disease severity and development of post-acute COVID-19 syndrome. These findings highlight the potential utility of host phenotype and multi-kingdom microbiota profiling as a prognostic tool for patients with COVID-19.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Shijun Li, Junfei Huang, Lijuan Ren, Weijia Jiang, Ming Wang, Li Zhuang, Qinni Zheng, Rui Yang, Yi Zeng, Laurence Don Wai Luu, Yi Wang, Jun Tai
Summary: CRISPR-top is a novel diagnostic method that integrates target pre-amplification and CRISPR-mediated detection in one reaction mixture for SARS-CoV-2 detection. This simple, rapid, accurate, and highly sensitive method can return results within 60 minutes, making it suitable for clinical and resource-challenged settings.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ruben Canton-Vitoria, Kotaro Sato, Yashiro Motooka, Shinya Toyokuni, Zheng Liu, Ryo Kitaura
Summary: We made sensors by modifying MoS2 and WS2 surfaces with COVID-19 antibodies and examined their stability, reusability, sensitivity, and selectivity. Antibodies interact strongly with Mo or W sites, resulting in durable devices that remain stable for several days in air or water. The antibodies remain intact even during aggressive cleaning at pH 3, allowing reuse without significant loss of sensitivity. The nanodevice can be used for different patient samples, with a limit of detection of 1 fg ml(-1) at room temperature and a response time of 1 second, showing selectivity against interferences.
Editorial Material
Immunology
Rustom Antia, M. Elizabeth Halloran
Summary: The article discusses the basic concepts underlying the transition from an epidemic to an endemic state, as well as the implications of this transition for COVID-19.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Marcia C. Castro, Sun Kim, Lorena Barberia, Ana Freitas Ribeiro, Susie Gurzenda, Karina Braga Ribeiro, Erin Abbott, Jeffrey Blossom, Beatriz Rache, Burton H. Singer
Summary: The study found that COVID-19 in Brazil is spreading rapidly across municipalities with distinct spatial and temporal patterns of clustering, trajectories, and speed. Analysis shows that inadequate policy measures have led to high transmission and mortality burdens. The current surge in cases and deaths, along with the circulation of concerning variants, highlights the need for government to strengthen prevention and control measures.
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Farzad Seidi, Chao Deng, Yajie Zhong, Yuqian Liu, Yang Huang, Chengcheng Li, Huining Xiao
Summary: The vulnerability of commercially available face masks during the COVID-19 outbreak has highlighted the urgent demand for innovative masks with advanced functions. Functionalized masks with various properties such as antimicrobial characteristics, self-disinfectant capabilities, and self-cleaning abilities can be created through incorporating different agents and strategies. The effectiveness and limitations of these methods in enhancing mask protection performance are well-discussed in this review.
Review
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Sazada Siddiqui, Heba Waheeb Saeed Alhamdi, Huda Ahmed Alghamdi
Summary: COVID-19 is highly contagious and has caused major disruptions around the world. Prevention is crucial through measures such as self-isolation and vaccination.
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
William R. Morgenlander, Stephanie N. Henson, Daniel R. Monaco, Athena Chen, Kirsten Littlefield, Evan M. Bloch, Eric Fujimura, Ingo Ruczinski, Andrew R. Crowley, Harini Natarajan, Savannah E. Butler, Joshua A. Weiner, Mamie Z. Li, Tania S. Bonny, Sarah E. Benner, Ashwin Balagopal, David Sullivan, Shmuel Shoham, Thomas C. Quinn, Susan H. Eshleman, Arturo Casadevall, Andrew D. Redd, Oliver Laeyendecker, Margaret E. Ackerman, Andrew Pekosz, Stephen J. Elledge, Matthew Robinson, Aaron A. R. Tobian, H. Benjamin Larman
Summary: This study found strong correlation between the functionality of COVID-19 convalescent plasma and polyclonal antibody targeting of specific peptides in the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. Antibody responses to specific coronaviruses correlated with the development of highly neutralizing antibodies against CoV-2. Plasma donations reactive to the CoV-2 spike receptor binding domain had higher neutralizing titers.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL INVESTIGATION
(2021)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Pablo Alberto Franco-Urquijo, Monica Sierra-Martinez, Mariana Jarquin-Martinez, Mateo Alejandro Martinez-Roque, Victor Miguel Garcia-Velasquez, Gustavo Acosta-Altamirano, Nancy Jannet Ruiz-Perez, Julia Dolores Toscano-Garibay, Luis Marat Alvarez-Salas
Summary: This study investigated the performance of C7/C9 aptamers in clinical samples and explored the factors influencing the test results. Additionally, it detected and analyzed naturally occurring mutations on the S protein, providing a foundation for the design of new diagnostic tests.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Zeli Zhang, Jose Mateus, Camila H. Coelho, Jennifer M. Dan, Carolyn Rydyznski Moderbacher, Rosa Isela Galvez, Fernanda H. Cortes, Alba Grifoni, Alison Tarke, James Chang, E. Alexandar Escarrega, Christina Kim, Benjamin Goodwin, Nathaniel Bloom, April Frazier, Daniela Weiskopf, Alessandro Sette, Shane Crotty
Summary: Multiple COVID-19 vaccines have successfully protected against symptomatic cases and deaths. Comparisons of T cell, B cell, and antibody responses to different vaccines can provide insights into protective immunity against COVID-19, particularly immune memory. mRNA vaccines and Ad26.COV2.S induced strong T cell responses, while mRNA vaccines showed substantial declines in antibodies.
Review
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Daniel M. Altmann, Rosemary J. Boyton
Summary: A diverse range of first-generation SARS-CoV-2 vaccines have been successful in controlling the COVID-19 pandemic, although inequitable distribution remains an issue. Future challenges include optimizing immunological boosting strategies and building an immune repertoire that can protect against upcoming viral variants.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Gutian Zhang, Wenting Cheng, Lin Du, Chuanjun Xu, Jinlong Li
Summary: This study presents a facile approach to co-deliver IR780 and GA using self-assembled albumin nanoparticles, which can relieve hypoxia and suppress Hsp for clinical application of cancer phototherapy.
JOURNAL OF NANOBIOTECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biophysics
Cong Han, Wenjin Li, Qian Li, Wenping Xing, Hang Luo, Haishuo Ji, Xiaona Fang, Zhaofeng Luo, Liyun Zhang
Summary: In this study, a CRISPR/Cas12a-derived electrochemical aptasensor for fast and ultrasensitive detection of COVID-19 nucleocapsid protein (Np) was developed. The sensor exhibited high selectivity to Np and could complete a test within 30 minutes. It showed great potential in early diagnosis of COVID-19, environmental surveillance, and food security.
BIOSENSORS & BIOELECTRONICS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Xiaona Fang, Wenjing Li, Tian Gao, Qurat Ul Ain Zahra, Zhaofeng Luo, Renjun Pei
Summary: This paper reports the development of a new strategy called integrated digital PCR-fluorescence activated sorting based SELEX (IFS-SELEX) for rapid screening of aptamers against fluorescent targets. The strategy amplifies each sequence of a preliminarily enriched library using an integrated digital PCR system, followed by fluorescence-activated sorting to collect and sequence only the sequences with high binding affinity for the targets. The experimental results demonstrate that the IFS-SELEX method can serve as a universal platform for rapid, facile, and efficient aptamer selection against various fluorescent targets.
Review
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Qurat ul Ain Zahra, Salim Ullah, Faisal Shahzad, Bensheng Qiu, Xiaona Fang, Ayesha Ammar, Zhaofeng Luo, Shabi Abbas Zaidi
Summary: This study discusses the application of combining 2D MXenes with high affinity aptamers in innovative aptasensing approaches for food/water safety and clinical diagnosis. The research focuses on the fabrication, sensing mechanisms, and applications of MXene-based aptasensors, with an emphasis on the detection of various types of cancers, mycotoxins, and other analytes. The study also provides insights into the future development of optical aptasensing and highlights potential constraints and prospects.
PROGRESS IN MATERIALS SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Biophysics
Qurat ul Ain Zahra, Syed Agha Hassnain Mohsan, Faisal Shahzad, Mohammad Qamar, Bensheng Qiu, Zhaofeng Luo, Shabi Abbas Zaidi
Summary: Conventional analytical biosensor devices have limitations in handling, time, size, and cost. Smartphones coupled with aptamers have enabled the development of portable and cost-effective biosensors for biomolecule detection. This review discusses achievements in smartphone-enabled aptasensors between 2017 and 2022, covering fabrication strategies and software. The report aims to assist scientists and engineers in understanding smartphone-based aptasensor fabrication and encourage future developments in affordable and portable sensing devices.
BIOSENSORS & BIOELECTRONICS
(2022)
Article
Biophysics
Mengdi Yu, Xiaohui Zhang, Xin Zhang, Qurat Ul Ain Zahra, Zenghui Huang, Ying Chen, Chunxia Song, Min Song, Hongjuan Jiang, Zhaofeng Luo, Ying Lu
Summary: The COVID-19 epidemic has had a significant impact on the lives of millions of people worldwide. The development of fast and sensitive detection methods is crucial in the absence of effective global vaccination programs. This study presents an electrochemical aptamer sensor for the specific detection of COVID-19, using complementary oligonucleotides as probes. The sensor demonstrated a linear relationship between N protein concentration and electrochemical current signals, with a detection limit of 1 fM. Testing on throat swabs and blood samples from volunteers showed promising results, indicating the sensor's potential for early COVID-19 detection in patients.
BIOSENSORS & BIOELECTRONICS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Cong Han, Wenping Xing, Wenjin Li, Xiaona Fang, Jian Zhao, Feng Ge, Wei Ding, Pengpeng Qu, Zhaofeng Luo, Liyun Zhang
Summary: In this study, we proposed a biomimetic clamp assay for detecting SARS-CoV2 nucleocapsid protein (Np). The assay utilizes a pair of Np aptamers connected via a T20 spacer to form a DNA biomimetic clamp (DNA-BC). The DNA-BC is anchored on the surface of a screen-printed gold electrode, resulting in a clamp-type impedimetric aptasensor. The aptasensor shows high sensitivity and specificity for Np detection, making it a potentially promising strategy for developing reliable antigen rapid diagnostic testing (Ag-RDT) products to address the current epidemic.
SENSORS AND ACTUATORS B-CHEMICAL
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Wenping Xing, Qian Li, Cong Han, Dongdong Sun, Zheng Zhang, Xiaona Fang, Yu Guo, Feng Ge, Wei Ding, Zhaofeng Luo, Liyun Zhang
Summary: This study reports a new CRISPR/Cas12a-derived aptasensor that can detect the spike protein 1 (S1) of SARS-CoV-2 as well as Beta, Delta, and Omicron variants. The study also reveals the relationship between aptamer sequence and affinity for regulating the activity of CRISPR/Cas12a. The optimized 27-nucleotide sequence shows high affinity and specificity for target recognition and efficiently activates CRISPR/Cas12a activity. This research provides new insights into aptamer development and offers a different strategy for COVID-19 antigen detection and biosensor development.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Liu Shi, Beibei Nie, Lingjun Sha, Keqin Ying, Jinlong Li, Genxi Li
Summary: Regulating ion transport in nanochannels is crucial for biomolecular detection and cellular communication. This study introduces graphene oxide (GO) and peptides to achieve precise control over ion conduction, offering promising applications in nanofluidic manipulation and biomedical research.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Meng Jiang, Xiaona Fang, Han Diao, Shaokang Lv, Zheng Zhang, Xiang Zhang, Zhiwei Chen, Zhaofeng Luo
Summary: In this study, a semi-automatic instrument was constructed and optimized for performing aptamer SELEX targeting multiple proteins simultaneously. This work provides a simple SELEX platform with real-time feedback, which is time efficient and minimizes human intervention. A number of aptamers were quickly screened and their binding affinities were verified by various methods, including SPR and flow cytometry, demonstrating the applicability and reliability of the newly established aptamer SELEX system.
ANALYTICAL METHODS
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Analytical
Qurat ul Ain Zahra, Xiaona Fang, Zhaofeng Luo, Salim Ullah, Shazia Fatima, Sadaf Batool, Bensheng Qiu, Faisal Shahzad
Summary: In view of environmental pollution, there is a need for cheap, sensitive and fast biosensing systems for monitoring pollutants. Aptamers have advantages in biosensing devices. Graphene-based nanohybrids combined with detection methods show great potential for monitoring environmental contaminants. This review discusses the design, principle, advances, and applications of graphene-based nanohybrid aptasensors for monitoring pesticides, heavy metals, bacteria, antibiotics, and organic compounds in different environmental samples.
CRITICAL REVIEWS IN ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)