Efficient virus detection utilizing chitin-immobilized nanobodies synthesized in Ustilago maydis.

ABSTRACT: The COVID-19 pandemic has greatly impacted the global economy and health care systems, illustrating the urgent need for timely and inexpensive responses to pandemic threats in the form of vaccines and antigen tests. Currently, antigen testing is mostly conducted by qualitative flow chromatography or via quantitative ELISA-type assays. The latter mostly utilize materials like protein-adhesive polymers and gold or latex particles. Here we present an alternative ELISA approach using inexpensive, biogenic materials and permitting quick detection based on components produced in the microbial model Ustilago maydis. In this fungus, heterologous proteins like biopharmaceuticals can be exported by fusion to unconventionally secreted chitinase Cts1. As a unique feature, the carrier chitinase binds t

SUBMITTER: Philipp M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10028217 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature