Introduction

The invention comprises a specialized system designed to capture the SARS-CoV-2 virus employing the phage display technique. This method involves modifying an M13 phage to display numerous peptides featuring the sequence FHKGGYEKTWKLGD, which exhibit a remarkably strong and specific affinity for the Spike protein of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Technical features

Currently, no methods exist for achieving such specific capture. The presented method is highly innovative as it allows for the selective capture of SARS-CoV-2 in a real sample, where multiple pathogens and cellular systems may be present. In the subsequent detection using molecular tests (RT-PCR) or antigenic tests, the efficiency of genomic material extraction is significantly higher because the sample does not contain any other genomic material (human/pathogen DNA or RNA).

Possible Applications

• Biomedicine;
• Molecular Biology.

Advantages

• Specific capture of COVID and virion concentration for subsequent detection;
• High specificity;
• Versatile methodology applicable to different detection methods;
• Elimination of false negatives and false positives, allowing for time and cost savings.