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Rapid immunodiagnostic test for COVID-19 detection

Leinco Technologies

Leinco Technologies will co-develop a rapid, point of care, immunodiagnostic test for the detection of the SARS-CoV-2 virus responsible for COVID-19

27 Apr 2020
Diane Li
Assistant Editor

Industry news

Leinco Technologies, Inc., a premier developer and manufacturer of leading-edge recombinant proteins, antibodies, conjugates and provider of custom manufacturing services to the diagnostic and biopharmaceutical industries, has announced an agreement with Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) to scale up production of its most promising antibodies for development of a rapid, point of care COVID-19 diagnostic test.

Under the agreement, Leinco Technologies will co-develop a rapid, point of care, immunodiagnostic test for the detection of the SARS-CoV-2 virus responsible for COVID-19. This is the type of test that can be mass-produced for use on the front lines. The antibody sequences that will be used in the test were discovered in the Vanderbilt Vaccine Center (VVC).

"This is an academic and corporate partnership to get tens of millions of COVID-19 rapid, point of care diagnostic test kits into the market using these antibody sequences," said Pat Leinert Sr., President and CEO of Leinco Technologies. Leinert further added, "It’s almost the perfect team to screen, develop and scale up manufacturing to provide our country with another badly needed weapon in the war against COVID-19. Leinco is in a unique position using its protein expression technology platform to rapidly scale up manufacturing of these antibodies from a DNA sequence to key components for a rapid, point of care COVID-19 diagnostic test kit. Finally, we will have a rapid point of care COVID-19 test kit that can be mass manufactured and sent to the front lines to track and trace this virus.

"We have been working non-stop since January to identify and characterize large panels of antibodies specific to SARS-CoV-2 virus. Obviously, one of the key utilities of these antibodies is for use in diagnostic screening. These type of screening approaches will be a critical piece of returning our society back to normalcy through tracking and understanding prior exposures to this specific virus," said Robert Carnahan, PhD, Associate Director of the Vanderbilt Vaccine Center.

VVC researchers have developed techniques for rapidly isolating clones of antibody-producing white blood cells that produce antibodies targeting specific viral proteins. Using these techniques, they have generated human monoclonal antibodies against a wide range of pathogenic viruses.

For the past several weeks, they have been working around the clock with an international team of academic, governmental and corporate partners to identify and analyze antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

They have now identified antibodies capable of neutralizing the virus and are rapidly selecting the best candidates for moving forward. VUMC’s agreement with Leinco Technologies will enable both parties to meet the extraordinary demand for antibodies by diagnostic test developers around the world.

There currently is no effective treatment or vaccine to stop the spread of SARS-CoV-2, which as of April 7 had infected more than 1.4 million people worldwide and caused more than 81,000 deaths.

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AntibodiesAntibodies are used in techniques such as confocal and fluorescence microscopy, flow cytometry, ELISA, ELISPOT, immunohistochemistry, western blotting and immunopreciptation. Select specific antigen reactivity, high specific affinity, low non-specific binding, monoclonal or polyclonal, primary or secondary antibodies and associated conjugates such as an enzyme or dye for visualization.ImmunologyImmunological techniques measure and characterize immune responses. Immunology kits and analysis systems often use techniques such as ELISA, radioimmunoassay (RIA) and immunodiffusion assays, Immunohistochemistry, and flow cytometry. Immunologists use equipment such as flow Cytometers, plate readers, plate washers and fluorescent microscopes.Cellular PathologyCellular Pathology deals with the microscopic analysis of tissue samples and cells. Sample preparation and processing includes fixation, staining, sectioning and slide mounting, using equipment such microtomes and cryostats. In choosing immunohistochemistry and immunocytochemistry kits, consider chromogens, staining method, antibodies, microscopes and imaging.Point-of-CarePoint-of-Care Testing (POCT) or Near Patient Testing (NPT) products are available for urine, blood and other clinical chemistry analyses. POCT includes: blood glucose testing, blood gas and electrolytes analysis, rapid coagulation testing (PT / INR), rapid cardiac markers diagnostics, drugs of abuse screening, urine strips testing, pregnancy testing, fecal occult blood analysis, food pathogens screening, hemoglobin diagnostics, infectious disease testing and cholesterol screening.Protein PurificationProtein purification is a vital step in drug discovery, therapeutics, biotech and life science research. The purification process typically involves subcellular or membrane protein extraction with cell lysis kits, separation of proteins from cell debris by filtration or spin columns, and the isolation of proteins of interest from other proteins and impurities with affinity purification (including fusion protein tags and antibody binding proteins A, G and L), immunoprecipitation or chromatographic methods, such as ion exchange, size exclusion and immobilized metal affinity chromatography. All purification methods come in multiple formats for your laboratory needs, including agarose or magnetic beads, resins, columns and filter plates. Find the best protein purification equipment in our peer-reviewed product directory: compare products, check customer reviews and receive pricing direct from manufacturers.Biopharmaceutical AdvancesBiopharmaceutical advances follow the development of pharmaceuticals derived from biotechnology, also known as biotechnology medicines. Biopharmaceuticals may be produced from cell lines, plants, or microbial cells. Important considerations of biopharmaceutical use include application, cost, production process and purification.Clinical TrialsClinical Trials, an essential part of drug discovery process, assess the safety and effectiveness of a new medication or device in the pharmaceutical industry. Clinical Trials are a phased process (Phase 0, Phase I, Phase II, Phase III and Phase IV) which begins after initial preclinical testing.Clinical ChemistryBiochemistry (or clinical chemistry) involves the analysis of bodily fluids using chemical tests. Techniques used include HPLC, chromatography, spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, immunochemical, electrophoresis, turbidometric / spectrophotometric assay, MRI and ISE analysis. Tests are often carried out on plasma or serum but urine (urinalysis) and fecal specimens are also processed.Protein QuantificationThe detection and quantification of proteins in a sample is vital across life sciences, pharmaceutical research and clinical diagnostics, and a variety of equipment is available to scientists to simplify the workflow. Proteins of interest can be easily labeled and detected on light-based detection instruments. Immunoassay kits allow you to identify a specific protein of interest and protein detection beads or antibody microarrays allow you to identify multiple specific proteins at once. Protein interactions and enzyme activity can also be monitored with protein-protein interaction assays. Additionally, the biophysical characterization of proteins is made easy with biokinetic analyzers. Find the best protein detection and quantification products in our peer-reviewed product directory: compare products, check customer reviews and receive pricing direct from manufacturers.Protein ExpressionProtein expression is the utilization of cell machinery for the synthesis of proteins and has become a critical tool in biotherapeutic, genomic, and proteomic research. Produce recombinant proteins with expression vectors in combination with a host cell suitable for high-level protein expression. For production of toxic proteins, consider cell-free expression vectors. Create and monitor post-translational modifications with protein modification kits. Find the best protein expression products in our peer-reviewed product directory: compare products, check customer reviews and receive pricing direct from manufacturers.Point of Care SolutionsPoint of care solutions provide medical diagnostics and treatments at or near the site of patient care. These technologies offer rapid results, helping healthcare providers make quick decisions. From glucose monitors to molecular diagnostics, point of care solutions are transforming healthcare delivery by reducing wait times and improving patient outcomes. Explore the best point of care products in our peer-reviewed product directory, compare options, check reviews, and get pricing directly from manufacturers.CoronavirusCoronaviruses are a large family of viruses that can cause illnesses ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases like COVID-19. Research into the biology, transmission, and treatment of coronaviruses has become a global priority, particularly since the emergence of SARS-CoV-2. Understanding the virus�s structure and behavior is essential for developing vaccines, diagnostics, and antiviral treatments. Explore our peer-reviewed product directory to discover the latest research tools, diagnostic tests, vaccines, and treatments for coronavirus, compare products, read reviews, and receive pricing directly from manufacturers.Covid-19COVID-19, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, has led to a global health crisis with profound impacts on societies and economies. Research into diagnostics, vaccines, treatments, and understanding viral mechanisms continues to evolve. The pandemic has accelerated innovations in healthcare and biopharmaceuticals, including novel vaccine platforms and rapid testing technologies. Browse our peer-reviewed product directory to find top COVID-19 testing kits, research tools, vaccines, and treatments, compare products, read reviews, and receive direct pricing from manufacturers.Protein BiologyThe analysis of protein expression, identity and function is vital for many areas of life science research and drug discovery. Some of the most commonly used techniques in protein analysis include Western blotting, electrophoresis and mass spectrometry.

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Rapid immunodiagnostic test for COVID-19 detection