Aptamer-Powered Surveillance of SARS-CoV-3

Abstract

Rapid detection of emerging coronaviruses is critical for preparedness. The S2A2C1 aptamer broadly recognizes betacoronavirus S2 domains but not influenza proteins. A sandwich aptamer assay achieved ~0.33 pM detection limits and functions in serum, enabling a sensitive, adaptable platform for universal coronavirus detection and real-time surveillance of emerging variants.The putative SARS-CoV-3 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 3) could be the next coronavirus emerging after SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2. Coronaviruses are a large viral family that can cause human respiratory illnesses, 1 three of which in Betacoronaviruses have resulted in serious pandemics in the past 20 years. According to the World Health Organization, SARS-CoV-1 emerged in 2002 and killed at least 774 people; Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) was first reported in 2012 and led to 858 known deaths; SARS-CoV-2 emerged in late 2019, with 7.0+ million deaths reported so far, and is still prevailing around the world. As shown in Figure 1A, the lineage B of the Betacoronavirus genus contains SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2. MERS-CoV belongs to the lineage C of the Beta-coronavirus genus. It appears that preventing the spread of new viruses, such as SARS-CoV-3 (Figure 1A), is proving a challenge for the global community. Developing effective tools, drugs, or vaccines for new viruses is a slow and intensive process, as evidenced by the battle against SARS-CoV-2. Beta-coronaviruses have dramatically influenced human health, highlighting the urgent need for discovering universal probes for various Beta-coronaviruses, which could prove to be crucial in managing future outbreaks, including the putative SARS-CoV-3.