Development of SARS-CoV-2 Molecular Virological Tools
- Funded by Estonian Research Council
- Total publications:0 publications
Grant number: SS21026
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Key facts
Disease
COVID-19Start & end year
20212021Known Financial Commitments (USD)
$59,630Funder
Estonian Research CouncilPrincipal Investigator
Pirjo and Maria Cecilia Spuul and Sarmiento GuerinResearch Location
EstoniaLead Research Institution
Tallinn University of Technology, Faculty of Science, Institute of Chemistry and BiotechnologyResearch Priority Alignment
N/A
Research Category
Pathogen: natural history, transmission and diagnostics
Research Subcategory
Pathogen morphology, shedding & natural history
Special Interest Tags
N/A
Study Type
Unspecified
Clinical Trial Details
N/A
Broad Policy Alignment
Pending
Age Group
Not Applicable
Vulnerable Population
Not applicable
Occupations of Interest
Not applicable
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 testing is performed in laboratories with BSL3 (biosafety level 3) safety levels, which are expensive and often not available. This has created a great need for solutions that allow SARS-CoV-2 materials to be used in lower safety laboratories. Based on this need, cooperation has been established with the virologists of the University of Tartu (Prof. Merits and Dr. Varjak). This project will have two outputs, the first of which are complementation systems (trans-replicases) based on SARS-CoV-2. Another output is the creation of leased lines that allow the virus replication machine to be packaged into particles that mimic functional virions. Such an approach would allow the impact of new mutations on viral replication to be investigated in the future. In addition, SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies and other anti-COVID-19 drug candidates can be tested. Thus, the development of these systems allows for close collaboration with hospitals to study the effects of antibodies isolated from patients.