An Integrated Platform for Virus Detection and Vaccine Production: A Novel Solution for COVID-19

An Integrated Platform for Virus Detection and Vaccine Production: A Novel Solution for COVID-19
Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia Sinica

Our invention demonstrates an integrated platform for disease detection and vaccine production. It simultaneously provides detection products and vaccines for COVID-19. We engineered the insect baculovirus to display the SARS-CoV-2 spike and nucleocapsid proteins on the baculovirus envelope and the insect cell membrane. Cells displaying these two proteins become a novel COVID-19 serum detection system, and the baculoviruses displaying the proteins become the vector vaccines. In these processes, protein purification is unnecessary, thus significantly reducing the difficulty and cost of production. Moreover, baculovirus is highly safe for manufactures and users as it does not cause human infection. This technology can also be used to immediately detect and prevent other emerging or recurring viruses, thereby being an important breakthrough in fighting against viral diseases.

Epidemic Prevention Advantage：
1. The first integrative system for virus disease prevention and control in which the detection reagents and vaccines are produced simultaneously.
2. Create a cell-based serological test system that does not require purified protein to detect viral infections.
3. Since there is no need to purify the protein, it can be simple, low-cost, and possible for mass production of detection reagent.
4. The baculovirus display antigen can be an immediate, effective, and safe vector vaccine.
5. The prevention system can be widely applied to broad unknown virus pathogens.

Collaboration Options：
1. System development: We can display foreign proteins, including receptors, enzymes, antigens, etc., on cells so that the cell systems can readily assay the reactions. The protein yield of this cell system is high. Besides, the production of the host cell proteins will be eliminated, and the displayed proteins can be membrane proteins, multimeric proteins, glycoproteins, etc., which is very important for delicate and specific analyses.
2. Material supply: Provide proteins or cell/protein system for broad application.
3. System optimization: System optimization for protein analysis on cells.