Feeling under the weather? Call the Express Biochecker
A new testing system called the ‘Express Biochecker’ offers a rapid, versatile and cost-effective method for detecting COVID-19 and other viruses, potentially transforming disease diagnostics [1].
We have all heard that cold weather is a driver of illness, whether we are being reminded to put on an extra layer or cover wet hair to keep sickness at bay. It’s not just superstition. There are numerous reasons as to why we are more susceptible to viral illnesses in the winter. This includes spending more time indoors in close contact with one another and more efficient viral replication at lower temperatures. Even our immune systems are less effective in the cold. For example, the mucus and cilia lining our noses and airways can be inhibited in cold, dry air, which means viruses are not expelled from the body as easily [2].
Flu activity typically peaks between December and February but for COVID-19, the pattern is not so simple. Although SARS-CoV-2 infections surge in the winter, there are periodic peaks of activity during the summer, which are partly caused by new variants and waning immunity from prior infections or vaccinations.
In addition to flu and COVID-19, other respiratory viruses are also common circulators during flu season, including rhinovirus, adenoviruses and human metapneumovirus.
With flu season right around the corner amid rising COVID-19 cases, monitoring disease circulation is more important than ever. Current tests such as PCR and ELISA assays have several limitations. Not only are they time-consuming, complex and require large sample volumes, but they can also potentially expose the tester to the virus.
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Working to overcome the barriers of current testing systems, a team of researchers from Tohoku University and HaploPharma (both Sendai, Japan) has developed a new, rapid and cost-effective testing system called the ’Express Biochecker’ that could transform how we detect diseases, including COVID-19.
Unlike traditional PCR and ELISA tests, this novel approach uses Janus particles — tiny, dual-sided particles named after the Roman god with two faces. One side is coated with fluorescent dye, while the other holds magnetic particles and antibodies, enabling precise detection of viral proteins. The particles can also be used in combination with antibody-immobilized microfluidic devices to achieve highly accurate measurements. Although the system has been designed to detect the coronavirus N protein, the Express Biochecker can be adapted to test for other viruses like influenza and hepatitis, as well as other disease biomarkers.
“The strength of this system lies in its versatility,” explained Eiichi Kodama, a Professor at the International Research Institute of Disaster Science at Tohoku University. “Not only can it be used for viral detection in other diseases, but it also has the potential to be adapted for measuring other biomarkers related to various conditions. This could open new avenues for medical diagnostics.”
