GIST Develops Serological Diagnostic Method for COVID-19
The arrival hall at Terminal 2 of Incheon International Airport was quiet on the 19th due to the impact of COVID-19. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@
View original image[Asia Economy Reporter Junho Hwang] Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology announced on the 25th that the research team led by Professor Jinju Park of the Department of Chemistry has been selected as the priority negotiation candidate for the 2020 Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency's urgent issue-designated academic research and development project titled "Production and efficacy evaluation of diagnostic antigens and antisera for 2019 novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19)." The KDCA designated the COVID-19 related academic research and development projects as urgent issues and divided them into seven topics for an emergency call for proposals.
The research team is developing a serological technology to diagnose COVID-19. Currently, diagnosis of COVID-19 is conducted through genetic testing methods. Once serological diagnostic technology is developed, it will enable epidemiological investigations such as infection history and evaluation of vaccine and therapeutic efficacy.
Professor Park's research team, led by postdoctoral researcher Dr. Kyuho Yeom, has secured genetic resources necessary for the expression and purification of the N protein of the 2019 novel coronavirus. They plan to conduct research on antigen protein production using various expression systems in the future. Additionally, they will produce antisera (polyclonal antibodies) through animal model experiments using the secured antigens. Furthermore, to evaluate the application of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using the antigens and antibodies produced in this study, they will collaborate with Professor Mingon Kim of the Department of Chemistry at GIST, an authority in the diagnostic field.
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Professor Jinju Park stated, "The goal of this research is to secure the technology necessary for serological diagnosis of COVID-19 antigens by leveraging the know-how gained from developing a highly sensitive analysis method for Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (SFTS) virus (the killer tick)."
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