The set of HCoV peptides developed by scientists consists of 3 million immune markers: it contains all the proteins of known
This set of peptides serves as the basis for tests,which will be used for diagnosis and monitoring of patients. Current antibody tests for SARS-CoV-2 infection may produce false-positive results due to cross-reactivity with seasonal coronaviruses that cause the common cold.
In order to collect this array of information,The researchers analyzed blood samples taken from people with asymptomatic, mild, or severe symptoms of SARS-CoV-2. They also studied control groups that included healthy people and those exposed to SARS-CoV-1 and seasonal coronaviruses.
Next, the authors analyzed all 170 thousand peptides related to known human coronaviruses and obtained 29 peptides with the strongest and most specific reactivity with SARS-CoV-2.
The new test is 98 percent accurate.
This work will help create inexpensive and easy-to-use blood tests that can provide information about the impact of the virus and the immune function of the body that is infected.
Nishay Mishra, PhD, assistant professor of epidemiology at Columbia Mailman School
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