A Novel Virus Detection Strategy Enabled by TR512-Peptide-Based Bioorthogonal Capture and Enrichment of Preamplified Nucleic Acid

High-cost viral nucleic acid detection devices (e.g., qPCR system) are limited resources for developing counties and rural areas, leading to underdiagnosis or even pandemics of viral infectious diseases. Herein, a novel virus detection strategy is reported. Such detection method is enabled by TR512-peptide-based biorthogonal capture and enrichment of commercially available Texas red fluorophore labeled nucleic acid on the functionalized paper. The GST-TR512 fusion protein electrostatically immobilized on the paper is constructed to retain the binding affinity of TR512-peptide toward Texas red fluorophore labeled nucleic acid released in the preamplification process, then the enrichment of analytes enhances fluorescence signal for rapid detection as volume of sample filters through the paper. The method is generally applicable to different nucleic acid preamplification strategies (PCR, RAA, CRISPR) and different virus types (Hepatitis B virus (HBV), African swine fever virus (ASFV), human papillomavirus (HPV), and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2 or 2019 nCoV)). Finally, a full-set virus detection device is developed in house to detect the presence of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) viral gene in patients' blood samples. Taken together, we first apply TR512-peptide in the signal enrichment and the novel detection strategy may offer an inexpensive, rapid, and portable solution for areas with limited access to a standard diagnosis laboratory.