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RAPID AND COST-EFFECTIVE PROCESS BASED ON INSECT LARVAE FOR SCALE-UP PRODUCTION OF SARS-COV-2 SPIKE PROTEIN FOR SEROLOGICAL COVID-19 TESTING
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  • Ignacio Smith,
  • Gregorio Mc Callum,
  • Adriana Sabljic,
  • Juan Marfia,
  • Silvina Bombicino,
  • Aldana Trabucchi,
  • Ruben Iacono,
  • Joaquín Birenbaum,
  • Susana Vazquez,
  • Juan Minoia,
  • Osvaldo Cascone,
  • María López,
  • Oscar Taboga,
  • Alexandra Targovnik,
  • Federico Wolman,
  • Matías Fingermann,
  • Leonardo Alonso,
  • Silvina Valdez,
  • Maria Miranda
Ignacio Smith
Universidad de Buenos Aires

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Gregorio Mc Callum
Universidad de Buenos Aires
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Adriana Sabljic
Universidad de Buenos Aires
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Juan Marfia
Universidad de Buenos Aires
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Silvina Bombicino
Universidad de Buenos Aires
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Aldana Trabucchi
Universidad de Buenos Aires
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Ruben Iacono
Universidad de Buenos Aires
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Joaquín Birenbaum
Universidad de Buenos Aires
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Susana Vazquez
Universidad de Buenos Aires
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Juan Minoia
Universidad de Buenos Aires
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Osvaldo Cascone
Universidad de Buenos Aires
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María López
INTA
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Oscar Taboga
INTA
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Alexandra Targovnik
Universidad de Buenos Aires
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Federico Wolman
Universidad de Buenos Aires
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Matías Fingermann
Administración Nacional de Laboratorios e Institutos de Salud Dr Carlos G Malbrán
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Leonardo Alonso
Universidad de Buenos Aires
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Silvina Valdez
Universidad de Buenos Aires
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Maria Miranda
Universidad de Buenos Aires Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquimica
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Abstract

Serology testing for COVID-19 is important in evaluating active immune response against SARS-CoV-2, studying the antibody kinetics, and monitoring reinfections with genetic variants and new virus strains, in particular, the duration of antibodies in virus-exposed individuals and vaccine-mediated immunity. In this work, recombinant S protein of SARS-CoV-2 was expressed in Rachiplusia nu, an important agronomic plague. One gram of insect larvae produces an amount of S protein sufficient for 150 determinations in the ELISA method herein developed. We established a rapid production process for SARS-CoV-2 S protein that showed immunoreactivity for anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and was used as a single antigen for developing the ELISA method with high sensitivity (96.2%) and specificity (98.8%). Our findings provide an efficient and cost-effective platform for large-scale S protein production, and the scale-up is linear, thus avoiding the use of complex equipment like bioreactors.
01 Jun 2021Submitted to Biotechnology and Bioengineering
01 Jun 2021Submission Checks Completed
01 Jun 2021Assigned to Editor
06 Jun 2021Reviewer(s) Assigned
02 Jul 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
02 Jul 2021Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
07 Jul 20211st Revision Received
07 Jul 2021Submission Checks Completed
07 Jul 2021Assigned to Editor
08 Jul 2021Reviewer(s) Assigned
12 Jul 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
12 Jul 2021Editorial Decision: Accept