RIKEN

The University of Tokyo

Kyoto University

Tokyo Medical and Dental University

Jichi Medical University

Japan Science and Technology Agency

Summary

A joint research group led by Senior Staff Members Rikiya Watanabe and Hajime Shinoda of the Watanabe Laboratory for Molecular Physiology, RIKEN's Frontier Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, Professor Hiroshi Nishimasu of the University of Tokyo, Professor Osamu Nureki of the University's Graduate School of Science, Professor Takeshi Noda of the Kyoto University Medical and Biological Research Institute, Associate Professor Hiroaki Takeuchi of the Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences of the University of Tokyo, and Professor Yong-Soo Choi of the Jichi Medical University has developed a novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV). Associate Professor Nureki, Professor Takeshi Noda of the Institute of Biomedical Research, Kyoto University, and Professor Yong-Soo Choi of the Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, have successfully developed a fully automated detection system that can identify and rapidly detect viral RNA from a novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) at the "single molecule" level.

The research results are expected to be implemented in society as a core technology for next-generation diagnostic methods for infectious diseases, including the development of ultra-sensitive and rapid diagnostic devices for novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) and other infectious diseases.

This time, the joint research group has developed a fully automated detection device "automated platform on SATORI; opn-SATORI device" with greatly improved sensitivity and accuracy, based on the world's fastest SARS-CoV-2 detection method "SATORI method" developed in 2021. opn- The opn-SATORI instrument identifies each viral RNA in less than 9 minutes and quantifies the number of viral RNAs in a sample in a fully automated manner. With a detection sensitivity of 1.4 copies per microliter (1/1,000 mL), it is comparable to the PCR assay and sufficient for the diagnosis of COVID-19. In addition, a technology that can identify mutations in single nucleotide units has also been developed, and in verification experiments using clinical specimens, a 98% or higher correct response rate was achieved for positive identification and mutant strain identification. Furthermore, the running cost was successfully reduced to about $2 per test, which is equivalent to the PCR and antigen test methods.

This study was published in the online scientific journal " Communications Biology " on May 26 (JST).

Figure: opn-SATORI device

For more information, please visit the RIKEN website.