IP Library Granted Patent US 12704516
Granted Patent B2
US 12704516 · App. 17/926,474 · Granted Aug 11, 2026

Methods and compositions for rapid direct detection and differentiation of infectious from noninfectious virus

Inventors: Yi Lu (Champaign, IL); Ana Sol Peinetti (Urbana, IL); Omar Azzaroni (La Plata, AR)
Assignees: The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois; Universidad Nacional de La Plata; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas
G01N33/56983G01N27/3276G01N27/333G01N33/5308G01N33/5438
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12704516
App. No.
17/926,474
Granted
Aug 11, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods of detecting presence of a virus in a sample are provided, the method including contacting the sample with a solid state nanopore comprising a plurality of virus-specific aptamers and measuring a current-voltage curve in the solid state nanopore, wherein a decrease in the current indicates presence of the virus in the sample. Solid state nanopores comprising a plurality of virus-specific aptamers covalently linked to the interior of the solid state nanopore are also provided. Membranes including a plurality of solid state nanopores including a plurality of covalently attached virus-specific aptamers and kits and systems with a membrane including a plurality of solid state nanopores including a plurality of covalently attached virus-specific aptamers are also provided.

Claims (30)

1 . A method of detecting presence of a virus particle in a sample, comprising:

contacting the sample with a solid state nanopore comprising a plurality of virus-specific nucleic acid aptamers covalently linked to an inner wall of the solid state nanopore, wherein the solid state nanopore passes from a first surface to a second surface of a membrane and wherein the solid state nanopore comprises a diameter of about 50-60 nm at the first surface of the membrane and a diameter of about 800-1000 nm at the second surface of the membrane; and

measuring a current-voltage curve in the solid state nanopore,

wherein a decrease in current indicates presence of the virus particle in the sample.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the membrane is present in a reservoir, wherein the reservoir is separated into two compartments by the membrane and the current-voltage curve is measured using two or more electrodes.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the aptamer comprises a 3′ or 5′ amino modification.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the aptamer comprises a spacer between the aptamer and the amino-terminal modification.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the aptamer selectively binds an infectious, intact virus particle.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the aptamer does not bind to a non-infectious, intact virus particle.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the virus is a human adenovirus or a coronavirus.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein:

the human adenovirus is a human adenovirus type 2, a human adenovirus type 5, or a human adenovirus type 40; or

the coronavirus is a SARS-COV-2 coronavirus.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the aptamer comprises the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 5 or SEQ ID NO: 11.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the method detects 10 pfu/ml or less of virus, 1 pfu/ml or less of virus, or wherein the method detects a single virus particle.

11 . A solid state nanopore comprising a plurality of virus-specific aptamers covalently linked to an inner wall of the solid state nanopore, wherein the solid state nanopore passes from a first surface to a second surface of a membrane and wherein the solid state nanopore comprises a diameter of about 50-60 nm at the first surface of the membrane and a diameter of about 800-1000 nm at the second surface of the membrane.

12 . The solid state nanopore of claim 11 , wherein the aptamer comprises a 3′ or 5′ amino modification.

13 . The solid state nanopore of claim 12 , wherein the aptamer comprises a spacer between the aptamer and the amino-terminal modification.

14 . The solid state nanopore of claim 11 , wherein the aptamer selectively binds an infectious, intact virus particle.

15 . The solid state nanopore of claim 14 , wherein the aptamer does not bind to a non-infectious, intact virus particle.

16 . The solid state nanopore of claim 11 , wherein the virus is a human adenovirus or a coronavirus.

17 . The solid state nanopore of claim 16 , wherein:

the human adenovirus is a human adenovirus type 2, a human adenovirus type 5, or a human adenovirus type 40; or

the coronavirus is a SARS-COV-2 coronavirus.

18 . The solid state nanopore of claim 17 , wherein the aptamer comprises the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 5 or SEQ ID NO: 11.

19 . A membrane comprising a plurality of the solid state nanopores of claim 11 .

20 . A kit comprising the membrane of claim 19 and instructions for use.

21 . A system comprising:

the membrane of claim 19 ; and

one or more electrodes that are electrically coupled to the membrane.