Researchers at Kumamoto University have made a significant breakthrough in the fight against COVID-19 with the development of "Intelli-OVI," a cutting-edge diagnostic tool capable of rapidly identifying emerging variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

The work is published in the journal Communications Medicine.

This new system combines advanced DNA detection technology with computational algorithms to offer a quicker and more cost-effective method of monitoring viral mutations, which could play a crucial role in managing future pandemics.

A new era in virus detection

As the COVID-19 pandemic progresses, despite the rise of vaccination and herd immunity from past infections contributing to a decline in severe cases compared to the early stages, new variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus have emerged, posing significant challenges for public health monitoring and response.

Traditional methods, like whole-genome sequencing (WGS), while accurate, are time-consuming and expensive. Intelli-OVI offers a faster alternative, combining IntelliPlex micro-disk technology with an innovative algorithm, Objective Variant Identification (OVI), to detect and differentiate over 20 SARS-CoV-2 variants with high accuracy.

"Our system can be easily updated to track new viral mutations," said Professor Yorifumi Satou, the lead researcher from the Joint Research Center for Human Retrovirus Infection (JRCHRI), Kumamoto University. "This adaptability is crucial for the early detection of emerging variants, enabling swift action to prevent further spread."

How Intelli-OVI works

The IntelliPlex technology uses micro-disks, printed with a unique pictorial pattern (πCode), to capture and analyze specific genetic mutations of the virus. This allows the system to process multiple viral mutations simultaneously, significantly speeding up the detection process. The OVI algorithm then interprets the data, identifying known and new variants by analyzing the unique mutation patterns.

In laboratory tests, Intelli-OVI successfully identified over 20 variants, including several subtypes of the omicron variant, by using 35 different DNA probes. Unlike traditional PCR-based methods, which are limited to detecting a small number of mutations, Intelli-OVI can analyze up to 100 viral mutation sites at once theoretically, making it one of the most comprehensive diagnostic tools available.

Looking ahead

With the successful development of Intelli-OVI, Kumamoto University is poised to contribute significantly to global pandemic preparedness. The research team hopes that this technology can be applied to other rapidly evolving viruses, providing a vital tool for early detection and containment efforts.

"This new diagnostic tool has the potential to revolutionize how we monitor viral mutations, not just for COVID-19, but for future pandemics as well," added Professor Satou.