Current Trends in RNA Virus Detection via Nucleic Acid Isothermal Amplification-Based Platforms

• Published in: Biosensors (Basel) Vol. 14; no. 2; p. 97
• Main Authors: Ngoc, Le Thi Nhu, Lee, Young-Chul
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 01.02.2024
• Subjects: Amplification; Analysis; Automation; Commercialization; CRISPR; DNA polymerase; Epidemics; Forecasts and trends; Identification and classification; Immunoassays; Infrastructure; loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP); Methods; Microfluidics; nucleic acid sequence-based amplification (NASBA); Nucleic acids; Platforms; point-of-care testing (POCT); Polymerase chain reaction; recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA); recombinase-aided amplification (RAA); Reverse transcription; Ribonucleic acid; RNA; RNA sequencing; RNA virus detection; RNA viruses; Sample preparation; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Signal transduction; Testing; Thermal cycling; Viral diseases; Viruses; South Korea; recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA); nucleic acid sequence-based amplification (NASBA); recombinase-aided amplification (RAA); loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP); RNA virus detection; point-of-care testing (POCT)
• ISSN: 2079-6374; 2079-6374
• DOI: 10.3390/bios14020097

Ribonucleic acid (RNA) viruses are one of the major classes of pathogens that cause human diseases. The conventional method to detect RNA viruses is real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), but it has some limitations. It is expensive and time-consuming, with infrastructure and trained personnel requirements. Its high throughput requires sophisticated automation and large-scale infrastructure. Isothermal amplification methods have been explored as an alternative to address these challenges. These methods are rapid, user-friendly, low-cost, can be performed in less specialized settings, and are highly accurate for detecting RNA viruses. Microfluidic technology provides an ideal platform for performing virus diagnostic tests, including sample preparation, immunoassays, and nucleic acid-based assays. Among these techniques, nucleic acid isothermal amplification methods have been widely integrated with microfluidic platforms for RNA virus detection owing to their simplicity, sensitivity, selectivity, and short analysis time. This review summarizes some common isothermal amplification methods for RNA viruses. It also describes commercialized devices and kits that use isothermal amplification techniques for SARS-CoV-2 detection. Furthermore, the most recent applications of isothermal amplification-based microfluidic platforms for RNA virus detection are discussed in this article.