LONDON (Alliance News) - Avacta Group PLC on Wednesday said it has identified three affimer proteins which could be used to develop new tests to diagnose Zika virus from its early stages.
The affimers are capable of binding to a recombinant form of a secreted Zika virus NS1 protein, which is a diagnostic of Zika virus infection at the early, acute stage.
The affimer binders are highly specific to the Zika NS1 protein, and can differentiate from five other closely related viruses with similar symptoms: Dengue, Yellow Fever, West Nile and Japanese and Tick-borne Encephalitis.
As these viruses are very similar there is not currently a validated antibody to detect Zika virus specifically, which is a stumbling block in the development of a reliable, quick diagnostic test for the virus.
"The identification of these three affimer binders means that new diagnostic tests could be developed that have the potential to diagnose a Zika infection from its early stages, and would be suitable for low cost, rapid point-of-care diagnostics that could be deployed widely in the field or at US transport hubs for example," Chief Executive Officer Alastair Smith said in a statement.
By Hana Stewart-Smith; hanassmith@alliancenews.com; @HanaSSAllNews
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Avacta Group (AVCT)