(Alliance News) - Avacta PLC on Monday announced that it has entered into a collaboration with Integumen PLC to evaluate recently generated Affimer reagents that bind the SARS-COV-2 spike protein for the detection of Covid-19 in waste water.
Affimer reagents, a technology developed by drug and diagnostic tool developer Avacta, are a class of non-antibody binding proteins that have been engineered for a wide range of applications where antibodies and aptamers have limitations.
A reagent is a substance used, in this case for detection, for chemical analysis or other reactions.
Testing of the Affimer reagents will take place over the next few weeks after which validation of the sensors will be carried out using real SARS-COV-2 virus samples in a containment level 3 laboratory at the University of Aberdeen.
If these tests go well, it will enable the identification of Covid-19 hotspots in waste-water supplies as the virus can be found in the waste of most Covid-19 patients.
This can provide an early warning system in which authorities can be alerted through Integumen's alert system to prevent the spread of the disease to the wider community.
Avacta Chief Executive Alastair Smith said: "With the spread of Covid-19 continuing to accelerate globally, we are proud to work with partners like Integumen to provide our Affimer reagents for development on a range of platforms to combat the pandemic.
"This collaboration has the potential to deliver a product that will play a crucial role in the early detection of COVID-19 hotspots around the world."
Integumen is a scientific research and AI-as-a-service company focused on production and analysis of bacteria, virus and toxins.
Integumen and Avacta intend to enter a supply agreement for the supply of Affimers into Integumen's sensors upon the successful completion of the tests.
Avacta shares were down 0.2% at 119.25 pence each on Monday morning in London. Integumen shares were up 5.3% at 2.00p each.
Integumen's sensors will then be retrofitted into London-based water supply company Modern Water PLC's Microtox water contamination system units to detect Covid-19 in the water supply.
Modern Water Chief Executive Simon Humphrey said: "We are delighted to be in a position to have a distribution channel that can make the most of the roll-out of the real-time novel sensors for the detection of SARS-CoV-2.
"The completion of this evaluation which, if successful, could identify the level of infection in a community without the need for testing individuals is a very exciting breakthrough and we look forward to working with Integumen to make it happen."
Modern Water shares were up 11% at 2.04p each on Monday morning in London.
By Greg Roxburgh; gregroxburgh@alliancenews.com
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Avacta Group (AVCT)