DEVELOPMENT OF RAPID, FLEXIBLE, AND COST-EFFECTIVE MOLECULAR DIAGNOSTIC METHODS FOR COVID-19 DETECTION IN ANIMALS

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS?CoV?2) demonstrated the ability to infect many animal species. Widespread natural SARS-CoV-2 infection of white-tailed deer in the USA raised concerns about their role as a reservoir of SARS-CoV-2. As the virus continues to circulate in animals, it is likely to mutate and could threaten the health of agricultural animals. Therefore, it is critical to monitor the natural SARS-CoV-2 infection of animals and the genetic changes in the virus. Current methods for detecting and genetic sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 require expensive instrumentation, are not standardized for animal samples, and are unsuitable for field application. Hence, this project aims to develop and validate highly sensitive, cost-effective, and flexible nanopore-based molecular methods to monitor the circulation of SARS-CoV-2 in agricultural animals. The project will support effective surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 infection of animals through the rapid detection and characterization of SARS-CoV-2.