"Rapid serological test kits have become an important tool in fighting the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, but with increased demand and a growing number of SARS-CoV-2 variants, producers need to keep up.

These tests use proteins known as antigens, which bind to antibodies in samples. Antigens can indicate whether a person has developed COVID-specific antibodies, either from a prior infection or as a result of vaccination. Making these antigens faster, cheaper and in a way that ensures there’s no single points of failure in the supply chain is critical to making these tests part of the ongoing pandemic response.

With a new two-year, $3.97M project funded by the National Institute of Standards and Technologies (NIST) through the Bioindustrial Manufacturing and Design Ecosystem (BioMADE), Chemical Engineering Distinguished Professor Karen McDonald and her team of collaborators will explore the viability of a range of biomanufacturing technologies to produce these antigens."

Read the full story at College of Engineering News