A biosensor comprises first and second molecular components and is capable of displaying protease activity in response to a binding event mediated by first and second binding partners of the biosensor. The first and second binding partners may bind each other directly or may both bind a target molecule. At least the first molecular component comprises an autoinhibited protease, whereby the binding event switches the protease frora an autoinhibited inactive state to a protease active state. The second molecular component may activate the protease of the first molecular component by binding a cross-binder which releases the autoinhibitor or by cleaving a linker which releases the autoinhibitor. The first and second molecular components may both have autoinhibited proteases which reciprocally activate each other.

Lateral-flow assay and time-resolved fluorescence technologies provide a sensitive tool for detecting norovirus particles in a sample. A flow-through assay device employs norovirus and norovirus G2 antibodies. The lateral-flow assay includes a conjugate pad having conjugated probes. The conjugated probes are particles modified with a binding member that is configured to bind with a norovirus. The particles also have a fluorescent label. A general method of detecting the virus includes (i) preparing a sample with contaminants, (ii) processing the sample and depositing it onto the assay device, and (iii) measuring the fluorescence signal.

Synbodies specific for Norovirus and coupled with a substrate provide Norovirus binding and detection platforms (FIG. 1). A Norovirus capturing platform, comprising one or more synbodies selected from the group consisting of synbodies 6-6, 92-92, 93-93, and 94-94 coupled to a substrate, has been found to found to bind with either GII.4 Minerva or both GII.4 Minerva and GII.4 Sydney# strains of norovirus.

Antiviral biomimetic polymers (ABPs) are disclosed that can be used to prevent and/or treat viral disease. The ABPs are discovered by a process involving high-throughput screening of polymer libraries using disease-relevant bioactive molecules as target molecules. ABPs can be nanoscale (termed nanoABPs) or larger. Methods are described for the preparation and use of ABPs as prophylactics and therapeutics (in vivo) and as preventative agents, for example, in personal protective equipment (ex vivo). ABPs can be used to prevent and treat viral diseases including those caused by Filoviridae.

The present invention relates to mRNAs suitable for use as mRNA-based vaccines against infections with MERS coronaviruses. Additionally, the present invention relates to a composition comprising the mRNAs and the use of the mRNAs or the composition for the preparation of a pharmaceutical composition, especially a vaccine, e.g. for use in the prophylaxis or treatment of MERS coronavirus infections. The present invention further describes a method of treatment or prophylaxis of infections with MERS coronavirus using the mRNA sequences.

The disclosure relates to particle-based assays for the detection of analytes. Using various combinations of particular technologies, including gold nanorods, silver nanoparticles, gold/silver nanoshells, gold/silver nanocages and nanobubble detection, enhanced detection limits can be achieved across a large range of analytes.

The embodiments disclosed herein utilize RNA targeting effectors to provide a robust CRISPR-based diagnostic for hemorrhagic fever virus applications. Embodiments disclosed herein can differentiate between hemorrhagic fever viruses that present with similar symptoms, as well as between strains of a hemorrhagic fever virus.

A method for a pre-symptomatic diagnosis of a viral illness in a subject is provided. The method may include obtaining a biological sample that includes at least one peripheral blood mononuclear cell from a subject prior to the subject experiencing any symptoms associated with the viral illness. The method may further include extracting proteins from the biological sample. The method may also include analyzing the extracted proteins, via mass spectrometry, for the presence of a predefined viral protein biomarker associated with the viral illness. If the predefined viral protein biomarker is present, the subject is diagnosed with the viral illness prior to experiencing the symptoms associated with the viral illness.

The invention generally provides compositions and methods of treating or preventing an arenavirus infection, using an agent that inhibits binding of an arenavirus glycoprotein 1 (GP1) polypeptide to transferrin receptor 1 (TfR1). The invention also provides methods of designing or identifying therapeutic agents that bind to or target a GP1 receptor-binding site (RBS) to inhibit arenavirus attachment to a cell, and therapeutic agents identified using the methods.

The present invention is directed to methods and compositions for norovirus therapeutics, such as vaccines, and diagnostics.