Provided are a SARS-COV-2 spike protein binding molecule and an application thereof. The binding molecule may specifically bind to a SARS-COV-2 spike protein and contains at least one immunoglobulin single variable domain, may effectively block the binding of the SARS-COV-2-Spike protein to an ACE2 receptor of a human cell, thereby blocking the infection of the cell with SARS-COV-2 and inhibiting SARS-COV-2 infection and amplification.

Described herein are compositions and methods for detecting immune response to pathogens. Also described herein are methods and systems utilizing the compositions for detecting adaptive immunity.

The invention relates generally to serology assays and, more particularly, to high-throughput serology assays. One aspect of the invention provides a method of detecting a viral antibody in a biological sample of an individual, the method comprising: applying an antigen-containing fluid to an assay surface, the antigen-containing fluid containing an antigen for the vims to be detected and the assay surface containing a biological sample from the individual; removing the antigen-containing fluid from the assay surface; and determining whether the assay surface contains bound antigen.

Provided are an mRNA or an mRNA composition, and an mRNA vaccine comprising the mRNA or the mRNA composition. The mRNA or the mRNA composition comprises an mRNA sequence encoding an S protein of a novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 or a variant thereof, and an mRNA sequence encoding an RBD in the S protein or a variant thereof. Further provided are the applications of the mRNA or the mRNA composition, and the mRNA vaccine comprising the mRNA or the mRNA composition in preparation of a medication for preventing and/or treating a disease caused by a novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Provided herein are, inter alia, methods and compositions for treating and preventing arenavirus infection. Compositions include recombinant arenavirus glycoproteins that are able to form glycoprotein timers. The glycoprotein timers are contemplated to be effective for preventing and/or treating arenavirus infections.

The disclosure provides a method of determining whether a subject is infected with a virus, comprising (1) testing whether a protein comprising an amino acid sequence of at least a part of the helicase domain of MDA5 protein and having a molecular weight of about 60 kDa is detected in a sample obtained from the subject; and (2) determining the subject is infected with the virus when the protein was detected. The disclosure also provides a monoclonal antibody capable of binding to the protein.

Disclosed herein are lateral flow devices that can sensitively detect an analyte in a sample by using two different populations of nanoparticles. An example device comprises a porous substrate, the porous substrate comprising a sample zone, the sample zone including a detection nanoparticle and a control nanoparticle, wherein the detection nanoparticle and the control nanoparticle each include a different detection label; and a detection zone, the detection zone including a test line and a control line downstream from the test line. Also disclosed are methods and kits including the devices.

A method of analyzing biological data containing expression values of a plurality of polypeptides in the blood of a subject. The method comprises: calculating a distance between a segment of a curved line and an axis defined by a direction, the distance being calculated at a point over the curved line defined by a coordinate along the direction. The method further comprises correlating the distance to the presence of, absence of, or likelihood that the subject has, a bacterial infection. The coordinate is defined by a combination of the expression values, wherein at least 90% of the segment is between a lower bound line and an upper bound line.

Methods for the rapid detection of the presence or absence of BK virus in a biological or non-biological sample are described. The methods can include performing an amplifying step, a hybridizing step, and a detecting step. Furthermore, primers and probes targeting BK virus and kits are provided that are designed for the detection of BK virus.

The present invention relates to a method for predicting the disease severity in a patient with COVID-19, said method comprising a) determining the level of GDF-15 in a sample from the patient with COVID-19, b) comparing the level determined in step a) to a reference, and predicting the disease severity in a patient with COVID-19. Also encompassed are methods for risk stratification, monitoring of the disease progression and the risk prediction for hospital admission in a patient with COVID-19. Furthermore, methods are provided for predicting the need for intensive care, the risk for thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, hypoxia and mortality in a patient with COVID-19.