WO2023205584A1

WO2023205584A1 - Systems for the collection of viral particles and uses thereof

Info

Publication number: WO2023205584A1
Application number: PCT/US2023/065715
Authority: WO
Inventors: Chirayu Pankaj GOSWAMI
Original assignee: Infinity Biologix Llc
Priority date: 2022-04-18
Filing date: 2023-04-13
Publication date: 2023-10-26

Abstract

A system allows for the non-invasive and efficient collection of aerosol particles. Subjects may exhale or cough into the system, which comprises a mouthpiece and a tailpiece. The tailpiece, which collects the aerosol particles comprises a filter and may easily be dissociated from the mouthpiece.

Description

SYSTEMS FOR THE COLLECTION OF VIRAL PARTICLES AND USES THEREOF

[0001] Cross Reference to Related Application

[0002] This patent application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. provisional patent application serial number 63/331,901, filed April 18, 2022, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference.

[0003] Field of the Invention

[0004] The present invention relates to the field of the collection of viral particles.

[0005] Background of the Invention

[0006] The recent COVTD-19 pandemic was caused by, and persists because of, the exposure and transmission of the virus SARS-CoV-2. In response to the pandemic, individuals across the globe, often on multiple occasions, if not regularly, have gone through, and continue to go through, the process of providing samples from their nasopharyngeal or oropharyngeal cavities in order to determine whether they have been infected. Currently, specimen collection devices for the detection of viral particles such as SARS-CoV-2, as well as other viral particles, such as other coronaviruses and influenza viruses (both type A and type B), are based primarily on one of two technologies: (1) swab collection (either nasopharyngeal or oropharyngeal collection) devices; or (2) saliva based collection devices.

[0007] Swab collection entails inserting a clean swab into the nasopharynx or oropharynx of a subject. Swab based collection devices are often used at point of care facilities, and if transferred for testing, can be transferred in appropriate packaging without the need of any fixer or inactivating media. One challenge with using swab collections techniques is that the results are only reliable if the swab is inserted sufficiently deep in the subject’s nasal or oral cavity and the subject provides a sufficiently large sample that is representative of his or her condition. Another challenge is that subjects find use of these swabs to be unpleasant, which can make individuals reluctant to be tested. [0008] Saliva based collection methods entail collecting a minimum amount of saliva into a tube or other receptacle and then mixing the saliva with a fixer or inactivation solution to stabilize and to inactivate the viral particles. Inactivation is desirable because it allows for more efficient transport of the specimens that contain viral particles. These kinds of devices provide longer shelf- lives for specimens than swab based collections provide. However, many subjects express displeasure with being required to provide saliva, and for a certain subset of subjects, their medical conditions may make providing saliva particularly difficult. Saliva based collection is especially difficult in children and young adults.

[0009] Many viruses, including but not limited to SARS-CoV-2, are transmitted through the air in aerosol particles. Thus, when an infected person exhales, coughs, or sneezes, she or he sends viral particles into the air captured in the aerosol particles. Because many people are taking tests to determine their viral infection status more frequently than they had historically done, there is a need to develop new and less undesirable ways for collecting samples on which the desired analyses can be performed.

[0010] Summary of the Invention

[0011] The present invention is directed to systems and methods for collecting and/or analyzing specimens. Through the use of these systems and methods, one can efficiently and effectively obtain information about a specimen from a subject who potentially has been infected with a virus. The device works by a subject blowing or coughing into a mouthpiece that he or she inserts into his or her mouth. At the end of the mouthpiece, distal to the portion that the subject inserts into his or her mouth, is a detachable receptacle such as a tube that contains a filter. When a subject forcefully exhales or coughs into the mouthpiece of the device, aerosol particles will, due to the force of the exhalation or cough, move along the length of the device and become trapped in the filter. In some embodiments, there is a conical design with a tapered tail end that facilitates funneling, and in turn, effective entrapment of aerosol particles on the filter.

[0012] According to a first embodiment, the present invention provides a system for the collecting of particles. The system comprises: (a) a mouthpiece, wherein the mouthpiece has a first end and a second end, wherein each of the first end of the mouthpiece and the second end of the mouthpiece has an opening and the opening of the first end of the mouthpiece is larger than the opening of the second end of the mouthpiece; and (b) a tailpiece, wherein the tailpiece comprises a filter and a mouthpiece association element, and the tailpiece has a first end and a second end, wherein the mouthpiece association element is located at the first end of the tailpiece, the filter is located between the first end of the tailpiece and the second end of the tailpiece and the first end of the tailpiece has an opening, wherein the mouthpiece association element is capable of causing the tailpiece to maintain association with the mouthpiece.

[0013] According to a second embodiment, the present invention provides a method for collecting particles. The method comprises: positioning the first end of the mouthpiece of a system described herein in or near the mouth of a user while the tailpiece is engaged with the mouthpiece; and capturing aerosol particles such as those that contain viral particles in the filter of the tailpiece.

[0014] According to a third embodiment, the present invention provides a method for analyzing a sample. The method comprises any of the methods of collecting particles described herein and further comprises extracting particles from the tailpiece; extracting a polynucleotide, such as RNA, from the particles; and probing the polynucleotide. Alternatively or additionally, one can extract and probe for the presence of proteins, oligosaccharides, lipids, or other biomolecules, or combinations thereof that may be transported while embedded in the aerosol particles.

[0015] The systems of the present invention may be used to collect viral particles from subjects. The design of the systems eliminates the need for uncomfortable swabbing of subjects, especially young children, whose nasal cavities are smaller, but for whom currently swab based collection is the most popular method of collecting viral particles. The present invention also eliminates the need of stabilizing the viral particles using special media for transportation as is required in many currently used systems. Thus, one can easily collect specimens in home settings, as well as at point of care facilities. [0016] Brief Description of the Figures

[0017] Figure 1 is a system of the present invention as assembled.

[0018] Figure 2 is the system of figure 1 with the mouthpiece and tailpiece disengaged from each other.

[0019] Figure 3 is a representation of a cross-section of the system of figure 1.

[0020] Figure 4 is another system of the present invention as assembled.

[0021] Detailed Description of the Invention

[0022] Reference will now be made in detail to various embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying figures. In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, unless otherwise indicated or implicit from context, the details are intended to be examples and should not be deemed to limit the scope of the invention in any way. Additionally, features described in connection with the various or specific embodiments are not to be construed as inappropriate for use in connection with other embodiments disclosed herein, unless such exclusivity is explicitly stated or implicit from context.

[0023] Headers are provided herein for the convenience of the reader and do not limit the scope of any of the embodiments disclosed herein.

[0024] Definitions

[0025] Unless otherwise stated or implicit from context, the following terms and phrases have the meanings provided below.

[0026] The indefinite articles “a” and “an” and the definite article “the” include plural as well as singular referents, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[0027] The terms “about” and “approximately” mean an acceptable error for a particular value as determined by one of ordinary skill in the art, which depends in part on how the value is measured or determined. In certain embodiments, the terms “about” and “approximately” mean within 1, 2, 3 or 4 standard deviations. In certain embodiments, the term “about” and “approximately” mean within 30%, 20%, 15%, 10%, 9%, 8%, 7%, 6%, 5%, 4%, 3%, 2%, 1%, 0.5%, 0.1%, or 0.05% of a given value or range.

[0028] The terms “subject” and “user” are used interchangeably, and unless otherwise specified, include animals such as mammals, including, but not limited to, primates, cows, sheep, goats, horses, dogs, cats, rabbits, rats, mice and the like. In various embodiments, the subject is a human.

[0029] Systems

[0030] The systems of the present invention comprise, consist essentially of, or consist of two components: a mouthpiece 110 and a tailpiece 120. These two pieces can be associated with each other to form a system or device for collecting particles, such as viral particles, into which a user exhales or through which a user otherwise propels aerosol particles. As shown in figure 1, the mouthpiece 110 and the tailpiece 120 are associated with each other, and thus, the system is assembled for use. As shown in figure 2, the mouthpiece 110 and tailpiece 120 are separated from each other.

[0031] The mouthpiece has a first end 180 and a second end 190 (see figure 2). Each of the first end and the second end has an opening. The mouthpiece is configured such that, when the system is assembled and a user exhales, blows, or coughs into the first end of the mouthpiece, aerosol particles are propelled toward the second end of the mouthpiece and toward the tailpiece. In some embodiments, the opening of the first end of the mouthpiece is larger than the opening of the second end of the mouthpiece. For example, the opening of the first end of the mouthpiece may have a diameter that is at least 10%, at least 20%, at least 30%, at least 40%, or at least 50% larger than the inner diameter of the second end of the mouthpiece. In some embodiments, the first end of the mouthpiece has a diameter that is up to 50%, up to 60%, up to 70%, up to 80%, up to 90%, or up to 100% larger than the inner diameter of the second end of the mouthpiece.

[0032] The mouthpiece may be a regular or irregular shape or comprise a plurality of regular or irregular shapes. For example, the mouthpiece may be configured to define an inner passageway that is a tube or substantially a tube of uniform or varying diameter. In some embodiments, the mouthpiece comprises or consists of: a first tube region, a truncated cone region, and a second tube region, with the truncated tube region being located between the first tube region and the second tube region. In some embodiments, an example of which appears in figure 3, the mouthpiece 110 comprises: a first region 111, wherein the first region is proximal to the first end of the mouthpiece and the first region defines a first sized tube, wherein the first sized tube has a first inner diameter; a second region 112, wherein the second region defines a truncated cone; and a third region 113, wherein the third region is proximal to the second end of the mouthpiece and the third region defines a second sized tube, wherein the second sized tube has a second inner diameter, and wherein the second region is located between the first region and the third region, and wherein the first inner diameter is larger than the second inner diameter. In some embodiments, the space defined by the largest end of the second region is no larger than the diameter of the first region.

[0033] In some embodiments, the cross-section of the interior of the first tube region is uniform and is a circle, an oval or an ellipse; the cross-section of the truncated tube region may also be a circle, an oval or an ellipse, but of decreasing inner diameter as one moves from the first tube region to the third tube region; and the cross-section of the interior of the third tube region may be uniform and a circle, an oval or an ellipse. Further, the walls of the mouthpiece may be a uniform thickness or a varying thickness. When a region of a tube is not circular, the “diameter” refers to the largest dimension across the width of the tube.

[0034] In some embodiments, the exterior of the regions of the mouthpiece and tailpiece are cylindrical, substantially cylindrical, oval or elliptical and may be uniform or non-uniform and regular or irregular. In some embodiments, the interior of the mouthpiece contains no protrusions, structures, or filters that obstruct the flow of aerosol particles.

[0035] An alternative construction of the mouthpiece is shown in figure 4. As shown in that figure, the mouthpiece comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of: a first region 210, wherein the first region is proximal to the first end of the mouthpiece and the first region defines a first sized tube, wherein the first sized tube has a first diameter; a second region 220, wherein the second region defines a first truncated cone; a third region 230, wherein the third region comprises a second truncated cone; and a fourth region that has a second diameter and that as shown in the figure is nested in the tailpiece 240. The second region is located between the first region and the third region, and the third region is located between the second region and the fourth region.

[0036] In this embodiment, the first region defines an interior space with a uniform diameter. The second region defines an interior space with an increasing diameter as one moves between first region and the third region. The third region defines an interior space with a decreasing diameter as one moves between the second region and the fourth region. In some embodiments, the diameter of the space defined by the fourth region may be narrower than the diameter defined by the first region. Optionally, there is a fifth region between the second region and the first region that defines a tube with a uniform diameter (not shown in figure 4).

[0037] The system of the present invention also comprises a tailpiece 120. The tailpiece comprises a filter 140 (see figure 3) and a mouthpiece association element. The filter is capable of trapping particles such as viral particles, including but not limited to, influenza virus particles and coronavirus particle such as CO VID-19, including all variants and subvariants. The filter is located between the first end of the tailpiece and the second end of the tailpiece. In some embodiments, the filter is located between 10 percent and 90 percent, or between 20 percent and 80 percent, or between 30 percent and 70 percent of the way between the first end of the tailpiece and the second end of the mouthpiece. In some embodiments, the filter is located between 10 percent and 30 percent of the way between the first end of the tailpiece and the second end of the tail piece.

[0038] In some embodiments, the filter is designed with pore openings that are small enough that the filter is capable of capturing the desired sized particles, e.g., aerosol particle sizes from about 3 to about 30 microns. By way of a non-limiting example, the minimum size of a respiratory particle that can contain SARS-CoV-2 is calculated at approximately 4.7 [im, and the filter is capable of trapping these particles. In some embodiments, the filters may be FPR (filter performance) level 12 air filters or other filters that are made of reinforced pleated media designed to capture particles down to 0.3 microns. In some embodiments, the filter comprises a coating that increases the efficiency of capturing viruses, e.g., a coating that comprises tannic-acid or a derivative thereof. [0039] In some embodiments, the internal space defined by the tailpiece comprises a flange, or a plurality of flanges, or a protrusion ring 143 (see figure 3) on which the perimeter of a filter or a frame of the filter may be attached. Attachment may, for example, be by use of glue or another adhesive substance.

[0040] The tailpiece has a first end 122 and a second end 121. The mouthpiece association element is located at the first end of the tailpiece. The mouthpiece association element is a structure that is capable of causing the tailpiece to be associated with the mouthpiece. When the two pieces are associated with each other, aerosol particles can move without being obstructed from the first end of the mouthpiece to the second end of the mouthpiece, and into the tailpiece and to the filter.

[0041] In the embodiment depicted in figure 4, a tailpiece 240 and its mouthpiece association element 250 are shown as part of the system.

[0042] Additionally, when the mouthpiece and the tailpiece are associated with each other, in some embodiments, the second end of the mouthpiece partially or completely overlaps the first end of the tailpiece. In other embodiments, the first end of the tailpiece partially or completely overlaps the second end of the mouthpiece. Thus, in some embodiments, the second end of the mouthpiece nests in the first end of the tailpiece; while in other embodiments, the first end of the tailpiece nests in the second end of the mouthpiece. When the first end of the tailpiece nests within the second end of the mouthpiece, the inner diameter of the first end of the tailpiece is less than the inner diameter of the second end of the mouthpiece. When the second end of the mouthpiece nests within the first end of the tailpiece, the inner diameter of the second end of the mouthpiece is less than the inner diameter of the first end of the tailpiece. The difference between the inner diameters of the first end of the tailpiece and the second end of the mouthpiece may be approximately the thickness of the wall of either the second end of the mouthpiece or the first end of the tailpiece, each of which may, for example, be about 2 to 10 mm. Preferably, a seal is formed when the tailpiece and mouthpiece are engaged such that no air, or substantially no air, can flow out of the system between those to structures. In some embodiments, the inner space and diameter defined by the tailpiece is uniform except for: the filter; any structure that facilitates adhesion of the filter to the tailpiece, if any, is present; and any protrusions by the mouthpiece association element, if any, are present and extend into the interior of the tailpiece.

[0043] In some embodiments, the mouthpiece association element may independently, i.e., without any corresponding structure on the mouthpiece, be capable of maintaining association between the mouthpiece and the tailpiece. For example, the tailpiece may comprise an elastic material at the first end that, in its resting state, is defined in a space narrower than the exterior of the second end of the mouthpiece but is capable of being expanded to a size greater than the exterior of the second end of the mouthpiece.

[0044] In other embodiments, the mouthpiece comprises a tailpiece association element, and the tailpiece association element is capable of engaging with the mouthpiece association element at the second end of the mouthpiece. For example, the mouthpiece association element may contain either external screw threads or internal screw threads, and the tailpiece association element may contain the other, or either, external screw threads or internal screw threads. By way of another example, one of either, or both, the mouthpiece association element and the tailpiece association element may be, or may be comprised of one or more, magnets. If only one of either the mouthpiece association element or the tailpiece association element comprises magnetics, the other may be, or may be comprised of, a material to which a magnet is attracted, e.g., a metal.

[0045] Regardless of the nature of the mouthpiece association element, it is capable of allowing the tailpiece and the mouthpiece to reversibly associate with each other. Thus, they may be associated and dissociated with each other. When there are a mouthpiece association element and a tailpiece association element, the mouthpiece association element is capable of reversibly engaging with the tailpiece association element i.e., engaging and disengaging.

[0046] The second end of the tailpiece may be open or be closed. If closed, the structure of the closure may be the same as the side walls of the tailpiece, or there may be a removable cap.

[0047] Each of the tailpiece and the mouthpiece may, for example, comprise, consistently essentially of, consist of, or be made of a medical grade plastic or polymer or combinations thereof. Thus, each of the tailpiece and mouthpiece may be rigid or semirigid. Each of these pieces may, for example, be made by techniques that are now known or that come to be known for molding plastics and polymers.

[0048] By way of a non-limiting example, in some embodiments, the largest outer diameter or width of the system (including the walls of the components of the system) when assembled is about 2 cm to 3 cm, and the smallest outer diameter of any region is about 1 cm to 2 cm. Further, in some embodiments, the length of the system as assembled is about 9 cm; in some embodiments, the system as assembled is between about 8 cm and 10 cm long. In some embodiments, the largest inner diameter is about 1.8 cm to about 2 cm, and the smallest inner diameter is about 0.8 cm to about 1.8 cm.

[0049] Methods of Collection

[0050] When collecting particles while using systems of the present invention, the mouthpiece and tailpiece should be engaged. If they are not already engaged, then the system should be assembled by the time that the user, a healthcare provider or other person inserts the system into the user’ s mouth. Assembly requires causing the mouthpiece association element to cause the tailpiece to become associated with the mouthpiece. For example, if the mouthpiece association element (located on the tailpiece) comprises external screw threads and the tailpiece association element (located on the mouthpiece) comprises internal screw threads, the tailpiece may be screwed into the mouthpiece. By contrast, if the tailpiece association element (located on the mouthpiece) comprises external screw threads 141 (see figure 3), and the mouthpiece association element (located on the tailpiece) comprises internal screw threads 142 (see figure 3), the mouthpiece may be screwed into the tailpiece.

[0051] After the system has been assembled, the user then coughs or exhales a sufficient number of times, e.g., 3 - 30, or 3 - 20, or 3 - 10, or 4 - 8, or 4 - 6 in order to propel air from the user’s oral cavity into the mouthpiece to the tailpiece, where particles are captured on the filter. Following capture of the particles, the tailpiece may be disassociated from the mouthpiece. For example, in some embodiments, the mouthpiece and tailpiece are unscrewed from each other.

[0052] In some embodiments, the components are single use components, and thus, disposable or recyclable. In other embodiments, the mouthpiece may be reused but, if so, preferably only after sterilization. [0053] Methods of Analysis

[0054] After the tailpiece has been disassociated or disengaged from the mouthpiece, the substances, such as particles that the filter captures, may be analyzed. In some embodiments, after collection of the samples, one extracts particles from the filter of the tailpiece. Optionally, the filter may be removed directly from the tailpiece before particles are extracted from the filter. Alternatively, the particles may be obtained from the filter while the filter is still in the tailpiece. Methods for extracting viral particles from filters for analysis are well-known to persons of ordinary skill in the art.

[0055] After the particles are removed from the filter, one may extract oligonucleotides, such as RNA or DNA, from the particles. Methods for extracting oligonucleotides from viral particles or other samples are well-known to persons of ordinary skill in the art. After the oligonucleotides are removed, one may probe them through, for example, RNA sequencing processes, such as those that rely on PCR and/or the use of oligonucleotide probes.

[0056] As noted above, in some embodiments, the mouthpiece association element comprises screw threads that are complementary to, or capable of, mating with screw threads at the second end of the mouthpiece. The screw threads of the mouthpiece association element may also be capable of engaging screw threads of a biotechnology analysis device, such as one designed to facilitate extraction of RNA through the use of microfluidics, e.g., a micronic tube (e.g., 1.4 ml in size) and other technologies that are, available from e.g., Fluidigm Corporation, see https://www.fluidigm.com/. In some embodiments, either or both the unscrewing of the mouthpiece from the tailpiece and the screwing of the tailpiece to the biotechnology extraction device are automated, e.g., done through the use of a robotic arm.

[0057] Optionally, a region of the outer surface, or the entire outer surface of the tailpiece, is ridged. For example, the outer surface of the first end of the tailpiece, or the outer surface of the second end of the tailpiece, or the outer surface of both ends of the tailpiece, or the outer surface of the entire tailpiece may be ridged. When an outer surface is ridged, the ridged region may circumscribe the entire region (e.g., 360 degrees of a circular tube) or less than the entire region (e.g., an arc that is less than 360 degrees of a circular tube). By having the tailpiece be ridged over a region, gripping may be easier than if the region were not ridged. This configuration is particularly advantageous when the screwing and/or unscrewing is done by a robotic arm.

[0058] In some embodiments, the probing permits detection of a nucleotide sequence of a coronavirus, an adenovirus, coxsackievirus, Epstein-Barr virus, Hepatitis virus (e.g., Hepatitis A, B, and C), herpes simplex virus (type 1 and 2), cytomegalovirus, herpes virus, HIV, influenza virus, measles virus, mumps virus, papillomavirus, parainfluenza virus, poliovirus, respiratory syncytial virus, rubella virus, and varicella-zoster virus.

Claims

Claims I claim:

1. A system for collection of particles, said system comprising:

(a) a mouthpiece, wherein the mouthpiece has a first end and a second end, wherein each of the first end of the mouthpiece and the second end of the mouthpiece has an opening, and the opening of the first end of the mouthpiece is larger than the opening of the second end of the mouthpiece; and

(b) a tailpiece, wherein the tailpiece comprises a filter and a mouthpiece association element, and the tailpiece has a first end and a second end, wherein the mouthpiece association element is located at the first end of the tailpiece, the filter is located between the first end of the tailpiece and the second end of the tailpiece and the first end of the tailpiece has an opening, wherein the mouthpiece association element is capable of causing the tailpiece to maintain association with the mouthpiece.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the mouthpiece comprises a tailpiece association element and the tailpiece association element is capable of engaging with the mouthpiece association element, wherein the tailpiece association element is located at the second end of the mouthpiece.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the mouthpiece association element is capable of reversibly engaging with the tailpiece association element.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein one of the mouthpiece association element and the tailpiece association element comprises external screw threads and the other of the mouthpiece association element and the tailpiece association element comprises internal screw threads.

5. The system of any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the mouthpiece comprises: a first region, wherein the first region is proximal to the first end of the mouthpiece and the first region defines a first sized tube, wherein the first sized tube has a first inner diameter; a second region, wherein the second region defines a truncated cone; and a third region, wherein third region is proximal to the second end of the mouthpiece and the third region defines a second sized tube, wherein the second sized tube has a second inner diameter, wherein the second region is located between the first region and the third region, and the first inner diameter is larger than the second inner diameter.

6. The system of any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the tailpiece is capable of capturing viral particles.

7. The system of claims 6, wherein the tailpiece has an outer surface and the outer surface of the tailpiece comprises a region that is ridged.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the mouthpiece comprises: a first region, wherein the first region is proximal to the first end of the mouthpiece and the first region defines a first sized tube, wherein the first sized tube has a first inner diameter; a second region, wherein the second region is a truncated cone; and a third region, wherein third region is proximal to the second end of the mouthpiece and the third region defines a second sized tube, wherein the second sized tube has a second inner diameter, wherein the second region is located between the first region and the third region, and the first inner diameter is larger than the second inner diameter.

9. A method for collecting particles comprising:

(a) positioning the first end of the mouthpiece of the system of claim 6 in or near the mouth of a user; and

(b) capturing particles in the tailpiece.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising disassociating the tailpiece from the mouthpiece. A method for analyzing a sample, said method comprising the method of claim 10 and further comprising extracting particles from the tailpiece, extracting RNA from the particles, and probing the RNA. The method of claim 11, wherein said probing comprises exposing the RNA to probes that are capable of detecting a nucleotide sequence of an influenza virus. The method of claim 11, wherein said probing comprises exposing the RNA to probes that are capable of detecting a nucleotide sequence of a coronavirus. A method for collecting particles comprising:

(a) positioning the first end of the mouthpiece of the system of claim 8 in or near the mouth of a user; and

(b) capturing particles in the tailpiece. The method of claim 14 further comprising disassociating the tailpiece from the mouthpiece. A method for analyzing a sample, said method comprising the method of claim 15 and further comprising extracting particles from the tailpiece, extracting RNA from the particles, and probing the RNA. The method of claim 16, wherein said probing comprises exposing the RNA to probes that are capable of detecting a nucleotide sequence of an influenza virus. The method of claim 16, wherein said probing comprises exposing the RNA to probes that are capable of detecting a nucleotide sequence of a coronavirus.