SBIR grant expansion to cover Sars-CoV-2 epidemiology reference materials

We are working with NIH to expand our current SBIR grant covering fecal reference standards to cover product lines with Spiked virus for use in epidemiology and the screening of FMT materials for Sars-CoV-2.

Additionally we have 1,500 DNA/RNA shield kits available that could be used for a small population collection to assess carrier status in the population. We approached the state but there was little interest in funding this project would would need some funding to cover shipping and sample analysis. While the current outbreak has primarily focused on nasal and oral sampling, research out of China indicates viral shedding in feces particularly in asymptomatic carriers and those who are no longer testing positive by nasal swab.

We also have a patent pending natural product that has 3-4 mechanisms that may prevent viral attachment and replication – oligoribonucleotides with D-mannitol, increased pH, surfactin and serine protease. We are working with one local researcher to test the products impact on viral entry and replication in a cell line.