Coronaviridae and Tobaniviridae Innovations and Challenges in Electroanalytical Tools for Rapid Biosurveillance of SARS-CoV-2

ABSTRACT

Summary The International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses first established the order Nidovirales in 1996. Initially, the order contained only two viral families, Coronaviridae and Arteriviridae . Since the emergence of the human severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus (SARS-CoV) responsible for the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in the spring of 2003, coronaviruses became more recognized and generated significant interest among researchers. Coronaviruses are spherical, enveloped virions with large club-shaped surface projections (peplomers) extending from the viral envelope. SARS-CoV-2 disease in hamsters is associated with high levels of virus replication and some of the histopathological changes similar to COVID-19 in humans (e.g., ground-glass opacities). ToVs have recently been classified into the new subfamily Torovirinae within the family Tobaniviridae in the suborder Tornidovirineae . ToVs are associated with enteric diseases in animals and humans, and they are recognized as pathogens of veterinary and medical importance. Since the onset of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, preventive social paradigms and vaccine development have undergone serious renovations, which drastically reduced the viral spread and increased collective immunity. Although the technological advancements in diagnostic systems for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) detection are groundbreaking, the lack of sensitive, robust, and consumer-end point-of-care (POC) devices with smartphone connectivity are conspicuously felt. Despite its revolutionary impact on biotechnology and molecular diagnostics, the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction technique as the gold standard in COVID-19 diagnosis is not suitable for rapid testing. Today's POC tests are dominated by the lateral flow assay technique, with inadequate sensitivity and lack of internet connectivity. Herein, the biosensing advancements in Internet of Things (IoT)-integrated electroanalytical tools as superior POC devices for SARS-CoV-2 detection will be demonstrated. Meanwhile, the impeding factors pivotal for the successful deployment of such novel bioanalytical devices, including the incongruous standards, redundant guidelines, and the limitations of IoT modules will be discussed.