{"634631":{"#nid":"634631","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Georgia Tech Produces Key Components for Governor\u2019s Coronavirus Test Initiative","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGaps in the supply of coronavirus tests are propelling initiatives to fill them across the country. At the Georgia Institute of Technology, bioscience researchers are burning the midnight oil to produce key components for tests in the state of Georgia.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EThe goal is to supply a broad\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gov.georgia.gov\/press-releases\/2020-03-31\/gov-kemp-university-system-georgia-announce-covid-19-testing-ramp\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Einitiative by the governor\u0026rsquo;s office\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;involving multiple universities and partners to rapidly produce and administer more tests. At least 35 volunteers at Georgia Tech, while adhering to social distancing, are reorienting labs normally used for scientific discovery to do larger-scale production of biochemical components.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0026ldquo;We are inventing new ways of doing things like an electronic buddy system so people can be alone \u0026ndash; but not alone \u0026ndash; while they work in the lab. The technical part is actually the easiest. The logistics of testing, data security, and regulatory considerations \u0026ndash; those things are more challenging,\u0026rdquo; said Loren Williams, a\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ww2.chemistry.gatech.edu\/~lw26\/\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Eprofessor in Georgia Tech\u0026rsquo;s School of Chemistry and Biochemistry\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EWilliams and the researchers are supporting Georgia Governor Brian Kemp\u0026rsquo;s COVID-19 State Lab Surge Capacity Task Force, which is a project managed through the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI). GTRI is also leading the coordination and integration of data management across the lab surge effort.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0026ldquo;We are providing technical and project management of the effort which is focused on increasing the state\u0026rsquo;s ability to expand testing beyond current limitations,\u0026rdquo; said Mike Shannon, GTRI\u0026rsquo;s lead in the project and a principal research engineer at GTRI.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EExoplanets and coronavirus\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EThe science behind coronavirus testing is complementary to the researchers\u0026rsquo; usual work. That includes understanding proteins associated with glaucoma, figuring out how RNA and DNA evolved in the first place, or whether ribosomes \u0026ndash; lumps of RNA and protein key to translating\u0026nbsp;genetic code into life \u0026ndash; may exist on exoplanets.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EWilliams\u0026rsquo; research team studies the last topic, and some of their work is related to the core of coronavirus testing, a chemical reaction that amplifies the virus\u0026rsquo; genetic fingerprint. It is called a reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and it transcribes trace amounts of coronavirus\u0026rsquo; RNA code into ample amounts of corresponding DNA in the lab for easy analysis.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0026ldquo;His lab members are very familiar with RT-PCR, and when the lack of tests became apparent, they swung into action. The group grew from there, based on the technical needs for the project,\u0026rdquo; said Raquel Lieberman, another leading scientist in the effort and also a\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ww2.chemistry.gatech.edu\/lieberman\/\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Eprofessor in Georgia Tech\u0026rsquo;s School of Chemistry and Biochemistry\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0026ldquo;Every day, very talented, hardworking people with perfect skill sets come out of the woodwork and ask to help,\u0026rdquo; Williams said.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EThe group has teams that engineer the production of enzymes or other chemicals needed for RT-PCR to work: Two central enzymes are reverse transcriptase, which converts RNA to DNA and\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Taq_polymerase\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003ETaq\u003C\/em\u003E\u0026nbsp;polymerase\u003C\/a\u003E, which rapidly replicates DNA. Another important component is ribonuclease inhibitor, which slows coronavirus RNA decay.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGlobal COVID allies\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EOther researchers develop processes for mass production or implementation of COVID-19 safety procedures; the list goes on. Some colleagues telework; others work in labs but spaced far from each other while they wear masks.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0026ldquo;The group is planning to produce enough enzyme components for hundreds of tests per day,\u0026rdquo; said Vinayah Agarwal,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.agarwallab.com\/team.html\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Ean assistant professor in Georgia Tech\u0026rsquo;s School of Chemistry and Biochemistry and School of Biological Sciences\u003C\/a\u003E. \u0026ldquo;Using these components, we will also build cheaper and more robust testing kits going forward.\u0026rdquo;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EInstructions already exist for some of the ingredients for the test, but they are not readily available because the rights to them are exclusive.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0026ldquo;Intellectual property and other proprietary issues hinder our effort,\u0026rdquo; Lieberman said. \u0026ldquo;But we have received help from scientists all over the world to piece together protocols on how to make what we need.\u0026rdquo;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EThe state wants to increase current testing capacities by 3,000 more tests per day. The task force also includes teams from Augusta University Health System, Georgia State University, Emory University, University of Georgia, and the Georgia Public Health Laboratory. The task force lead is Captain Kevin Caspary who is with the Georgia National Guard.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERaw footage and images as press handouts for journalists. (No commercial or personal use)\u003C\/strong\u003E:\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/sh\/f2wc2i74lz1lffl\/AADLJ8dQnZMr4uEDxAiIMusoa?dl=0\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Ehttps:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/sh\/f2wc2i74lz1lffl\/AADLJ8dQnZMr4uEDxAiIMusoa?dl=0\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso read this: \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/rh.gatech.edu\/news\/634615\/interactive-tool-helps-people-see-why-staying-home-matters-during-pandemic\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EInteractive COVID-19 tool shows the importance of staying at home\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EExternal News Coverage:\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003ENPR -\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2020\/04\/24\/843463707\/sun-rays-disinfectants-and-false-hopes-misinformation-litters-the-road-to-reopen\u0022\u003ESun Rays, Disinfectants And False Hopes: Misinformation Litters The Road To Reopening\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\nNews-Medical.Net -\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.news-medical.net\/news\/20200423\/Georgia-Tech-researchers-create-key-components-for-COVID-19-tests.aspx\u0022\u003EGeorgia Tech researchers create key components for COVID-19 tests\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\nGeorgia Tech News Center-\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/news.gatech.edu\/2020\/04\/23\/new-normal-researchers-across-georgia-tech-rally-fight-covid-19\u0022\u003EA New Normal: Researchers Across Georgia Tech Rally to Fight COVID-19\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHere\u0026#39;s how to\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/rh.gatech.edu\/subscribe\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Esubscribe to our free science and technology email\u0026nbsp;newsletter\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWriter \u0026amp;\u0026nbsp;Media Representative\u003C\/strong\u003E: Ben Brumfield (404-272-2780), email:\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:ben.brumfield@comm.gatech.edu\u0022\u003Eben.brumfield@comm.gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGeorgia Institute of Technology\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","summary":null,"format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":"","field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Volunteer Georgia Tech researchers burn midnight oil to produce important enzymes that make coronavirus test kits work."}],"uid":"31759","created_gmt":"2020-04-22 12:40:05","changed_gmt":"2020-04-28 13:50:54","author":"Ben Brumfield","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2020-04-22T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2020-04-22T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"633641":{"id":"633641","type":"image","title":"Coping with COVID","body":null,"created":"1584493388","gmt_created":"2020-03-18 01:03:08","changed":"1584561934","gmt_changed":"2020-03-18 20:05:34","alt":"Workers in a university lab","file":{"fid":"241113","name":"Steven 1-18.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/Steven%201-18.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/Steven%201-18.png","mime":"image\/png","size":1772780,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/images\/Steven%201-18.png?itok=Sa2qO-Cw"}}},"media_ids":["633641"],"groups":[{"id":"1278","name":"College of Sciences"},{"id":"1214","name":"News Room"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"42901","name":"Community"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"},{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"},{"id":"141","name":"Chemistry and Chemical Engineering"},{"id":"146","name":"Life Sciences and Biology"}],"keywords":[{"id":"184593","name":"Covid 19"},{"id":"184594","name":"COVID Recovery"},{"id":"184595","name":"Covid Test"},{"id":"184596","name":"COVID \u2013 19"},{"id":"184597","name":"COVID-19 Crisis"},{"id":"184598","name":"COVID-19 Pandemic"},{"id":"184599","name":"Test Kits"},{"id":"184453","name":"coronavirus testing"},{"id":"184600","name":"Coronavirus Testing Supply Shortages"},{"id":"184601","name":"Coronavirus Testing Supplies"},{"id":"184602","name":"Transcription Polymerase"},{"id":"184603","name":"Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction"},{"id":"184604","name":"Rt-Pcr"},{"id":"184605","name":"Reverse Transcriptase"},{"id":"184606","name":"Taq Polymerase"},{"id":"184607","name":"Ribonuclease Inhibitor"},{"id":"184608","name":"Government Programs"},{"id":"184609","name":"Governor Brian Kemp"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"},{"id":"39461","name":"Manufacturing, Trade, and Logistics"},{"id":"39481","name":"National Security"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71871","name":"Campus and Community"},{"id":"71891","name":"Health and Medicine"},{"id":"71881","name":"Science and Technology"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}