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The coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 has highlighted the criticality of an accurate and rapid diagnosis in order to contain the spread of the virus. Knowledge of the viral structure and its genome is essential for diagnosis development. The virus is still quickly evolving and the global scenario could easily change. Thus, a greater range of diagnostic options is essential to face this threat to public health. In response to the global demand, there has been a rapid advancement in the understanding of current diagnostic methods. In fact, innovative approaches have emerged, leveraging the benefits of nanomedicine and microfluidic technologies. Although this development has been incredibly fast, several key areas require further investigation and optimization, such as sample collection and preparation, assay optimization and sensitivity, cost effectiveness, scalability device miniaturization, and portability and integration with smartphones. Addressing these gaps in the knowledge and these technological challenges will contribute to the development of reliable, sensitive, and user-friendly NAAT-based POCTs for the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 and other infectious diseases, facilitating rapid and effective patient management. This review aims to provide an overview of current SARS-CoV-2 detection methods based on nucleic acid detection tests (NAATs). Additionally, it explores promising approaches that combine nanomedicine and microfluidic devices with high sensitivity and relatively fast ‘time to answer’ for integration into point-of-care testing (POCT).

Aims: Identification of genes differentially present in Haemophilus parasuis serovar 2 by representational difference analysis (RDA). Methods and Results: Bacterial genomic DNA was extracted, cleaved with Sau3AI and ligated to oligonucleotide adapter pair. The optimal tester (H. parasuis serovar 2)/driver ratio (H. parasuis serovars 1, 3 and 5) for the hybridization was established and the mixture was hybridized, and amplified by PCR. The products were cloned and transformed into Escherichia coli TOP10 cells and checked for specificity by Southern blotting analysis. The RDA subtractive technique yielded six bands ranging from 1500 to 200 bp, which were cloned into pCR II-TOPO vector and 40 clones were analysed. A fragment of 369 bp was specific for H. parasuis serovar 2, and showed 99% homology to sulI gene encoding for dihydropteroate synthase (dhps). The dhps gene conferring sulfonamide resistance was detected in H. parasuis serovar 2 but was absent in serovars 1, 3, 5 and in most of the Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae serotypes (except serotype 7). Conclusion: sulI allele of dihydropteroate synthase has been identified in H. parasuis serovar 2 by RDA technique. Significance and Impact of the Study: The RDA technique seems to be an useful method for the identification of genes that are differentially present in H. parasuis, a respiratory pathogen of veterinary interest.

Acinetobacter baumannii strain HUMV-3743 was obtained from wound exudate from an adult patient. Here, we report its complete genome sequence using Illumina-based sequence analysis, which revealed a genome of 4 Mb, which includes 2 predicted plasmids of 78.9 and 107 kb.