In the era of the COVID-19 pandemic, the significance of point-of-care (POC) diagnostic tools has become increasingly vital, driven by the need for quick and precise virus identification. RNA-based sensors, particularly toehold sensors, have emerged as promising candidates for POC detection systems due to their selectivity and sensitivity. Toehold sensors operate by employing an RNA switch that changes the conformation when it binds to a target RNA molecule, resulting in a detectable signal. This review focuses on the development and deployment of RNA-based sensors for POC viral RNA detection with a particular emphasis on toehold sensors. The benefits and limits of toehold sensors are explored, and obstacles and future directions for improving their performance within POC detection systems are presented. The use of RNA-based sensors as a technology for rapid and sensitive detection of viral RNA holds great potential for effectively managing (dealing/coping) with present and future pandemics in resource-constrained settings.

中文翻译：

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基于 RNA 的传感器系统，用于大流行时代经济实惠的诊断

在 COVID-19 大流行时代，由于对快速、精确的病毒识别的需求的推动，即时 (POC) 诊断工具的重要性变得越来越重要。基于 RNA 的传感器，特别是立足点传感器，由于其选择性和灵敏度，已成为 POC 检测系统的有希望的候选者。立足点传感器通过使用 RNA 开关进行操作，该开关在与目标 RNA 分子结合时会改变构象，从而产生可检测的信号。本综述重点关注用于 POC 病毒 RNA 检测的基于 RNA 的传感器的开发和部署，特别强调立足点传感器。探讨了立足点传感器的优点和局限性，并提出了在 POC 检测系统中提高其性能的障碍和未来方向。使用基于 RNA 的传感器作为快速、灵敏地检测病毒 RNA 的技术，在资源有限的环境中有效管理（处理/应对）当前和未来的流行病具有巨大潜力。