SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) ORF3a Antibody

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), formerly known as 2019-nCoV acute respiratory disease, is an infectious disease caused by SARS-CoV-2, a virus closely related to the SARS virus (1) . The disease is the cause of the 2019–20 coronavirus outbreak (2) . SARS-CoV-2 virus proteins include structural proteins, non-structural proteins and accessory factors. The structure of SARS-CoV-2 consists of the following: a spike protein (S), hemagglutinin-esterease dimer (HE), a membrane glycoprotein (M), an envelope protein (E) a nucleoclapid protein (N) and RNA. SARS-CoV-2 non-structural protein is ORF1ab that consists of 16 proteins (nsp1-nsp16), while accessory factors include ORF3a, ORF3b, ORF6, ORF7a, ORF7b, ORF8, ORF9b, ORF9c and ORF10. ORF3a forms homotetrameric potassium sensitive ion channels (viroporin) and may modulate virus release. It up-regulates expression of fibrinogen subunits FGA, FGB and FGG in host lung epithelial cells. It induces apoptosis in cell culture and downregulates the type 1 interferon receptor by inducing serine phosphorylation within the IFN alpha-receptor subunit 1 (IFNAR1) degradation motif and increasing IFNAR1 ubiquitination (3) .

SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) ORF3a antibody can be stored at 4˚ C for three months and -20˚ C, stable for up to one year. As with all antibodies care should be taken to avoid repeated freeze thaw cycles. Antibodies should not be exposed to prolonged high temperatures.