SARS-CoV-2 Nucleocapsid IgG ELISA Kit

Coronaviruses are large, lipid-enveloped, single-stranded RNA viruses known to infect a wide array of hosts, including humans, bats, mice and other mammals. Amongst the seven known human coronaviruses, MERS-CoV, SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2 are the most pathogenic, causing severe, potentially fatal respiratory and cardiovascular symptoms. The emergence of the novel SARS-CoV-2 virus, the cause of the ongoing Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, has proven to be the greatest public health crisis of the 21st Century. SARS-CoV-2 has a ~30 kb genome that encodes 29 proteins, including 4 structural proteins used in virion assembly, namely the Envelope (E), Membrane (M), Spike (S) and Nucleocapsid (N) proteins. The N protein is a RNA-binding protein that maintains the viral genomic RNA in a conformation required for viral RNA transcription and replication. The N protein amino-terminal contains the RNA-binding Domain, a potential structural target for novel antiviral drugs. The N protein is a highly immunogenic antigen, with specific anti-N protein antibodies detected in patient serum 5-10 days following infection. BioVision’s SARS-CoV-2 Nucleocapsid IgG ELISA Kit is an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay intended for identifying the immune response to SARS-CoV-2 infection. The assay uses the nucleocapsid protein as a bait to capture anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in diluted plasma or serum samples. Subsequent reaction with an enzyme-labeled anti-human-IgG conjugate and a colorimetric substrate generates color, which is proportional to the amount of anti-N antibodies. The presence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 N antibodies (IgG) is determined by comparing the absorbance (OD450 nm) reading of the sample to the OD450 nm reading of the negative control serum. A positive reaction suggests prior SARS-CoV-2 infection. Positive control serum containing a recombinant human monoclonal anti-SARS-CoV-2 N antibody is included in the kit for validation. The assay is a quick, easy and accurate method of indicating recent or prior SARS-CoV-2 infection that does not require collection or handling of infectious virus. This kit is a valuable tool to study the COVID-19 epidemiology, prevalence and morbidity.