Spike (BA.2, Omicron Variant) (SARS-CoV-2) Pseudotyped Lentivirus (eGFP Reporter)

The pandemic coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) . As the first step of the viral replication, the virus attaches to the host cell surface before entering the cell. The viral Spike protein recognizes and attaches to the Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor found on the surface of type I and II pneumocytes, endothelial cells, and ciliated bronchial epithelial cells. Drugs targeting the interaction between the Spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 and ACE2 may offer protection against the viral infection. Omicron Variant was identified in South Africa in November of 2021. This variant has a large number of mutations that allow the virus to spread more easily and quickly than other variants. As of February 2022, Omicron variants have been divided into four distinct sub-lineages: BA.1 (B.1.1.529), BA.1.1, BA.2, and BA.3.The Spike (BA.2, Omicron Variant) (SARS-CoV-2) Pseudotyped Lentiviruses were produced with SARS-CoV-2 BA.2 Variant Spike (Genbank Accession #QHD43416.1 containing all the BA.2 mutations; see below for details) as the envelope glycoproteins instead of the commonly used VSV-G. These pseudovirions contain the eGFP gene driven by a CMV promoter (Figure 1), therefore, the spike-mediated cell entry can be determined via eGFP fluorescence. The Spike (BA.2, Omicron Variant) (SARS-CoV-2) pseudotyped lentivirus can be used to measure the activity of neutralizing antibody against SARS-CoV-2 BA.2 variant in a Biosafety Level 2 facility.As shown in Figures 2, the Spike Omicron pseudovirus has been validated for use with target cells ACE2-HEK293 (which overexpress ACE2; BPS Bioscience #79951) .Spike Mutations in BA.2 Variant:T19I, LPPA24-27S, G142D, V213G, G339D, S371F, S373P, S375F, T376A, D405N, R408S, K417N, N440K, S477N, T478K, E484A, Q493R, Q498R, N501Y, Y505H, D614G, H655Y, N679K, P681H, N764K, D796Y, Q954H, N969KFigure 1. Schematic of the eGFP Reporter in Spike (BA.2, Omicron Variant) (SARS-CoV-2) Pseudotyped Lentivirus