Coronavirus Assays for Variants of Concern

Due to amino acid changes that occur during their life cycle viruses change over time. While most changes have little to no effect changes to the coronavirus spike (s) protein have led to the emergence of new variants identified as “variants of concern.”  Initially there were 4 “variants of concern” (Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta variants) on the  World Health Organization  (WHO) and the CDC watchlist.  The “variants of concern” designation is assigned based on increased transmissibility, resistance to public health measures and/or virulence.  Thanks to public health and safety measures the previous variants have been downgraded.  In 2022 the dominant circulating “variants of concern” are Omicron and its subvariants (BA.1, BA.2, BA.4, BA.5, BA.2.86, EG.5.1, XBB.1.9.1, BQ.1.1 to name a few). The ongoing evolution of SARS-CoV-2 requires continuous research and development to create a pipeline of effective therapies against COVID-19.

IBT Bioservices offers Coronavirus assays to support research and development challenges to identifying broadly neutralizing candidates to stem the ongoing pandemic. Our recombinant rVSV-SARS-CoV-2 platform can be used to determine the neutralization potency (IC₅₀ value) of anti-infectives against spike-mediated infectivity of Coronavirus variants, including Omicron subvariants. IBT also offers pseudotyped assay for evaluating anti-infectives against Ebolavirus and Marburgvirus.The platform can be used to evaluate proteins, antibodies, as well as small or large molecules.  If you would like to screen your antiviral candidates in our pseudotyped coronavirus assay, use the form below to contact IBT Bioservices.

                    Fig. 1. Luciferase activity (RLU) in Vero cells infected with rVSV-pseudotype SARS-CoV2 Spike.