Antiviral Assay for Variants of Concern
Amino acid changes that occur during the virus life cycle have led to the emergence of new coronavirus variants. There are 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. 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 solutions for research and development challenges to identifying broadly neutralizing candidates to stem the ongoing pandemic. Our recombinant rVSV-SARS-CoV-2 assay can now be used to determine the neutralization potency (IC50 value) of anti-infectives against spike-mediated infectivity of Coronavirus variants of concern. The platform can evaluate proteins, antibodies, as well as small or large molecules. If you would like to screen your antiviral candidates, use the form below to contact IBT Bioservices.
Fig. 1. Luciferase activity (RLU) in Vero cells infected with rVSV-pseudotype SARS-CoV2 Spike.
Key advantages: The spike protein is a key determinant of host and cell tropism, antigenicity and immunogenicity, interspecies transmission as well as pathogenesis1. These traits make the S protein an attractive target for antiviral inhibitors and vaccines2,3,4. Recombinant VSV pseudotyped with the corona-virus Spike proteins are efficient tools for evaluating mechanisms of virus entry and efficacy of anti-infective candidates.
