Spike (B.1.621, Mu Variant) (SARS-CoV-2) Pseudotyped Lentivirus (Luc 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. A variant called B.1.621 (also known as the Mu Variant) was first identified in Columbia in early 2021. This variant has a number of mutations that may increase morbidity and mortality and allow the virus to spread more easily and quickly than other variants.The Spike (B.1.621, Mu Variant) (SARS-CoV-2) Pseudotyped Lentiviruses were produced with SARS-CoV-2 B.1.621 Variant Spike (Genbank Accession #QHD43416.1 with B.1.621 mutations; see below for details) as the envelope glycoproteins instead of the commonly used VSV-G. These pseudovirions contain the firefly luciferase gene driven by a CMV promoter (Figure 1), therefore, the spike-mediated cell entry can be measured via luciferase activity. The Spike (B.1.621, Mu Variant) (SARS-CoV-2) pseudotyped lentivirus can be used to measure the activity of neutralizing antibody against the B.1.621 variant in a Biosafety Level 2 facility.Spike Mutations in B.1.621 Variant:
T95I
Y144S
Y145N
R346K
E484K
N501Y
D614G
P681H
D950N

Figure 1. Schematic of the Luciferase Reporter in SARS-CoV-2 Spike (B.1.621 Variant) Pseudovirion

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