BPS Bioscience, Inc. (“BPS”) Expands its Coronavirus Portfolio with Unique Pseudolentiviruses for the study of COVID-19 variants.
BPS Bioscience, Inc. (“BPS”) Expands its Coronavirus Portfolio with Unique Pseudolentiviruses for the study of COVID-19 variants.
SAN DIEGO, CA
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 and ACE2 receptor may offer protection against viral infection.
In December of 2020, a fast-spreading variant of SARS-COV-2, known as B.1.1.7, was identified in the U.K. This variant contains several mutations, including a N501Y mutation that is thought to make it easier for the virus to attach to the human ACE2 receptor. Similar variants with other mutations have been identified in South Africa and Brazil, and these mutants may lead to increased transmissibility and virulence of the disease. Research on these mutations will be critical for the development of vaccines and therapeutics that are effective against these variant viral strains.
Scientists at BPS Bioscience have been actively working on developing COVID-19 research tools to support the scientific community, including a new line of tools to study SARS-CoV-2 variants. In particular, they have developed a line of Spike Pseudotyped Lentiviruses produced by using Spike as the envelope glycoprotein. These pseudovirions contain a reporter gene (either firefly luciferase or enhanced GFP). When incubated with ACE2 receptor-expressing cell lines, the spike-mediated entry of the pseudovirus into the target cell can be conveniently detected by measuring luciferase or eGFP activity. Therefore the Spike pseudoviruses provide a cellular assay for monitoring not only viral attachment to the ACE2 receptor but also membrane fusion and cellular entry. The Spike pseudotyped lentiviruses can be used to measure the activity of neutralizing antibody against SARS-CoV-2 in a Biosafety Level 2 facility.
Currently BPS’s portfolio of pseudoviruses includes the original wildtype (Wuhan) sequence, the B.1.1.7 (UK), B.1.351 (South African), and P.1 (Brazil) variants, as well as versions including only the highly conserved D614G mutation or the 3 mutations (K417T, E484K, N501Y) present in the RBD (Receptor Binding Domain) of the Brazilian variant. These last pseudoviruses can be useful for differentiating the binding site and mechanism of action of neutralizing antibodies. Additional mutant pseudoviruses are being developed as researchers identify new variants and strains of SARS-COV-2.
BPS also offers number of mutant Spike recombinant proteins (RBD, S1, and full trimers) and mutant Spike assay kits in a convenient 96- or 384-well format. These colorimetric, chemiluminescent, or TR-FRET-based assays are ideal for screening and profiling inhibitors of the ACE2:Spike interaction.
“BPS Bioscience recognizes the urgency and special challenges of coronavirus research during the pandemic,” said BPS President and CEO, Henry Zhu, PhD. “BPS is continually striving to offer novel and innovative products and services to help researchers meet the challenges of developing new therapeutics and vaccines for COVID-19”. In line with this directive, BPS has developed one of the largest portfolios of coronavirus research tools and services, including ACE2 receptor- and TMPRSS2-expressing cell lines and unique assays for 3CL, PLPro, TMPRSS2, furin, RdRP, and other key SARS-CoV-2 targets.
To learn more about BPS Bioscience’s coronavirus products and services, visit our website at: https://bpsbioscience.com/research-areas/coronavirus
https://bpsbioscience.com/coronavirus-screening-profiling
Contact
Henry Zhu
info@bpsbioscience.com
About BPS Bioscience, Inc.
Headquartered in San Diego, California, BPS Bioscience, Inc. is a leading manufacturer of products for coronavirus research, as well as immunotherapy, epigenetics and other tools for drug discovery. BPS also offers one of the largest selections of recombinant enzymes, assay kits and cell lines for Acetyltransferase, Bromodomain, CAR T-cells, Cholesterol, HDAC, Histone Demethylase, Methyltransferase, Kinase, Lentiviruses, Phosphatase, Phosphodiesterase, Poly ADP Ribose Polymerase (PARP), RAS signaling, and Protease research. BPS also provides custom protein expression and cell line development, biochemical and cell-based assays, and compound screening and profiling services. BPS continues to expand its portfolio of innovative drug discovery products, providing products and services to pharmaceutical companies and academic institutes in over 45 countries worldwide. By being at the forefront of technology development, BPS focuses on providing quality life science products and services in a timely manner that will help our customers to accelerate drug discovery and development for treatment of human diseases. Visit BPS’s website for more information: http://www.bpsbioscience.com.
