Lentiviruses for SARS-CoV-2 & COVID-19 Research

• A safe alternative to using live coronavirus (can be used in BSL-2 labs)
• High-titer, ready-to-use lentiviral particles
• Study the interaction between SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein and ACE2 in a physiologically relevant context
• Easily measure viral transduction through eGFP/Luciferase activity

We offer a range of services including design and construction of the vectors, providing you with high quality lentiviral particles that you can rely on. Our cost-effective custom lentivirus service has quick turnaround times and gives you the chance to procure lentiviral particles tailored exactly to your research needs. This service now includes pseudotyping with wild type or mutant spike proteins from a variety of coronavirus species. Find out more here or contact us today with your request!

• Pseudotyping available with wild type or mutant spike proteins from a wide range of coronavirus species
• Unlimited customization options including addition of reporter genes for monitoring viral entry
• Both in vitro and in vivo grade scales available
• Safe to be used in BSL-2 labs

We offer ready-to-use, replication incompetent, HIV-based VSV-G pseudotyped lentiviral particles suitable for transduction into almost all types of mammalian cells, including both primary and non-dividing cells. This lentivirus contains an EF1a promoter and ACE2 gene (NM_021804.3), allowing transient expression of ACE2 into your target cells. These lentiviral particles are also suitable for generation of a stable cell line with puromycin selection.

Our Spike Pseudotyped Lentivirus offers a chance to study the mechanism of SARS-CoV-2 viral transduction, as well as screening for neutralizing antibodies and chemical compounds, when used in combination with ACE2 lentivirus. This lentivirus uses SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein (Genbank Accession #QHD43416.1) instead of VSV-G viral fusion protein as the envelope glycoprotein. Spike mediates the fusion between the viral envelopment and host cell membrane. We offer this lentivirus with two different reporters: firefly luciferase (Cat. # AMS.79942), and enhanced GFP (eGP) (Cat. # AMS.79981).

With the luciferase reporter, you can easily measure spike-mediated cell entry via luciferase activity, using ONE-Step™ Luciferase reagent.

The eGFP Spike lentivirus contains the eGFP gene driven by a CMV promoter, making it simple to measure spike-mediated cell entry through eGFP activity (Fig. 5).

During the course of COVID-19 pandemic, several new SARS-CoV-2 variants have emerged, each with differing mutations that can have impacts on transmissibility, COVID-19 disease severity, and effectiveness of vaccines. AMSBIO now offers a series of pseudotyped lentivirus with key Spike mutations.

The bald lentiviral pseudovirion, which has no envelope glycoproteins, can be used as a negative control for studying virus entry initiated by specific interactions between virus particles and receptors. It contains the firefly luciferase gene driven by a CMV promoter, so luciferase activity can easily be determined using ONE-Step™ Luciferase reagent. We will also be introducing bald lentiviral pseudovirions with eGFP and a dual Luc-eGFP reporters soon – contact us if you would like to know more.

Please note that although our lentiviral vectors contain all necessary biosafety features, work with lentiviral particles should be carried out under Biological Safety Level 2 (BL2) or higher. Please conduct a thorough risk assessment for your project and contact your health and safety facilities for local guidelines and regulations. Find out more here.