Spike (BQ.1.1, Omicron Variant) (SARS-CoV-2) Pseudotyped Lentivirus (eGFP 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. Omicron Variant was identified in South Africa in November of 2021. This variant has a large number of mutations that allow the virus to spread more easily and quickly than other variants. As of May 2022, Omicron variants were divided into seven distinct sub-lineages: BA.1, BA.1.1, BA.2, BA.3, BA.2.12.1, BA.4, and BA.5. As of October 2022, several new BA.5 sub-lineages (e.g. BQ.1, BQ.1.1, BF.7) have been designated._x000D_The spike protein of BQ.1.1 omicron variant has additional mutations (R346T, K444T and N460K) based on the BA.5 variant. The Spike (BQ.1.1, Omicron Variant) (SARS-CoV-2) Pseudotyped Lentiviruses were produced with SARS-CoV-2 Spike (Genbank Accession #QHD43416.1 containing all the Omicron BQ.1.1 mutations; see below for details) as the envelope glycoprotein instead of the commonly used VSV-G. These pseudovirions contain the eGFP gene driven by a CMV promoter (Figure 1), therefore, the spike-mediated cell entry can be determined via eGFP fluorescence. The Spike (BQ.1.1, Omicron Variant) (SARS-CoV-2) pseudotyped lentivirus can be used to measure the activity of neutralizing antibody against SARS-CoV-2 BQ.1.1 variant in a Biosafety Level 2 facility._x000D_

_x000D_Figure 1. Schematic of the eGFP Reporter in Spike (BQ.1.1, Omicron Variant) (SARS-CoV-2) Pseudotyped Lentivirus._x000D_As shown in Figure 2 in Validation Data, the Spike Omicron BQ.1.1 pseudovirus has been validated for use with ACE2-HEK293 target cells (which overexpress ACE2; BPS Bioscience #79951)._x000D_Spike Mutations in BQ.1.1 Omicron Variant:_x000D_Del69-70, T19I, LPPA24-27S, G142D, V213G, G339D, R346T, S371F, S373P, S375F, T376A, D405N, R408S, K417N, N440K, K444T, L452R, N460K, S477N, T478K, E484A, F486V, Q498R, N501Y, Y505H, D614G, H655Y, N679K, P681H, N764K, D796Y, Q954H, N969K