DESCRIPTION

• Notes: Biosafety: None of the HIV genes (gag, pol, rev) will be expressed in the transduced cells, as they are expressed from packaging plasmids lacking the packing signal and are not present in the lentivirus particle. Although the pseudotyped lentiviruses are replication-incompetent, they require the use of a Biosafety Level 2 facility. BPS Bioscience recommends following all local federal, state, and institutional regulations and using all appropriate safety precautions. Troubleshooting Guide: Visit bpsbioscience.com/lentivirus-faq for detailed troubleshooting instructions. For all further questions, please email support@bpsbioscience.com.
• Shiptemp: -80°C (dry ice)
• Warnings: Avoid freeze/thaw cycles
• Category: Coronavirus/Lentivirus
• Background: 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 human ACE2 may offer protection against the viral infection. The 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 easier and quicker 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 April 2023, additional new sub-lineages (BQ.1, BQ.1.1, BF.7, XBB.1, XBB.1.5, XBB.1.16) have been identified.
• Description: The Spike (XBB.1.16 Omicron Variant) (SARS-CoV-2) Pseudotyped Lentiviruses are replication incompetent, HIV-based lentiviral particles. They were produced with SARS-CoV-2 Spike (Genbank Accession #QHD43416.1 containing all the Omicron XBB.1.16 mutations; see below for details) as the envelope glycoprotein instead of the commonly used VSV-G. These pseudovirions contain eGFP driven by a CMV promoter (Figure 1), allowing the spike-mediated cell entry to be measured by the eGFP fluorescence signal. The Spike (XBB.1.16, Omicron Variant) (SARS-CoV-2) pseudotyped lentivirus can be used to measure the activity of neutralizing antibody against SARS-CoV-2 XBB.1.16. The Spike Omicron XBB.1.16 pseudoviruses have been validated for use with ACE2-HEK293 target cells (which overexpress ACE2; BPS Bioscience #79951).
• Formulation: The lentivirus particles were produced from HEK293T cells. They are supplied in cell culture medium containing 90% DMEM + 10% FBS. Virus particles can be packaged in custom formulations by special request, for an additional fee.  
• Supplied As: The titer will vary with each lot; the exact value is provided with each shipment. Based on experiments performed by scientists at BPS Bioscience, 78785-1 (100 µl) provides sufficient signal-to-noise ratio to perform 100 reactions, and 78785-2 (500 µl x 2) for 1000 reactions. The amount of virus added to the cells can be titrated further down according to the user's need.
• Unspsc Code: 41106621
• Unspsc Name: Virus mediated expression vectors or kits
• Applications: Screen or titrate neutralizing antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 XBB.1.16 variant in ACE2-expressing cells.
• Product Type: Lentivirus
• Biosafety Level: BSL-2
• Related Products: 79943, 79951 , 78349
• Storage Stability: Lentiviruses are shipped with dry ice. For long-term storage, it is recommended to store the virus at -80°C. Avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles. Titers can drop significantly with each freeze-thaw cycle.
• Scientific Category: Coronavirus