Spike (B.1.617.1 Kappa Variant) 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.1.617.1 (also known as the Kappa Variant) was identified in India in the spring of 2021. This variant has a number of mutations that allow the virus to spread more easily and quickly than other variants.   The Spike (B.1.617.1 Variant) (SARS-CoV-2) Pseudotyped Lentivirus were produced with SARS-CoV-2 B.1.617.1 Variant Spike (Genbank Accession #QHD43416.1 with B.1.617.1 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.1.617.1 Variant) (SARS-CoV-2) pseudotyped lentivirus can be used to measure the activity of neutralizing antibody against SARS-CoV-2 B.1.617.1 variant in a Biosafety Level 2 facility.   Spike Mutations in B.1.617.1 Variant: G142D E154K L452R E484Q D614G P681R Q1071H