| Field | Specification |
|---|---|
| Expression System | |
| Form | Liquid |
| Product Type | |
| Reporter | |
| Storage | |
| Target |
Scientific Background
SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of COVID-19, has evolved through numerous variants of concern (VOCs) and variants of interest (VOIs) since its emergence in late 2019. Each variant carries a distinct set of spike protein mutations that alter receptor binding affinity, immune evasion, and sensitivity to neutralizing antibodies. Accurate evaluation of antibody neutralization potency across these variants requires safe, reproducible pseudovirus tools that faithfully replicate the spike protein of each lineage.
The Hybrid Alpha-Pseudovirus for SARS-CoV-2 (Ha-CoV-2) is a next-generation VLP platform developed by IBT Bioservices in collaboration with Virongy. Unlike conventional S-protein-only pseudotyped lentiviruses or rVSV vectors, Ha-CoV-2 incorporates all four SARS-CoV-2 structural proteins (S, M, N, and E), producing particles with native-like surface architecture. An alphavirus-derived self-replicating RNA vector drives rapid reporter expression (luciferase or fluorescent protein) within 6 hours of transduction — significantly faster than lentiviral systems.
Product Description
Coronavirus
This Ha-CoV-2 VLP represents the XBB.1 lineage. It is a single-cycle, BSL-2-compatible pseudovirus assembled from all four SARS-CoV-2 structural proteins with a reporter gene payload. Available with Firefly luciferase, GFP, or RFP reporter.
Product Specifications
| Catalog Number | 0568-PP-029 |
|---|---|
| Full Name | SARS-CoV-2 Virus-Like Particles (Ha-CoV-2), XBB.1 |
| Variant | XBB.1 |
| Spike Mutations | D405N, D614G, D796Y, E484A, F486S, F490S, G142D, G252V, G339H, G446S, H146Q, H655Y, K417N, L368I, L24S, N440K, N460K, N501Y, N679K, N764K, N969K, P681H, Q183E, Q498R, Q954H, R346T, R408S, S371F, S373P, S375F, S477N, T19I, T376A, T478K, V213E, V445P, V83A, Y505H, del144/144, del25/27 |
| Structural Proteins | S (spike), M (membrane), N (nucleocapsid), E (envelope) |
| Reporter Payload | Alphavirus-derived self-replicating RNA encoding Firefly Luciferase, GFP, or RFP |
| Particle Type | Single-cycle alpha-pseudovirus (BSL-2 safe) |
| Target Cells | ACE2-expressing cells (e.g., Vero cells, HEK293T-ACE2) |
| Form | Liquid |
| Size Options | 1X Concentrated: 25 × 200 µL (~100 wells per 96-well plate); 60X Concentrated: 5 × 100 µL |
| Storage | -80°C. Avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles. |
Applications
Ha-CoV-2 VLPs are validated for the following research applications:
- Screening and quantification of anti-SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies (IC50 determination)
- Anti-coronavirus small molecule drug screening
- Quantification of variant spike protein infectivity relative to Wild Type or other lineages
- Identification of host co-factors and restriction factors for SARS-CoV-2 entry
Assay Protocol
A monolayer of Vero or ACE2-expressing cells is infected with Ha-CoV-2 VLPs or a VLP/test-sample mixture for ~1 hr. Cells are overlaid with 1–2% FBS-supplemented media and incubated overnight at 37°C + 5% CO₂. Luciferase activity is measured at 6 hours post-transduction using Bright-Glo™ or Luciferase Assay System (Promega) on a plate reader. For fluorescent reporters (GFP/RFP), reporter expression is quantified by fluorescence microscopy or flow cytometry. Neutralization is reported as % inhibition versus virus-only controls; IC50 is derived from dose-response curves.
Safety & Handling
This Ha-CoV-2 VLP represents the XBB.1 lineage. It carries the following spike mutations relative to the Wuhan reference sequence: D405N, D614G, D796Y, E484A, F486S, F490S, G142D, G252V, G339H, G446S, H146Q, H655Y, K417N, L368I, L24S, N440K, N460K, N501Y, N679K, N764K, N969K, P681H, Q183E, Q498R, Q954H, R346T, R408S, S371F, S373P, S375F, S477N, T19I, T376A, T478K, V213E, V445P, V83A, Y505H, del144/144, del25/27.
Unlike lentiviral or rVSV pseudoviruses that carry only the spike (S) protein on a heterologous backbone, Ha-CoV-2 is assembled from all four SARS-CoV-2 structural proteins (S, M, N, E), producing particles with native-like surface geometry. The alphavirus-derived reporter genome enables reporter expression within 6 hours — 3–5× faster than lentiviral pseudoviruses — enabling same-day results.
All three reporter formats (Firefly luciferase, GFP, and RFP) produce reliable, quantifiable signal. Luciferase is recommended for high-throughput drug or antibody screening due to its high dynamic range and plate-reader compatibility. GFP or RFP are preferred for imaging, flow cytometry, or when multiplexing with other fluorescent probes.
Ha-CoV-2 VLPs are single-cycle alpha-pseudoviruses and are BSL-2 safe. They do not contain replication-competent SARS-CoV-2 and cannot produce infectious virus. Standard BSL-2 precautions apply.
Store at -80°C immediately upon receipt. Avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles as they reduce viral titer and transduction efficiency. Aliquot into single-experiment volumes before freezing.
Need a different reporter, pack size, or bulk volume? BioHippo works directly with IBT Bioservices to support custom and large-volume requests. Contact us for a quote or to discuss your project requirements.
Looking for matching antigen proteins, antibodies, or other coronavirus/filovirus research reagents? Contact BioHippo support for recommendations.
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