COVID-19 ImmunoRank™ Neutralization MICRO-ELISA Kit

Chinese authorities identified an outbreak caused by a novel—or new—coronavirus termed SARS-CoV-2. The virus can cause mild to severe respiratory illness; known as Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) formerly called 2019-nCoV.1 SARS-CoV-2 is different from six other previously identified human coronaviruses, including those that have caused previous outbreaks of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS). The SARS-CoV-2 Spike (S) Protein consists of the S1 and S2 domains.2 The S1 domain contains the receptor-binding domain (RBD) that can specifically bind to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptors on target cells.2 The SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid (N) protein plays a role in transcription, replication, and packaging of the viral RNA genome, while also affecting host cell responses such as cell cycle and translation.3 SARS-CoV-2 is closely related to the SARS virus, which was first identified in 2002-2003.3 In-depth analysis has identified the SARS-CoV-2 RBD as being essential for ACE2 binding.3 Both SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 utilize the ACE2 cellular receptor to gain entry into cells, with SARS-CoV-2 binding with higher affinity.4 Vaccine and therapeutic development are targeting portions of the spike protein, including the RBD portion.5