Study and fight Coronavirus with research tools from PromoCell

COVID-19 is caused by a novel Coronavirus (CoV) called SARS-CoV-2, also known as 2019-nCoV. The disease outbreak was first discovered in Wuhan, China but has spread to many other countries with up-to-date millions of laboratory-confirmed infections and several hundred thousand of fatal cases. The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared a global health emergency to gather resources and remedy this threat.

Background

There are four coronavirus genera: alpha-coronavirus, beta-coronavirus, gamma-coronavirus, and delta-coronavirus. SARS-CoV-2 belongs to the beta-coronavirus genus originating from bats. Beta-coronaviruses can infect mammals, are zoonotic pathogens, and can cause severe respiratory disease in humans.

Other viruses in this family are SARS coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and MERS coronavirus. SARS-CoV-2 has approximately 79% sequence identity to SARS-CoV and 50% to MERS-CoV which gives us clues as to how it may infect and cause disease in humans. In addition, homology modeling shows SARS-CoV-2 has a similar receptor-binding domain structure as SARS-CoV which suggests SARS-CoV-2 uses the angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE2) receptor in humans for infection. A significant amount of research has already been done to understand ACE2 and how it may be used as a host receptor by viruses, giving us a head-start when fighting COVID-19.

The ACE2 SARS-CoV-2 Interaction

ACE2 is expressed in the human heart, lung, kidney and gastrointestinal tract and is an essential regulator of heart function and blood pressure. ACE2 is a functional receptor, acting as the entry point into human lung cells for both SARS-CoV and the human respiratory coronavirus (HCoV-NL63). This makes it a potential target for therapy that could prevent COVID-19 infection.
Research into the interaction between SARS-CoV-2 and ACE2 (→ binding of the viral Spike S1 protein to the ACE2 receptor) is key as this dynamic is crucial to understanding both cross-species and human to human transmissions of COVID-19.

Tools to Study COVID-19

To support the efforts of researchers worldwide to study, understand and combat this new health threat, PromoCell offers a range of high-quality antibodies specifically directed against components of the SARS-CoV-2 and the ACE2 receptor as well as several fine chemicals identified as potential inhibitors of SARS-CoV.

As ACE2 is a potential therapeutic target not only for cardiovascular disorders but also for coronavirus-induced diseases, we also provide an ACE2 Activity Assay as well as an ACE Inhibitor Screening Assay and an SARS-CoV-2/ACE Binding Inhibitor Screening Kit to further support research progress in this field.

Recent studies have shown that inhibitors of the cellular Furin protease, which is essential for the formation of the functional viral Spike (S) Protein (and thus SARS-CoV-2 virus entry and replication), are potential antiviral agents to counteract SARS-CoV-2 infection and pathogenesis. Our Furin Activity Assay Kit and Furin Inhibitor Screening Kit are useful tools to develop new targeted therapeutics for Covid-19.

Please note: All products are for research use only and not for in vitro-diagnostic or therapeutic purposes.

Product list

Assays

ACE2 Antibodies & Blocking Peptides

SARS Antibodies & Blocking Peptides

Biochemicals for SARS-Covid Research

Related Products

Moreover, we supply a huge variety of Cytokines & Growth Factors as well as the corresponding ELISAs & Antibodies for Immunology/Innate Immunity (e.g. to detect cytokine storm and acute inflammation).

In addition, PromoCell provides a wide range of assays to study Cell Health & Viability , Oxidative Stress, Cell Metabolism & Signaling and Cell Migration & Phagocytosis.

Please visit also our page summarizing our respiratory cell culture tools for COVID-19 research.

Please note: All products are for research use only and not for in vitro-diagnostic or therapeutic purposes.