Cloning of a passage-free SARS-CoV-2 genome and mutagenesis using red recombination

Herrmann A, Jungnickl D, Cordsmeier A, Peter AS, Überla K, Enßer A (2021)


Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2021

Journal

Book Volume: 22

Article Number: 10188

Journal Issue: 19

DOI: 10.3390/ijms221910188

Abstract

The ongoing pandemic coronavirus (CoV) disease 2019 (COVID-19) by severe acute respiratory syndrome CoV-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has already caused substantial morbidity, mortality, and economic devastation. Reverse genetic approaches to generate recombinant viruses are a powerful tool to characterize and understand newly emerging viruses. To contribute to the global efforts for countermeasures to control the spread of SARS-CoV-2, we developed a passage-free SARS-CoV-2 clone based on a bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC). Moreover, using a Lambda-based Red recombination, we successfully generated different reporter and marker viruses, which replicated similar to a clinical isolate in a cell culture. Moreover, we designed a full-length reporter virus encoding an additional artificial open reading frame with wild-type-like replication features. The virus-encoded reporters were successfully applied to ease antiviral testing in cell culture models. Furthermore, we designed a new marker virus encoding 3xFLAG-tagged nucleocapsid that allows the detection of incoming viral particles and, in combination with bio-orthogonal labeling for the visualization of viral RNA synthesis via click chemistry, the spatiotemporal tracking of viral replication on the single-cell level. In summary, by applying BAC-based Red recombination, we developed a powerful, reliable, and convenient platform that will facilitate studies answering numerous questions concerning the biology of SARS-CoV-2.

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How to cite

APA:

Herrmann, A., Jungnickl, D., Cordsmeier, A., Peter, A.S., Überla, K., & Enßer, A. (2021). Cloning of a passage-free SARS-CoV-2 genome and mutagenesis using red recombination. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 22(19). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms221910188

MLA:

Herrmann, Alexandra, et al. "Cloning of a passage-free SARS-CoV-2 genome and mutagenesis using red recombination." International Journal of Molecular Sciences 22.19 (2021).

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