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Real-Time PCR Solutions for SARS-CoV-2 Research
Solutions for every stage of your research
Thermo Fisher Scientific is proud to support scientists performing vital SARS-CoV-2 research with our comprehensive real-time PCR (qPCR) solutions. Real-time PCR is known as the gold-standard for coronavirus testing and is a proven technology that can help accelerate life-saving discoveries in the following SARS-CoV-2 research areas:
- Basic research: Explore questions about SARS-CoV-2 life cycle and pathogenesis by analyzing viral biology, host immune response, and host genomics.
- Translational research: Discover potential vaccine and therapeutic candidates by interrogating novel targets and small molecules, their effects on host genomic factors and immune response, and pharmacogenomics.
- Vaccine and therapeutic development: Advance process development and manufacturing by quantitating nucleic acid formulations or detecting microbes in bioproduction cultures and stocks.
- Epidemiology: Mitigate the potential spread of the virus and inform public policies by monitoring viral and human genetic determinants within populations and conducting environmental surveillance.
- Proprietary assay development: Develop your own coronavirus assay using our complementary products and efficient, easy-to-use workflow.
NEW! SARS-CoV-2 Research Panels for Host Gene Expression Analysis
Looking at a large set of genes in a pathway, disease, or biological process is an efficient way to identify markers of interest. We designed several flexible panels specifically for SARS-CoV-2 research that target the most cited genes related to virus entry, antiviral restriction factors, and immune signaling mediators. Our flexible content panels offer an easy way to select a relevant combination of assays in the format that matches your experiment.
Why use our real-time PCR research solutions
Real-time PCR offers high sensitivity and specificity, fast time to results, and a wide dynamic range for precise detection and quantitation of nucleic acids. But what makes our real-time PCR solutions so valuable for SARS-CoV-2 research is that they combine this gold-standard performance with adaptable experimental design, flexible formats that enable affordable scalability and multi-target interrogation, easy-to-use workflows, and trusted support.
Applied Biosystems TaqMan Assays have long been considered the gold standard in quantitative genomic analysis, providing high specificity, reproducibility, sensitivity, and unsurpassed content. We offer over 20 million predesigned TaqMan Assays ready to work right out of the box—guaranteed*.
The adaptability of real-time PCR to meet your unique research needs makes it an ideal tool for the evolving field of SARS-CoV-2 research. Save time and resources by choosing from our predesigned assays for gene expression, microRNA, and genotyping analysis, in the format that fits your experimental and throughput demands. We now offer coronavirus research panels that incorporate assays for the most cited genes related to SARS-CoV-2 including entry factors, restriction factors, cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors. You can also design and order a custom assay to study novel targets or newly identified genes of interest, leveraging our robust TaqMan chemistry, assay design algorithms and pipeline, and easy-to-use workflows.
As part of our optimized research solutions, we also offer application-specific master mixes and nucleic acid purification products that are designed for virtually any sample type or model system and a suite of cutting edge instruments and analysis software.
Our real-time PCR research solutions can help accelerate your discoveries both as a stand-alone technology and partnered with other technologies for high-throughput analysis of differential gene expression, including next-generation sequencing (NGS). Real-time PCR is the gold-standard technology for quantifying transcriptomic data and is often used to verify target transcripts discovered during sequencing studies.
Learn more about verification of NGS and microarray results using TaqMan gene expression assays ›
Real-time PCR for basic research
Real-time PCR is a fast, easy, and affordable technique for quantifying virus levels and performing gene expression, microRNA, SNP genotyping, and copy number variation analysis.
SARS-CoV-2, is an enveloped, non-segmented, single-stranded positive-sense RNA (+ssRNA) virus and a newly identified β-coronavirus. SARS-CoV-2 has not previously been seen in humans, and there are many unknowns about the virus lifecycle and pathogenesis.
Gene expression analysis
Detect and quantify SARS-CoV-2 RNA in different tissues, cultures, or specimens to elucidate fundamentals of pathogen biology including tropism, replication kinetics, transmission, and pathogenesis (1). Use our predesigned research assays for the SARS-CoV-2 N and S genes or use custom primers and probes to detect other viral genes of interest.
Genetic variation analysis
Understand the phenotypic impact of SARS-CoV-2 genetic variability, such as polymorphic residues in S gene (2-4), to gain insight into infectivity and pathogenicity. Use our Custom TaqMan SNP genotyping assays to detect variants or SNPs of interest as a stand-alone workflow, or pair with NGS to quantify transcriptomic data and perform follow-up studies with SNPs of interest.
miRNA and non-coding RNA analysis
Explore how viral non-coding RNAs contribute to the viral life cycle and pathogenesis. Recent studies suggest that viral miRNA can epigenetically modulate multiple host signaling pathways, contributing to immune-escape and pathogenesis (5-8).
Like all viruses, SARS-CoV-2 is an obligate intracellular pathogen that requires host factors to enable virus entry, viral RNA synthesis, translation of viral mRNAs, and virion assembly. Use our real-time PCR solutions to research how different host-pathogen interactions affect the viral life cycle and pathogenesis.
Gene expression analysis
Gain valuable insight into viral tropism and transmission by studying the expression patterns of host factors that SARS-CoV-2 exploits to enter a cell (9), including ACE2 receptor (1, 10-13), TMPRSS2 serine protease (12-14), and NRP1 (15). Or explore the role of host restriction factors in antiviral defense (16-20). Our flexible content panel portfolio includes a variety of new panels for studying pathways related to viral infection and disease.
NEW! Streamline your analysis workflows with our new flexible content panels that include gene expression assays for the most-cited genes involved in viral entry or host restriction during infection with SARS-CoV-2 and other coronaviruses.
TaqMan Array Coronavirus Entry Factor Panel : Human | Mouse | Rat
TaqMan Array Coronavirus Restriction Factor Panel: Human | Mouse | Rat
Genotyping analysis
Host genetic determinants can affect susceptibility or resistance to SARS-CoV-2 (20-22). MGB probes technology provides maximal sequence discrimination of single base difference in host alleles, allowing us to offer predesigned assays that detect virtually every human gene or SNP. Use our TaqMan SNP Genotyping assays as a stand-alone workflow, or pair with NGS to quantify transcriptomic data and perform follow-up studies with SNPs of interest. Explore our curated list of SNPs that have been shown in the literature to affect the severity of SARS-COV-2.
miRNA and non-coding RNA analysis
Investigate how host microRNA regulates gene expression in response to SARS-CoV-2 (6,8,23). miRNAs have been shown to play an important role in regulation of ACE2 and TMRSS2 expression (6,24,25), suggesting further characterization may reveal critical insights into host suspectibility and mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis.
Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infections are highly variable, and interrogating the differences in the innate and adaptive immune responses in patients that are asymptomatic, mildly symptomatic, or acutely ill is critical to understand disease pathways and possible therapeutic targets (20,26,28).
Gene expression analysis
Investigate how differential gene expression of cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors modulates signal transduction pathways in response SARS-CoV-2. SARS-CoV-2 is known to dysregulate a variety of pathways involved in inflammation, oxidative stress, and early antiviral T-cell responses (26,29-32).
Genotyping analysis
Identify host genetic determinants that can affect immune response to SARS-COV-2 infection (20,21,33). We offer predesigned assays for detecting virtually every human SNP.
miRNA and non-coding RNA analysis
Identify differentially expressed host microRNA to understand the role these molecules play in inhibiting or promoting infection, including the expansion and activation of immune cells or viral evasion of immune system surveillance (6,7,23,34).
Real-time PCR for translational research
Real-time PCR can be used throughout the therapeutic and vaccine development pipeline to enable researchers to into the development of potential therapeutics that block virus replication and spread.
While clinical guidance issued by the CDC currently lists biomarkers that are associated with SARS-CoV-2, there is an immediate need by researchers to identify and develop other biomarkers as indicators of biological processes underlying symptomatic infections and the disease progression.
Gene expression analysis
Examine differential gene expression pathways in SARS-CoV-2 patients to identify novel biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets (20,26-28). In addition to individual assays that can be used in singleplex reactions or multiplex reactions to interrogate multiple targets in a single reaction, we offer a variety of signaling pathway panels to simultaneously look at a broad range of targets.
Genotyping analysis
Identify biomarkers and targets in the context of specific viral variants, model systems, or host genetic backgrounds to understand how host and viral genetic determinants can affect susceptibility or resistance to SARS-CoV-2 (20,21). Our expanded genotyping portfolio ensures that we have a predesigned assay to help accelerate your human and mouse SNP genotyping studies, while our custom SNP genotyping research assays can be developed for any host organism susceptible to SARS-CoV-2.
miRNA and non-coding RNA analysis
Analyze variable host miRNA expression to identify potential therapeutic targets (8,23,24,35) or study microRNAs in blood as biomarkers for SARS-CoV-2 (34,36). Our versatile TaqMan miRNA assays are compatible with tissue and biofluids including serum and plasma, making them an ideal tool for biomarker research.
While designing novel therapeutics can take years of research and many safety and efficacy trials, there are drugs with established safety, pharmacology and toxicology data that can possibly be repurposed for SARS-CoV-2 research. Whether you are researching a novel candidate compound, or elucidating the clinical promise of an existing drug, we offer real-time PCR solutions to accelerate your research.
Gene expression analysis
Perform host transcriptional profiling to determine whether immune genes such as proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines are being activated or modulated in response to potential therapeutics (29,37,38) or quantify viral RNA before and after administration of an antiviral compound.
Genotyping analysis
Identify polymorphisms in genes encoding drug metabolism enzymes (DMEs) and associated transport proteins to elucidate the efficacy and potential risks of new or repurposed drugs. TaqMan DME assays leverage our highly sensitive and specific MGB technology for detection and discrimination of the most important PGX genetic markers, covering 95% of the core markers defined by the PharmaADME group. We offer over 2,700 unique assays to detect polymorphisms in 221 genes, including single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), multiple nucleotide polymorphisms (MNPs), and insertions/deletions (In/Dels).
miRNA and non-coding RNA analysis
Analyze host miRNA profiles to research responses to targeted therapeutics (7,36) using our tissue and blood-compatible TaqMan miRNA assays.
Real-time PCR is an indispensable tool that is widely used throughout vaccine research and development, and Thermo Fisher Scientific offers a comprehensive portfolio of real-time PCR tools to accelerate vaccine research and development.
Gene expression analysis
Perform host transcriptional profiling to determine whether immune genes such as proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines are being activated or modulated in response to these vaccines and therapeutics (39), or quantify viral RNA after infection or challenge (39-41).
Genotyping analysis
Evaluate the efficacy of these vaccines on specific viral variants or in the context of certain host genetic backgrounds (20).
Real-time PCR for vaccine and therapeutic production
Real-time PCR is an indispensable tool that is widely used for vaccine and therapeutic development, including quantitation of virus- or gene-based vaccine dosage and monitoring of virus and bioproduction cultures and stocks for adventitious agents.
Gene expression analysis
Quantitate nucleic acid-based vaccines using real-time PCR to ensure that vaccines are produced at the correct specification and dosage. Real-time PCR assays offer gold standard sensitivity, specificity, and linearity, which is ideal for quantitating nucleic acid-based vaccines.
Gene expression analysis
Evalutate for microbial contamination in large-scale bioproduction cultures and stocks using predesigned TaqMan Gene Expression assays. Our TaqMan Assays and Custom Primers and Probes also offer the possibility for multiplexing multiple targets into a single reaction, for higher throughput and faster turnaround times to meet production schedules.
Real-time PCR for epidemiology
Epidemiological surveillance is conducted to quantify the spread of SARS-COV-2 infection within a population, the factors influencing infection susceptibility or clearance within this population, and the health and economic impacts of these infections. This research in turn will inform public health policies that help mitigate spread and improve clinical outcomes. Our coordinated ecosystem of assays, master mixes, and sample preparation solutions can accommodate many different types of samples.
Genotyping analysis
Virus typing is essential to determine the breadth SARS-COV-2 genetic diversity and to identify virus variants that impact host infection. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) is an ideal tool for complete SARS-CoV-2 genome sequencing, including all variants and potential serotypes, and real-time PCR is the gold-standard for validating NGS data and detecting specific SNPs or genetic variants of interest within large numbers of samples.
Virus monitoring is critical to identify transmission patterns and monitor outbreak containment or mitigation measures. Monitoring also plays a role in understanding viral strain evolution and zoonotic transmission. Real-time PCR provides the cost effectiveness, throughput, and turnaround time necessary for SARS-CoV-2 disease monitoring research.
Gene expression analysis
Research the host response to SARS-CoV-2 at a population level to determine variation in expression patterns across communities or in response to different variants.
Genotyping analysis
Research viral and human genetic determinants that influence the distribution and patterns of disease within a population or large sample size. Our predesigned assays for detecting virtually every human gene or SNP are ready for immediate deployment in epidemiological studies. Our Custom Assay Design Tool can be used to design assays against viral SNPs of interest for viral variant monitoring.
Real-time PCR for assay development
Gene expression analysis
Develop your own test for coronavirus detection using our custom primers and probes and other complementary products.
Applied Biosystems real-time PCR research solutions
Assembling a unique real-time PCR solution for your SARS-CoV-2 research needs will depend first on the type of analysis, or application, that you will use: gene expression, genetic variation, or miRNA and noncoding RNA. For each application, we offer easy-to-use end to end workflows supported by a synergistic ecosystem of sample prep reagents, assays, master mixes, instrumentation, and analysis software.
Study host and viral genetic variations with implications for infection and disease pathogenesis
Analyze the role of host and viral miRNA ininfection, disease progression and host immune response
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