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.
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
Advancing your SARS-CoV-2 research
Research into SARS-CoV-2 continues at a rapid pace, and as variants of the virus continue to emerge, the need to understand pathogen biology and virus-host interactions becomes ever more critical. Thermo Fisher Scientific is committed to providing comprehensive qPCR solutions and relevant information to help accelerate the discoveries that will help combat this virus.
We offer solutions ranging from predesigned Applied Biosystems TaqMan Assays for most, if not all, the most cited SARS-CoV-2 targets to new flexible arrays specifically designed to address virus entry factors, antiviral restriction factors, and immune signaling mediators.
Download our solutions brochure to learn more about all our gene expression and genetic variation solutions for your SARS-CoV-2 research.
Webinar Series: Accelerating your SARS-CoV-2 research
Gaining a deeper understanding of pathogen biology and answering questions regarding the virus–host interaction is critical in learning how to control it and future variants. Knowing the tools and solutions available to make this potentially life‑saving research more efficient can help you get to those answers faster.
Grab a cup of coffee and watch the following two on‑demand webinars focused on SARS‑CoV‑2 research:
Webinar 1: SARS CoV 2 pathogenesis and host response: Where are we in our understanding of this virus?
Speaker:
Dr. Archana Gupta
Staff Scientist, Applications,
Genetic Sciences, Thermo Fisher Scientific
Dr. Gupta has a PhD in immunology and microbiology with research
expertise in chronic diseases emerging from virus infections.
Webinar 2: Curated TaqMan solutions to accelerate your SARS‑COV‑2 research
Speaker:
Phillip Kilgas
Product Manager, Gene Expression Assays and Arrays
Genetic Sciences—qPCR, Thermo Fisher Scientific
Phillip has a BS in neuroscience with extended studies in medical physics.
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.
- V’kovski P, Kratzel A, Steiner S, Stalder H, Thiel V. Coronavirus biology and replication: implications for SARS-CoV-2. Nat Rev Microbiol. Published online October 28, 2020:1-16. doi:10.1038/s41579-020-00468-6
- Zhang L, Jackson CB, Mou H, et al. The D614G mutation in the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein reduces S1 shedding and increases infectivity. bioRxiv. Published online June 12, 2020. doi:10.1101/2020.06.12.148726
- Cheng MH, Zhang S, Porritt RA, Arditi M, Bahar I. An insertion unique to SARS-CoV-2 exhibits superantigenic character strengthened by recent mutations. bioRxiv. Published online May 21, 2020. doi:10.1101/2020.05.21.109272
- Pang J, Boshier FAT, Alders N, Dixon G, Breuer J. SARS-CoV-2 Polymorphisms and Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children. Pediatrics. 2020;146(6). doi:10.1542/peds.2020-019844
- Morales L, Oliveros JC, Fernandez-Delgado R, tenOever BR, Enjuanes L, Sola I. SARS-CoV-Encoded Small RNAs Contribute to Infection-Associated Lung Pathology. Cell Host Microbe. 2017;21(3):344-355. doi:10.1016/j.chom.2017.01.015
- Mirzaei R, Mahdavi F, Badrzadeh F, et al. The emerging role of microRNAs in the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Int Immunopharmacol. 2021;90:107204. doi:10.1016/j.intimp.2020.107204
- Khan MA-A-K, Sany MRU, Islam MS, Islam ABMMK. Epigenetic Regulator miRNA Pattern Differences Among SARS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2, and SARS-CoV-2 World-Wide Isolates Delineated the Mystery Behind the Epic Pathogenicity and Distinct Clinical Characteristics of Pandemic COVID-19. Front Genet. 2020;11. doi:10.3389/fgene.2020.00765
- Bartoszewski R, Dabrowski M, Jakiela B, et al. SARS-CoV-2 may regulate cellular responses through depletion of specific host miRNAs. Am J Physiol-Lung Cell Mol Physiol. 2020;319(3):L444-L455. doi:10.1152/ajplung.00252.2020
- Singh M, Bansal V, Feschotte C. A Single-Cell RNA Expression Map of Human Coronavirus Entry Factors. Cell Rep. 2020;32(12):108175. doi:10.1016/j.celrep.2020.108175
- Shang J, Wan Y, Luo C, et al. Cell entry mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2. Proc Natl Acad Sci. 2020;117(21):11727-11734. doi:10.1073/pnas.2003138117
- Yang J, Petitjean SJL, Koehler M, et al. Molecular interaction and inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 binding to the ACE2 receptor. Nat Commun. 2020;11(1):4541. doi:10.1038/s41467-020-18319-6
- Hoffmann M, Kleine-Weber H, Schroeder S, et al. SARS-CoV-2 Cell Entry Depends on ACE2 and TMPRSS2 and Is Blocked by a Clinically Proven Protease Inhibitor. Cell. 2020;181(2):271-280.e8. doi:10.1016/j.cell.2020.02.052
- Hou YJ, Okuda K, Edwards CE, et al. SARS-CoV-2 Reverse Genetics Reveals a Variable Infection Gradient in the Respiratory Tract. Cell. 2020;182(2):429-446.e14. doi:10.1016/j.cell.2020.05.042
- Zang R, Gomez Castro MF, McCune BT, et al. TMPRSS2 and TMPRSS4 promote SARS-CoV-2 infection of human small intestinal enterocytes. Sci Immunol. 2020;5(47):eabc3582. doi:10.1126/sciimmunol.abc3582
- Cantuti-Castelvetri L, Ojha R, Pedro LD, et al. Neuropilin-1 facilitates SARS-CoV-2 cell entry and infectivity. Science. 2020;370(6518):856-860. doi:10.1126/science.abd2985
- Martin-Sancho L, Lewinski MK, Pache L, et al. Functional Landscape of SARS-CoV-2 Cellular Restriction. :29.
- Zang R, Case JB, Yutuc E, et al. Cholesterol 25-hydroxylase suppresses SARS-CoV-2 replication by blocking membrane fusion. Proc Natl Acad Sci. 2020;117(50):32105-32113. doi:10.1073/pnas.2012197117
- Pfaender S, Mar KB, Michailidis E, et al. LY6E impairs coronavirus fusion and confers immune control of viral disease. bioRxiv. Published online March 7, 2020:2020.03.05.979260. doi:10.1101/2020.03.05.979260
- Nchioua R, Kmiec D, Müller JA, et al. SARS-CoV-2 Is Restricted by Zinc Finger Antiviral Protein despite Preadaptation to the Low-CpG Environment in Humans. Luban J, Goff SP, eds. mBio. 2020;11(5):e01930-20, /mbio/11/5/mBio.01930-20.atom. doi:10.1128/mBio.01930-20
- Mathew D, Giles JR, Baxter AE, et al. Deep immune profiling of COVID-19 patients reveals distinct immunotypes with therapeutic implications. Science. 2020;369(6508). doi:10.1126/science.abc8511
- Brest P, Refae S, Mograbi B, Hofman P, Milano G. Host Polymorphisms May Impact SARS-CoV-2 Infectivity. Trends Genet TIG. 2020;36(11):813-815. doi:10.1016/j.tig.2020.08.003
- Hashizume M, Gonzalez G, Ono C, Takashima A, Iwasaki M. Population-Specific ACE2 Single-Nucleotide Polymorphisms Have Limited Impact on SARS-CoV-2 Infectivity In Vitro. Viruses. 2021;13(1):67. doi:10.3390/v13010067
- Pierce JB, Simion V, Icli B, Pérez-Cremades D, Cheng HS, Feinberg MW. Computational Analysis of Targeting SARS-CoV-2, Viral Entry Proteins ACE2 and TMPRSS2, and Interferon Genes by Host MicroRNAs. Genes. 2020;11(11):1354. doi:10.3390/genes11111354
- Lu D, Chatterjee S, Xiao K, et al. MicroRNAs targeting the SARS-CoV-2 entry receptor ACE2 in cardiomyocytes. J Mol Cell Cardiol. 2020;148:46-49. doi:10.1016/j.yjmcc.2020.08.017
- Matarese A, Gambardella J, Sardu C, Santulli G. miR-98 Regulates TMPRSS2 Expression in Human Endothelial Cells: Key Implications for COVID-19. Biomedicines. 2020;8(11). doi:10.3390/biomedicines8110462
- Mehta P, McAuley DF, Brown M, Sanchez E, Tattersall RS, Manson JJ. COVID-19: consider cytokine storm syndromes and immunosuppression. The Lancet. 2020;395(10229):1033-1034. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30628-0
- Wang D, Hu B, Hu C, et al. Clinical Characteristics of 138 Hospitalized Patients With 2019 Novel Coronavirus–Infected Pneumonia in Wuhan, China. JAMA. 2020;323(11):1061. doi:10.1001/jama.2020.1585
- Huang C, Wang Y, Li X, et al. Clinical features of patients infected with 2019 novel coronavirus in Wuhan, China. The Lancet. 2020;395(10223):497-506. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30183-5
- Olagnier D, Farahani E, Thyrsted J, et al. SARS-CoV2-mediated suppression of NRF2-signaling reveals potent antiviral and anti-inflammatory activity of 4-octyl-itaconate and dimethyl fumarate. Nat Commun. 2020;11(1):4938. doi:10.1038/s41467-020-18764-3
- Karlsson AC, Humbert M, Buggert M. The known unknowns of T cell immunity to COVID-19. Sci Immunol. 2020;5(53). doi:10.1126/sciimmunol.abe8063
- Hariharan A, Hakeem AR, Radhakrishnan S, Reddy MS, Rela M. The Role and Therapeutic Potential of NF-kappa-B Pathway in Severe COVID-19 Patients. Inflammopharmacology. Published online November 7, 2020:1-10. doi:10.1007/s10787-020-00773-9
- Costela-Ruiz VJ, Illescas-Montes R, Puerta-Puerta JM, Ruiz C, Melguizo-Rodríguez L. SARS-CoV-2 infection: The role of cytokines in COVID-19 disease. Cytokine Growth Factor Rev. 2020;54:62-75. doi:10.1016/j.cytogfr.2020.06.001
- Wang F, Huang S, Gao R, et al. Initial whole-genome sequencing and analysis of the host genetic contribution to COVID-19 severity and susceptibility. Cell Discov. 2020;6(1):1-16. doi:10.1038/s41421-020-00231-4
- Mukhopadhyay D, Mussa BM. Identification of Novel Hypothalamic MicroRNAs as Promising Therapeutics for SARS-CoV-2 by Regulating ACE2 and TMPRSS2 Expression: An In Silico Analysis. Brain Sci. 2020;10(10):666. doi:10.3390/brainsci10100666
- El-Nabi SH, Elhiti M, El-Sheekh M. A new approach for COVID-19 treatment by micro-RNA. Med Hypotheses. 2020;143:110203. doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2020.110203
- Sabbatinelli J, Giuliani A, Matacchione G, et al. Decreased serum levels of the inflammaging marker miR-146a are associated with clinical non-response to tocilizumab in COVID-19 patients. Mech Ageing Dev. 2021;193:111413. doi:10.1016/j.mad.2020.111413
- Sallard E, Lescure F-X, Yazdanpanah Y, Mentre F, Peiffer-Smadja N. Type 1 interferons as a potential treatment against COVID-19. Antiviral Res. 2020;178:104791. doi:10.1016/j.antiviral.2020.104791
- Ye Q, Wang B, Mao J. The pathogenesis and treatment of the `Cytokine Storm’ in COVID-19. J Infect. 2020;80(6):607-613. doi:10.1016/j.jinf.2020.03.037
- Pan Y, Liu L, Tian T, et al. Epicutaneous immunization with modified vaccinia Ankara viral vectors generates superior T cell immunity against a respiratory viral challenge. Npj Vaccines. 2021;6(1):1-9. doi:10.1038/s41541-020-00265-5
- Tostanoski LH, Wegmann F, Martinot AJ, et al. Ad26 vaccine protects against SARS-CoV-2 severe clinical disease in hamsters. Nat Med. 2020;26(11):1694-1700. doi:10.1038/s41591-020-1070-6
- Lack of Reinfection in Rhesus Macaques Infected with SARS-CoV-2 | bioRxiv. Accessed February 11, 2021. https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.03.13.990226v2
Resources
SARS-CoV-2 research solutions
qPCR resources
For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.