Preliminary application of a coronavirus pseudovirus system

Abstract

Aim: The preparation of a VSVΔG*-S pseudovirus carrying the spike (S) protein of SARS-CoV-2 and its preliminary application. Materials & methods: 293T cells were transfected with pCAGGS-SARS-2-S and infected with VSVΔG viruses. The VSVΔG*-S pseudovirus was collected by centrifugation. The pseudovirus was used to investigate the neutralization ability of serum from SARS-CoV-2 patients and the ability of peptides to inhibit the virus. Results: A VSVΔG*-S pseudovirus was successfully prepared. Patient serum and peptides could neutralize the pseudovirus infection as determined by measuring the expression of GFP. Conclusion: This pseudovirus system can be used to screen polypeptides and fusion inhibitors and measure neutralizing activity, which will benefit the study of SARS-CoV-2.