The glycoprotein (G protein) of VSV is responsible for the attachment and entry of VSV into a susceptible host cell and is therefore essential for virus infectivity. To identify and dissect the signals required for the replication and assembly of VSV, a "reverse genetics" system has been developed in which the G protein of VSV has been deleted (rVSV-ΔG). rVSV-ΔG has been used to produce VSV pseudovirus containing the envelope glycoproteins of heterologous viruses including viruses that require high-level containment (e.g., ebola viruses, SARS coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, MERS coronavirus, etc.).
Studying how coronavirus uses its S protein to enter host cells is important for developing prophylactic and therapeutic regimes. However, the use of live virus is technically challenging in cases of dangerous strains such as SARS-CoV-2, as it requires biosafety level 3 (BSL-3) labs that are not available to most researchers. An alternative approach is to use recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) pseudotyped with the coronavirus S protein in cell entry assays.
Pseudotyped VSV-SARS-CoV-2 S-ΔG encodes the antigenomic-sense (or positive-sense) RNA of a replicaton-restricted recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus (rVSV) in which the glycoprotein (G) gene has been replaced with SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. The pseudotype VSV particles encode reporter gene (mCherry/GFP/Luciferase) together with the VSV nucleocapsid (N), phosphoprotein (P), and large polymerase subunit (L) in their pVSV-ΔG vector. When the VSV pseudovirus infect the target cells, reporter gene expression is proportional to the number of cells that were infected.
Fig. 1 Pseudotyped rVSV-ΔG-spike design and generation strategy
Infectivity determined in ACE2/293T using serial dilutions of Pseudotyped VSV-SARS-CoV-2 S-ΔG in a 96-well plate:
Pseudovirus Input (uL)
| Cat# | Product Name | Reporter Gene | Envelope Glycoproteins | |
| COV-PSV10 | Pseudotyped VSV-SARS-CoV-2 S-ΔG-mCherry | mCherry | SARS-CoV-2 Spike (Wuhan-Hu-1) | Inquiry |
| COV-PSV11 | Pseudotyped VSV-SARS-CoV-2 S-ΔG-EGFP | GFP | SARS-CoV-2 Spike (Wuhan-Hu-1) | Inquiry |
| COV-PSV12 | Pseudotyped VSV-SARS-CoV-2 S-ΔG-Luciferase | Luciferase | SARS-CoV-2 Spike (Wuhan-Hu-1) | Inquiry |
Pseudotyped Luciferase/GFP VSV is designed as a control for CD's Pseudotyped Luciferase/GFP rSARS-CoV-2 Spike to test for non-specific factors that affect virus infectivity. The Pseudovirus display the VSV envelope glycoprotein (VSV-G) pseudotyped on replication-incompetent virus particles that contain a heterologous lentiviral (HIV) core. The VSV-G protein confers the pseudovirus with a high level of single cycle infectivity due to its broad tropism.
| Cat# | Product Name | Reporter Gene | Envelope Glycoproteins | |
| VSV-PS01 | Pseudotyped Luciferase VSV | Luciferase | VSV-G | Inquiry |
| VSV-PS02 | Pseudotyped GFP VSV | GFP | VSV-G | Inquiry |
| Cat. No. | SARS-CoV-2 / Variant | WHO | Mutations | |
| COV-PSV40 | Pseudotyped VSV-SARS-CoV-2 S-ΔG-Luciferase (Omicron variant, XBB.1) | Omicron | T19I, Δ24-26, A27S, V83A, G142D, Δ144, H146Q, Q183E, V213E, G252V, G339H, R346T, L368I, S371F, S373P, S375F, T376A, D405N, R408S, K417N, N440K, V445P, G446S, N460S, S477N, T478K, E484A, F486S, F490S, Q498R, N501Y, Y505H, D614G, H655Y, N679K, P681H, N764K, D796Y, Q954H, N969K | Inquiry |
| COV-PSV41 | Pseudotyped VSV-SARS-CoV-2 S-ΔG-Luciferase (Omicron variant, XBB.1.5) | Omicron | T19I, Δ24-26, A27S, V83A, G142D, Δ144, H146Q, Q183E, V213E, G252V, G339H, R346T, L368I, S371F, S373P, S375F, T376A, D405N, R408S, K417N, N440K, V445P, G446S, N460S, S477N, T478K, E484A, F486P, F490S, Q498R, N501Y, Y505H, D614G, H655Y, N679K, P681H, N764K, D796Y, Q954H, N969K | Inquiry |
| COV-PSV30 | Pseudotyped VSV-SARS-CoV-2 S-ΔG-Luciferase (Omicron variant, BA.2.13) | Omicron | T19I, Δ24-26, A27S, G142D, V213G, G339D, S371F, S373P, S375F, T376A, D405N, R408S, K417N, N440K, S477N, L452Q, T478K, E484A, Q493R, Q498R, N501Y, Y505H, D614G, H655Y, N679K, P681H, N764K, D796Y, Q954H, N969K | Inquiry |
| COV-PSV31 | Pseudotyped VSV-SARS-CoV-2 S-ΔG-Luciferase (Omicron variant, BA.2.75) | Omicron | T19I, Δ24-26, A27S, G142D, K147E, W152R, F157L, I210V, V213G, G257S, G339H, S371F, S373P, S375F, T376A, D405N, R408S, K417N, N440K, G446S, N460K, S477N, T478K, E484A, Q498R, N501Y, Y505H, D614G, H655Y, N679K, P681H, N764K, D796Y, Q954H, N969K | Inquiry |
| COV-PSV32 | Pseudotyped VSV-SARS-CoV-2 S-ΔG-Luciferase (Omicron variant, BA.2.38) | Omicron | T19I, Δ24-26, A27S, G142D, V213G, G339D, S371F, S373P, S375F, T376A, D405N, R408S, K417T, N440K, S477N, T478K, E484A, Q493R, Q498R, N501Y, Y505H, D614G, H655Y, N679K, P681H, N764K, D796Y, Q954H, N969K | Inquiry |
| COV-PSV33 | Pseudotyped VSV-SARS-CoV-2 S-ΔG-Luciferase (Omicron variant, BA.2.76) | Omicron | T19I, Δ24-26, A27S, G142D, V213G, Y248N, G339D, R346T, S371F, S373P, S375F, T376A, D405N, R408S, K417N, N440K, S477N, T478K, E484A, Q493R, Q498R, N501Y, Y505H, D614G, H655Y, N679K, P681H, N764K, D796Y, Q954H, N969K | Inquiry |
| COV-PSV34 | Pseudotyped VSV-SARS-CoV-2 S-ΔG-Luciferase (Omicron variant, BA.4.6) | Omicron | T19I, A27S, Δ69-70, G142D, V213G, G339D, R346T, S371F, S373P, S375F, T376A, D405N, R408S, K417N, N440K, L452R, S477N, T478K, E484A, F486V, Q498R, N501Y, Y505H, D614G, H655Y, N658S, N679K, P681H, N764K, D796Y, Q954H, N969K | Inquiry |
| COV-PSV35 | Pseudotyped VSV-SARS-CoV-2 S-ΔG-Luciferase (Omicron variant, BF.7) | Omicron | T19I, A27S, Δ69-70, G142D, V213G, G339D, R346T, S371F, S373P, S375F, T376A, D405N, R408S, K417N, N440K, L452R, S477N, T478K, E484A, F486V, Q498R, N501Y, Y505H, D614G, H655Y, N679K, P681H, N764K, D796Y, Q954H, N969K | Inquiry |
| COV-PSV36 | Pseudotyped VSV-SARS-CoV-2 S-ΔG-Luciferase (Omicron variant, XBB) | Omicron | T19I, Δ24-26, A27S, V83A, G142D, Δ144, H146Q, Q183E, V213E, G339H, R346T, L368I, S371F, S373P, S375F, T376A, D405N, R408S, K417N, N440K, V445P, G446S, N460S, S477N, T478K, E484A, F486S, F490S, Q498R, N501Y, Y505H, D614G, H655Y, N679K, P681H, N764K, D796Y, Q954H, N969K | Inquiry |
| COV-PSV37 | Pseudotyped VSV-SARS-CoV-2 S-ΔG-Luciferase (Omicron variant, BQ.1) | Omicron | T19I, Δ69-70, A27S, G142D, V213G, G339D, S371F, S373P, S375F, T376A, D405N, R408S, K417N, N440K, K444T, L452R, N460K, S477N, T478K, E484A, F486V, Q498R, N501Y, Y505H, D614G, H655Y, N679K, P681H, N764K, D796Y, Q954H, N969K | Inquiry |
| COV-PSV38 | Pseudotyped VSV-SARS-CoV-2 S-ΔG-Luciferase (Omicron variant, BQ.1.1) | Omicron | T19I, Δ69-70, A27S, G142D, V213G, G339D, R346T, S371F, S373P, S375F, T376A, D405N, R408S, K417N, N440K, K444T, L452R, N460K, S477N, T478K, E484A, F486V, Q498R, N501Y, Y505H, D614G, H655Y, N679K, P681H, N764K, D796Y, Q954H, N969K | Inquiry |
| COV-PSV39 | Pseudotyped VSV-SARS-CoV-2 S-ΔG-Luciferase (Omicron variant, BA.2.75.2) | Omicron | T19I, Δ24-26, A27S, G142D, K147E, W152R, F157L, I210V, V213G, G257S, G339H, R346T, S371F, S373P, S375F, T376A, D405N, R408S, K417N, N440K, G446S, N460K, F486S, S477N, T478K, E484A, Q498R, N501Y, Y505H, D614G, H655Y, N679K, P681H, N764K, D796Y, Q954H, N969K, D1199N | Inquiry |
| COV-PSV26 | Pseudotyped VSV-SARS-CoV-2 S-ΔG-Luciferase (Omicron variant, BA.1.1) | Omicron | A67V, Δ69-70, T95I, G142D, Δ143-145, Δ211, L212I, G339D, R346K, S371L, S373P, S375F, K417N, N440K, G446S, S477N, T478K, E484A, Q493R, G496S, Q498R, N501Y, Y505H, T547K, D614G, H655Y, N679K, P681H, N764K, D796Y, N856K, Q954H, N969K, L981F | Inquiry |
| COV-PSV27 | Pseudotyped VSV-SARS-CoV-2 S-ΔG-Luciferase (Omicron variant, BA.2.12.1) | Omicron | T19I, L24S, Δ25-27, G142D, V213G, G339D, S371F, S373P, S375F, T376A, D405N, R408S, K417N, N440K, L452Q, S477N, T478K, E484A, Q493R, Q498R, N501Y, Y505H, D614G, H655Y, N679K, P681H, S704L, N764K, D796Y, Q954H, N969K | Inquiry |
| COV-PSV28 | Pseudotyped VSV-SARS-CoV-2 S-ΔG-Luciferase (Omicron variant, BA.3) | Omicron | A67V, Δ69-70, T95I, G142D, Δ143-145, N211I, Δ212, G339D, N440K, S477N, T478K, E484A, Q493R, Q498R, N501Y, Y505H, D614G, H655Y, N679K, P681H, N764K, D796Y, Q954H, N969K | Inquiry |
| COV-PSV29 | Pseudotyped VSV-SARS-CoV-2 S-ΔG-Luciferase (Omicron variant, BA.4/BA.5) | Omicron | T19I, LPPA24S, HV69del, G142D, V213G, G339D, S371F, S373P, S375F, T376A, D405N, R408S, K417N, N440K, L452R, S477N, T478K, E484A, F486V, Q498R, N501Y, Y505H, D614G, H655Y, N679K, P681H, N764K, D796Y, Q954H, N969K | Inquiry |
| COV-PSV25 | Pseudotyped VSV-SARS-CoV-2 S-ΔG-Luciferase (Omicron variant, BA.2) | Omicron | T19I, L24S, del25-27, G142D, V213G, G339D, S371F, S373P, S375F, T376A, D405N, R408S, K417N, N440K, S477N, T478K, E484A, Q493R, Q498R, N501Y, Y505H, D614G, H655Y, N679K, P681H, N764K, D796Y, Q954H, N969K | Inquiry |
| COV-PSV24 | Pseudotyped VSV-SARS-CoV-2 S-ΔG-Luciferase (Omicron variant, B.1.1.529) | Omicron | A67V, Δ69-70, T95I, G142D/Δ143-145, Δ211/L212I, ins214EPE, G339D, S371L, S373P, S375F, K417N, N440K, G446S, S477N, T478K, E484A, Q493R, G496S, Q498R, N501Y, Y505H, T547K, D614G, H655Y, N679K, P681H, N764K, D796Y, N856K, Q954H, N969K, L981F | Inquiry |
| COV-PSV13 | Pseudotyped VSV-SARS-CoV-2 S-ΔG-Luciferase (D614G) | ——— | D614G | Inquiry |
| COV-PSV14 | Pseudotyped VSV-SARS-CoV-2 S-ΔG-Luciferase (Indian variant B.1.617.1, Kappa) | Kappa | G142D, E154K, L452R, E484Q, D614G, P681R, Q1071H | Inquiry |
| COV-PSV15 | Pseudotyped VSV-SARS-CoV-2 S-ΔG-Luciferase (Indian variant B.1.617.2, Delta) | Delta | T19R, G142D, del156/157, R158G, L452R, T478K, D614G, P681R, D950N | Inquiry |
| COV-PSV16 | Pseudotyped VSV-SARS-CoV-2 S-ΔG-Luciferase (C.37, Lambda) | Lambda | G75V, T76I, R246N, del247-253, L452Q, F490S, D614G, T859N | Inquiry |
| COV-PSV17 | Pseudotyped VSV-SARS-CoV-2 S-ΔG-Luciferase (Brazilian variant P.1, 20J/501Y.V3, Gamma) | Gamma | ΔH69/V70, ΔY144, N501Y, A570D, D614G, P681H, T716I, S982A, D1118H | Inquiry |
| COV-PSV18 | Pseudotyped VSV-SARS-CoV-2 S-ΔG-Luciferase (South African variant Δ3 B.1.351, 20H/501Y.V2, Beta) | Beta | L18F, D80A, D215G, ΔL242/A243/L244, R246I, K417N, N501Y, E484K, D614G, A701V | Inquiry |
| COV-PSV19 | Pseudotyped VSV-SARS-CoV-2 S-ΔG-Luciferase (UK variant B.1.1.7, 20I/501Y.V1, Alpha) | Alpha | ΔH69/V70, ΔY144, N501Y, A570D, D614G, P681H, T716I, S982A, D1118H | Inquiry |
| Cat. No. | Virus | Envelope Glycoproteins |
| COV-PSV20 | SARS-CoV | S spike protein [Gene ID: 1489668] |
| COV-PSV21 | MERS-CoV | S spike protein [Gene ID: 14254594] |
| COV-PSV22 | Human coronavirus OC43 | S spike surface glycoprotein [Gene ID: 39105218] |
| COV-PSV23 | Human coronavirus HKU1 | S spike glycoprotein [Gene ID: 3200426] |
| Gene reporters for pseudotyping | Methodology of detection | Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Pseudotyped ΔG-GFP (G*ΔG-GFP) rVSV | Fluorescence |
Live-cell imaging; Cytotoxicity evaluation; Cells usable for RNA/protein work; Flourescence microscope | - |
| Pseudotyped ΔG-mCherry (G*ΔG-mCherry ) rVSV | Fluorescence |
Live-cell imaging; Cytotoxicity evaluation; Cells usable for RNA/protein work; Flourescence microscope | - |
| Pseudotyped ΔG-Luciferase (G*ΔG-Luciferase) rVSV | Luminescence assay |
Low cost for kits and reagents; Plate reader | Background for pseudoviral infection |
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