Quantification of Ha-CoV-2 Variants and 27BV Neutralization Activity Against Ha-CoV-2(Luc) Variants

Begin by maintaining HEK-293T ACE2 TMPRSS2 cells in DMEM containing heated activated FBS, penicillin, and streptomycin in a T75 flask. For cell counting, mix 20 microliters of cell suspension with 20 microliters of Trypan Blue solution. Add 20 microliters of dye-mixed cell suspension to the cell counting chamber, and count the number of cells per milliliter.

Seed 2.5 times 10 to the power of four HEK-293T ACE2 TMPRSS2 cells in 50 microliters of complete DMEM medium into each well of a 96-well plate. Incubate the cells in a carbon dioxide incubator overnight at 37 degrees Celsius. The next day, replace the 50 microliters of DMEM with 50 microliters of virus suspension, and incubate for 18 hours at 37 degrees Celsius.

After incubation, add 7.5 microliters of cell lysis buffer to each well, and mix on an orbital shaker for two minutes. Once the cells are lysed, add freshly prepared firefly luciferase assay solution, and mix them on an orbital shaker for one minute. Analyze the luciferase activity by using a commercial luciferase microplate reader.

For neutralizing antibody assay, seed HEK-293T cells in 50 microliters of complete DMEM as demonstrated previously. In a 96-well plate, add eight microliters of 27 BV neutralizing antibody, and perform serial dilutions with six microliters of serum-free DMEM. Add 54 microliters of Ha-CoV-2 virus particle to the serially diluted antibody, and mix the suspension.

Incubate for one hour at 37 degrees Celsius in 5%carbon dioxide. Then add 50 microliters of virus suspension to the wells containing HEK-293T cells. For controls, add 50 microliters of complete DMEM medium into the wells containing only HEK-293T cells.

Place the plate in an incubator at 37 degrees Celsius for 18 hours. After lysing the cells as demonstrated previously, add freshly prepared firefly luciferase assay solution, and mix by orbital shaking for one minute. Analyze the luciferase activity by using a commercial luciferase microplate reader.

Ha-CoV-2 Omicron and Omicron variants generated four to tenfold higher signal than the Wild-type Ha-CoV-2, suggesting higher infectivity. The antibody 27 BV demonstrated neutralizing activity against both Delta and Omicron variants. The ID50 of 27 BV for Omicron was approximately 10 times less potent than the ID50 for Wild-type and Delta.