Miltenyi Biotec, Bergisch Gladbach, Germany, has launched the SARS-CoV-2 PepTivator peptide pools, a new addition to its PepTivator portfolio specifically developed to help researchers investigating covid-19.
SARS-CoV-2 PepTivator peptide pools work by stimulating T cells specific to the novel coronavirus, which allows subsequent detection, isolation, and further downstream research. Three different peptide pools will be available, each covering the sequence of one SARS‑CoV‑2 protein: the spike glycoprotein, nucleocapsid phosphoprotein, and membrane glycoprotein.
“Rapidly yet meticulously developed in response to the unfolding crisis, the SARS-CoV-2 PepTivator peptide pools cover the sequence of major SARS-CoV-2 proteins,” says Olaf Brauns, Dr rer nat, group leader in the R&D peptides department at Miltenyi Biotec. “Miltenyi Biotec is committed to assisting researchers in getting to the bottom of covid-19, and we’re proud to be able to add this new tool to our existing portfolio of instruments, reagents, and other scientific resources to further this endeavor.”
PepTivator peptide pools consist of mainly 15-mer amino acid chains, usually spanning the complete sequence of a particular virus-, tumor-, or auto-antigen with 11-aminoacid overlaps. An exception is the PepTivator SARS-CoV-2 Prot_S pool, which covers the immunodominant sequence domains of the SARS-CoV-2 S protein. The amino acid chains bind to MHC class I as well as MHC class II complexes, and are thus suitable for the antigen-specific stimulation of CD4 and CD8 T cells.
All PepTivator SARS-CoV-2 products are currently available in research-grade quality and in two sizes: 6 nmol and 60 nmol per peptide per vial. The smaller size is sufficient to stimulate up to 10⁸ cells, while the larger is sufficient to stimulate up to 10⁹ cells.
For more information, visit Miltenyi Biotec.
