The recent Coronavirus pandemic has led to a rapid response from the viral research and therapeutics community around the world. These research teams need robust and reliable genomic tools to classify and characterize viral samples, and genome engineering tools to build vaccines to help stop the spread of this deadly virus.
Twist’s unique silicon-based DNA writing platform allows for the rapid development of NGS panels for viral detection and characterization of samples, and their Clonal Genes and Gene Fragments allow for quick development of subunit vaccines from one or more antigen-presenting viral genes or peptide sequences, which bypasses the need for scientists to handle live and potentially dangerous pathogens, and minimizes the time needed to clone DNA fragments.
Now Available – Synthetic Controls for Variant Strains Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta (B.1.1.7, B.1.351, P.1 and B.1.617.2)
In response to the ongoing emergence of new SARS-CoV-2 strains, Twist has expanded its Synthetic RNA Control portfolio, adding the following controls that cover the new strains that are rapidly becoming the dominant variants around the world. These highly infectious strains of SARS-CoV-2 exhibit significant changes across their genomes including changes to the spike protein coding region. These changes can render some RT-PCR probes used widely in COVID-19 testing invalid for detection of the S gene.
Twist has added four new Synthetic Controls that cover these variants. The Synthetic RNA Controls provide quality control measures for a wide range of applications including the verification and validation of diagnostic tests of both next-generation sequencing (NGS) and RT-PCR assays.
COVID-19 Antibodies
Antibodies targeting the SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein and human ACE2 have been developed using Twist Biopharma’s variant library generation and screening capabilities. Data and information about these antibodies can be found at the link below.
Comprehensive Viral Research Panel
The Twist Comprehensive Viral Research Panel offers a complete target enrichment solution that allows researchers to quickly identify and characterize novel and highly evolved viruses in a variety of sample types. It covers reference sequences for 3,153 viruses, including 15,488 different strains.
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Respiratory Virus Research Panel
The Twist Respiratory Virus Research Panel allows for detection of multiple viral pathogens from a single sample, detecting as little as 100 copies of viral material per virus. Coupled with analysis by One Codex, researchers can generate reports with viral species identification and create publication-ready visualizations.
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Respiratory Virus Controls
The Twist Respiratory Virus Controls enable investigation into the biology of a broad range of viruses by NGS and qPCR. Included in the panel is a range of variants with comprehensive coverage of full length synthetic virus sequences, enabling distinction between key infectious agents.
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Synthetic SARS-CoV-2 RNA Controls
Positive controls provide quality control measures for the verification and validation for point-of-care diagnostic tests including both next-generation sequencing (NGS) and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assays. Twist offers fully synthetic SARS-CoV-2 RNA controls, available for multiple distinct reference sequences.
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SARS-CoV-2 Research Panels
In addition to the robust RNA standards, Twist also offers Research-Use Only (RUO) target enrichment NGS panels for viral detection and characterization of samples. These panels can be used for environmental monitoring and surveillance testing, while also providing insight into full sequence information for monitoring of viral evolution and strain origin.
Virus Detection
Antibodies for COVID-19 Diagnostic Development
The Twist anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody collection exhibits high binding affinity and specificity to the spike protein of the novel coronavirus. These potent antibodies can be used in the development of a variety of diagnostic testing methods aimed at the detection of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
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NGS for Virus Detection
Next-generation sequencing (NGS) offers high-throughput, specific identification of infections in blood samples. In the case of viral infections, however, obtaining genetic material sufficient for sequencing can be a challenge due to the extremely low levels of virus often present. In these situations, target enrichment which uses DNA-based hybridization probes to isolate specific sequences out of a mixed genomic sample can increase the sensitivity and specificity of NGS-based efforts.
Custom Panels and Kits
Twist has been working with the viral research community to build NGS TE panels to screen for and characterize this novel coronavirus strain. Please contact us to access this panel content or to build a custom panel targeting your specific gene set.
Antibody Development
Antibodies for COVID-19 Therapeutic and Diagnostic Development
The Twist Biopharma team is excited to announce the launch of two panels of antibodies with specificity against SARS-CoV-2 S or human ACE2 proteins. The SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein panel and the ACE2 antibody panel consist of sets of individual recombinant human antibody clones that show very high specificity and binding affinities to their targets with many in the picomolar to nanomolar range.
All antibodies are cloned into human antibody backbones to generate VHH Fc, IgG1 or IgG2 antibodies. The SARS-CoV-2 S panel consists of 32 individual clones, while the human ACE2 proteins panel has 48 individual clones.
Related resources:
- [Product Sheet] Twist anti-SARS-CoV-2 S1 Antibody Panel
- [Product Sheet] Twist anti-ACE2 Antibody Panel
Genes for Vaccine Development
Twist’s unique silicon-based DNA writing platform allows for unprecedented speed and scale of development of customized research tools to address this rapid moving epidemic.
Twist’s double-stranded DNA Gene fragments can be used to create synthetic proteins designed as safe reagents for vaccine research.
Twist also offers Customized Cloned Genes available in a variety of vectors.