COVID-19

Circulation of SARS-CoV-2 in the global population led to the emergence of new variants threatening to undermine vaccine effectiveness. Understanding the immune response and its neutralizing abilities at both the patient level and globally could not only help prevent outbreaks but also mitigate the outcome for future pandemics.

Two years into the COVID-19 pandemic, trends point to a transition for the SARS-CoV-2 virus into an endemic agent. As major surveillance infrastructure scales back, it will be critical to maintain a cost-effective, simple, and rapid strategy for detecting and monitoring the spread of new variants. The key to such a strategy? Wastewater, where all disease agents leave their unique signature.

Wastewater-based epidemiology indirectly monitors infection rates in a community based on pathogen levels in local wastewater. Because symptomatic and asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infected individuals shed viral RNA in sewer systems, analysis of SARS-CoV-2 in sewage networks can provide information about SARS-CoV-2 infections within the community. However, the accuracy of these data depends on the quality of the wastewater testing method. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Droplet Digital PCR has proven that it has the sensitivity needed to detect outbreaks and monitor SARS-CoV-2 variants in communities via wastewater testing.

Although vaccines have helped alleviate the negative impact of COVID-19, its persistence across many areas of the globe reveals a continuous need for rapid, accurate, and economical COVID-19 testing. But is it even possible to isolate and detect viral RNA rapidly and economically? Here we highlight a repurposed tool for improved COVID-19 detection: Chelex 100 Resin and the related InstaGene Matrix for rapid, cost-effective viral RNA preservation and detection.

With COVID-19 vaccines now widely available, case numbers in many areas are falling. But the question remains: How long does vaccine-induced immunity last? Measuring isotype-specific antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 and the effectiveness of neutralizing antibodies against variants can help us better understand the duration and breadth of the humoral response. These data are critical to aid public health researchers and inform development decisions for vaccines and therapeutics. Read about the new Bio-Plex Pro Human SARS-CoV-2 Variant Neutralization Antibody 11-Plex Panel.

Precision diagnostics for cancer. COVID-19 surveillance in wastewater. Quality control of cell and gene therapies. These were just a few of the cutting-edge applications on display at the Droplet Digital PCR (ddPCR) World 2021 symposium. Recapping the event in 5 takeaways, moderator Francisco Bizouarn shares how international experts are leveraging ddPCR technology to solve today’s scientific and public health problems.

The ability to characterize the target of cell-mediated immune response is crucial during vaccine development. In studying the characterization of SARS-CoV-2 infection pathogenesis in humans, a research team identified neutralizing antibodies that provided context for vaccine antigen design. Discover how the ZE5 Cell Analyzer was used to detect activation-induced markers, measure intracellular cytokines, and identify spike protein–specific antibodies in a rapid, high-throughput manner.

Meet our newest product supporting the fight against SARS-CoV-2: the Bio-Plex Pro Human IgG SARS-CoV-2 N/RBD/S1/S2 4-Plex Panel. This qualitative multiplex immunoassay kit quickly and efficiently detects IgG antibodies against four SARS-CoV-2 antigens (nucleocapsid, receptor binding domain, spike 1, and spike 2).

Bio-Rad is proud to introduce our new RT-PCR testing kits for COVID-19. These all-in-one kits are designed for sensitive, specific detection of SARS-CoV-2 alone, or simultaneous detection of SARS-CoV-2, influenza A, and influenza B. Read on to learn about each kit’s features.

Multiple publications report variation in the duration of acquired immunity to SARS-CoV-2. In this webinar, Bio-Rad scientists review these reports and discuss factors that influence longevity of acquired immunity. Learn about the mechanisms behind acquired immunity and how cytokine and chemokine activity, preexisting conditions, and more can affect immunity duration.