Clinical severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 isolation and antiviral testing. (November 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mathez, Gregory; Cagno, Valeria
• Is Part Of: Antiviral chemistry & chemotherapy. Volume 29(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-11
• Subjects: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 -- virus isolation -- antiviral assay -- variant -- plaque assay; Antiviral agents -- Periodicals; Chemotherapy -- Periodicals; 615.7924
• DOI: 10.1177/20402066211061063
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0956-3202

Abstract

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 is an RNA virus currently causing a pandemic. Due to errors during replication, mutations can occur and result in cell adaptation by the virus or in the rise of new variants. This can change the attachment receptors' usage, result in different morphology of plaques, and can affect as well antiviral development. Indeed, a molecule can be active on laboratory strains but not necessarily on circulating strains or be effective only against some viral variants. Experiments with clinical samples with limited cell adaptation should be performed to confirm the efficiency of drugs of interest. In this protocol, we present a method to culture severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 from nasopharyngeal swabs, obtain a high viral titer while limiting cell adaptation, and assess antiviral efficiency.