In late 2019, a novel coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-9 CoV-2) emerged in Wuhan, the capital of the Chinese province Hubei. Since then, SARS-CoV-2 has 10 been responsible for a worldwide pandemic resulting in over 4 million infections and over 250,000 11 deaths. The pandemic has instigated widespread research related to SARS-CoV-2 and the disease 12 that it causes, COVID-19. Research into this new virus will be facilitated by the availability of clearly 13 described and effective procedures that enable the propagation and quantification of infectious 14 virus. Because work with the virus is recommended to be performed at biosafety level 3, validated 15 methods to effectively inactivate the virus to enable safe study of RNA, DNA and protein from 16 infected cells are also needed. Here, we report methods used to grow SARS-CoV-2 in multiple cell 17 lines and to measure virus infectivity by plaque assay using either agarose or microcrystalline 18 cellulose as an overlay as well as a SARS-CoV-2 specific focus forming assay. We also demonstrate 19 effective inactivation by TRIzol, 10% neutral buffered formalin, beta propiolactone, and heat. 20 cells to characterize viral genome sequences, monitor viral gene expression and genome replication, 43 and to characterize host responses to infection. Removal of intact, virus-infected cells is critical for 44 studies involving microscopy aimed at understanding the SARS-CoV-2:host interplay at the cellular 45 level, and also for high-throughput analysis of the progression of viral replication in response to 46 antivirals. Whole inactivated virus and viral proteins are needed for the development of inactivated 47 whole-virus vaccine preparations and also as a source of antigen for immunoassays.
48To help address these needs and to facilitate SARS-CoV-2 research efforts, we describe here 49 methods for the propagation of SARS-CoV-2 in multiple cell lines. We have also determined a more 50 efficient method for quantifying virus by plaque assay and have developed a SARS-CoV-2-specific 51 focus forming assay which can enhance throughput of assays requiring quantification of viral titers.
52Additionally, we describe validation if methods for the inactivation of SARS-CoV-2 through the use 53 of TRIzol, 10% neutral buffered formalin, beta-propiolactone, and heat. Taken together, the data 54 presented here will serve to provide researchers with a helpful basis of information to aid in their 55 work on SARS-CoV-2. 56 57 2. Materials and Methods 58 2.1 Cells and Virus 59 60 Vero E6 (ATCC# CRL-1586), Calu-3 (ATCC# HTB-55), Caco-2 (ATCC# HTB-37), Huh7, A549 61 (ATCC# CCL-185), and 293T cells were maintained in DMEM (Corning) supplemented with 10% heat 62 inactivated fetal bovine serum (FBS; GIBCO). Cells were kept in a 37°C, 5% CO2 incubator without 63 antibiotics or antimycotics. SARS-CoV-2, strain USA_WA1/2020, was obtained from the World 64 Reference Collection for Emerging Viruses and Arboviruses at the University of Texas Medical 65 Branch-Galveston. 6...