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Updated: Aug 31, 2025

High-throughput Confocal Imaging of Quantum Dot-Conjugated SARS-CoV-2 Spike Trimers to Track Binding and Endocytosis in HEK293T Cells
Published on: April 21, 2022
Selective reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography method for the determination of intact SARS-CoV-2
Barry Lorbetskie1, Taryn White1, Marybeth Creskey1
1Separation Sciences and Analytical Biotechnology Laboratory, Biologics and Radiopharmaceutical Drugs Directorate, Health Canada, 251 - Sir Frederick Banting Driveway, Tunney's Pasture, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0L2.
Abstract:
Protein-based vaccines are playing an increasingly important role in the COVID-19 pandemic. As late-stage clinical data are finalized and released, the number of protein-based vaccines expected to enter the market will increase significantly. Most protein-based COVID-19 vaccines are based on the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (S-protein), which plays a major role in viral attachment to human cells and infection. As a result, in order to develop and manufacture quality vaccines consistently, it is imperative to have access to selective and efficient methods for the bioanalytical assessment of S-protein. In this study, samples of recombinant S-protein (hexS-protein) and commercial S-protein were used to develop a selective reversed-phase HPLC (RP-HPLC) method that enabled elution of the intact S-protein monomer as a single peak on a wide pore, C8-bonded chromatographic column. The S-protein subunits, S1 and S2 subunits, were clearly separated from intact S-protein and identified. The results of this study set the foundation for reversed-phase HPLC method development and analysis for selective and efficient separation of S-protein monomer from its subunits.

