Merck launches MILLIPLEX Immunoassays for COVID-19 research
Products are for professional/laboratory use only.
The SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus contains 4 major structural proteins, Spike (S), Nucleocapsid (N), Membrane (M), and Envelope (E). S, M, and E proteins form the viral coat, and the N protein packages the RNA genome. The Spike protein includes three subunits, S1, S2 and the receptor binding domain (RBD). The virus‘ RBD binds to ACE2 receptors of human cells. The virus then enters the cell, takes over the cellular machinery, reproduces, and the viral contagion continues.
After infection, the body’s immune system can mount a defense by producing three major antibody types, immunoglobulin M (IgM), immunoglobulin G (IgG), and immunoglobulin A (IgA). IgM forms the very early response to an infectious agent but also fades more rapidly. IgG response forms somewhat later but can confer a long lasting immunity to an infectious agent. While IgM and IgG are humoral immune responses, IgA is a mucosal immune response. IgA is found in blood plasma and serum.
Performing IgM, IgG, and IgA blood-based serology testing may help identify people who have been exposed to SARS-CoV-2, and who have generated some level of immune response. By testing the response of each immunoglobulin type against specific antigenic regions of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, researchers may further understand the immune response to the virus over the course of infection and recovery from COVID-19.
Here we introduce three separate MILLIPLEX® assays, one for each immunoglobulin type, IgM, IgG and IgA.
- MPHC19SERM185K, MILLIPLEX® SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Panel 1 IgM
- MPHC19SERG185K, MILLIPLEX® SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Panel 1 IgG
- MPHC19SERA185K, MILLIPLEX® SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Panel 1 IgA
Each configurable 4-plex panel allows the researcher to select any or all the following viral antigens:
- SARS-CoV-2 S1
- SARS-CoV-2 S2
- SARS-CoV-2 RBD
- SARS-CoV-2 N
