COVID-19 Response
With the rapid spread of SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19, around the globe and a long-term horizon for the development of a vaccine, it is imperative that we rapidly deploy therapeutic agents to stop the viral propagation.
We are developing a human 3D airway screening platform to identify agents with antiviral activity.
This platform is based on zPREDICTA’s tissue reconstruction technology that incorporates the tissue-specific extracellular matrix (ECM) and cellular components to replicate the tissue architecture and its biology outside the human body.
If you have new anti-SARS-CoV-2 compounds to screen or want to test repurposed therapeutics, please reach out to us.
Requirements for SARS-CoV-2 cell culture model
Human: expression of human ACE2 (hACE2) receptor is required for viral entry
Respiratory tract cells: tracheal, bronchial, and alveolar epithelium express hACE2
Airway epithelium: ciliated epithelial cells connected by tight junctions express hACE2
Characteristics of zPREDICTA’s r-Lung-SARS-CoV-2 model
*r-Lung-SARS-CoV-2 model set-up in 12, 24, and 96 well formats
Air-liquid interphase (ALI): mimics human airway architecture
r-Lung ECM: ECM reconstructing the microenvironment of the human alveolar space
Interstitial ECM: ECM reconstructing the microenvironment of the interstitial space
Ciliated epithelium: airway cells connected by tight junctions into an epithelial sheet with cilia formed on the apical surface (facing the air compartment); once formed, these ciliated epithelial cells express human ACE2 receptors
Interstitial fibroblasts: stromal fibroblasts found in the interstitial space
Inflammatory/immune compartment: immune cells capable of mounting an inflammatory response
r-Lung-SARS-CoV-2 model was set-up in the presence and absence of r-Lung ECM and the formation of tight junctions and cilia were evaluated. In the presence of the r-Lung ECM, both tight junctions and cilia were evident as early as day 6 of culture, while neither formed in the absence of r-Lung ECM.
