Coronaviruses are a family of large RNA viruses with size ranging from 26 to 32 kb. These viruses are zoonotic and in humans can cause respiratory infections. As the coronavirus is an RNA virus, it has a relatively high mutation rate resulting in rapid evolution. In December 2019, a new deadly coronavirus known as SARS-CoV-2, which has a high sequence similarity to SARS-CoV, was identified as the cause of the Covid-19 outbreak. Since then, numerous variants of SARS-CoV-2 were reported around the world. Evidence has shown that some S gene mutations have the potential to increase transmissibility by altering the interactions with human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) gene, which serves as a cellular receptor for SARS-CoV-2. It is critical, therefore, to monitor the mutations in the S gene of SARS-CoV-2 viruses.

ScienCell's SARS-CoV-2 S Gene PCR+Sanger Sequencing Kit (SSGPS) provides a convenient and fast way to sequence the entire S gene of SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus in samples. Included in the kit are four amplification primer sets (SSG-1F/1R, 2F/2R, 3F/3R, and 4F/4R, see Figure 1), which can amplify the four regions that together cover the entire SARS-CoV-2 S gene. Linked to each of the amplification primers is a sequencing primer (forward or reverse, see Figure 1), therefore, all four PCR products can be conveniently sequenced by the forward and reverse sequencing primers that are included in the kit.

Figure 1. Primer binding locations on the SARS-CoV-2 S gene.