Rapid reconstruction of SARS-CoV-2 using a synthetic genomics platform

Tran Thi Nhu Thao, Fabien Labroussaa, Nadine Ebert, Philip V’kovski, Hanspeter Stalder, Jasmine Portmann, Jenna Kelly, Silvio Steiner, Melle Holwerda, Annika Kratzel, Mitra Gultom, Kimberly Schmied, Laura Laloli, Linda Hüsser, Manon Wider, Stephanie Pfaender, Dagny Hirt, Valentina Cippà, Silvia Crespo-Pomar, Simon Schröder, Doreen Muth, Daniela Niemeyer, Victor Corman, Marcel A. Müller, Christian Drosten, Ronald Dijkman, Joerg Jores & Volker Thiel

Reverse genetics has been an indispensable tool revolutionising the insights into viral pathogenesis and vaccine development. A yeast-based synthetic genomics platform for the genetic reconstruction of diverse RNA viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, is presented. This “one-week” system allows a rapid response to emerging viruses, and enables the generation and functional characterization of evolving RNA virus variants - in real-time - during an outbreak.

Published May 2020 in Nature