Modelling SARS-CoV-2 Infection Using iPSCs & Organoids


Joint Webinar (Matrixome, AMSBIO, Ajinomoto, Zenoaq)

Fig. 1. Dr. Takayama (Centre for iPSC Cell Research and Application, Kyoto University, Japan).
In an exciting new study, Dr Kazuo Takayama (CiRA, Kyoto University) has successfully modelled the SARS-CoV-2 life cycle in undifferentiated iPSCs, which were previously uninfectable. This ground breaking research has shown how iPSCs and organoids can be used in COVID-19 drug discovery and to investigate differences in SARS-CoV-2 infection caused by variations in genetic background.
Dr Takayama will be giving a unique insight into this research at the ISSCR Virtual Annual Meeting 2021 on Friday 25th June 12:00-13:00 EDT. Live version will include new, unpublished data from his research. You can find the on demand recording of the talk here on 25th June, 2021.
This talk is presented by AMSBIO in partnership with the manufacturers of StemFit® cell culture media, iMatrix recombinant laminin ECM and STEM-CELLBANKER® cryopreservation solutions, as used in this research. Dr Takayama commented: “Since we used eight ACE2-iPS cell lines in this study, we used a very large volume of StemFit medium and iMatrix ECM. Although many cells are required for COVID-19 drug evaluation, iPS cells cultured with StemFit and iMatrix have a high replication capacity, so that sufficient cell numbers can easily be prepared – and can easily be cryopreserved as required using STEM-CELLBANKER.
Offer includes: StemFit® media (excluding GMP grade) and all CELLBANKER® (including STEM-CELLBANKER®) and Recombinant Laminin iMatrix-511
Rabbit Polyclonal Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Antibody used in Fig 2 is available from AMSBIO.   Speaker Profile: Dr. Kazuo Takayama is a junior associate professor (PI) at Center for iPS cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University. He started his laboratory at CiRA in March 2020, coinciding with the COVID-19 pandemic. He is developing differentiation technology of airway organoids for COVID-19 research. He is also using iPS cell panels to recapitulate individual differences in the symptoms of COVID-19. In this seminar, he will introduce the latest findings and challenges of COVID-19 research utilizing organoids and iPS cells.