The CleanPlex® ACE2 & TMPRSS2 Panel is a multiplex PCR-based targeted sequencing assay designed to examine two genes associated with COVID-19 susceptibility.

Research has shown that the SARS-CoV-2 virus is internalized by the binding of its S protein to the host ACE2 with the help of TMPRSS2. The binding affinity of ACE2, along with ACE2 and TMPRSS2 expression levels, are major determinants of SARS-CoV-2 replication rate and disease severity.

This panel targets all exonic and promoter regions of the two genes, and more than 70 expertly curated expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL), shown to regulate gene expression.

The CleanPlex ACE2 & TMPRSS2 panel facilitates further investigations in host genome mutations related to the ACE2 binding affinity and expression of ACE2 and TMPRSS2, which could provide additional insights into an individual’s viral susceptibility and their disease course.