18-May-2020
The COVID-19 Protein Portal allows UK scientists to access protein reagents for critical research relating to SARS-CoV-2. Protein reagents are provided free of charge by a consortium of leading UK protein production laboratories, in an Open Science initiative led by Wellcome and UKRI.
In response to the urgent need for COVID-19 therapeutics, vaccines and diagnostics, many UK scientists are working to understand the fundamental biology of SARS-CoV-2. Reliable protein reagents are crucial to such research, but can be challenging and time consuming to produce, especially under restricted working conditions.
To facilitate vital research on SARS-CoV-2, Wellcome and UKRI have brought together a consortium of leading UK centres of protein engineering and production to launch the COVID-19 Protein Portal. The COVID-19 Protein Production Consortium (CPPC) is made up of expert scientists from Diamond Light Source, the Edinburgh Protein Production Facility, the Francis Crick Institute, the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, the MRC Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit at the University of Dundee, MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, The Rosalind Franklin Institute, STRUBI, the Structural Genomics Consortium, the University of Bristol and the University of York; with logistical support from Instruct-ERIC.
The CPPC will produce and provide access to protein reagents through the UK COVID-19 Protein Portal website at https://covid19proteinportal.org. The Portal contains a searchable database of reagents, including viral proteins, human proteins and antibodies relevant for SARS-CoV-2 biology. Each reagent is annotated with key information, including sequence, origin, and SDS-page results. Researchers select the proteins they require from the database and submit their request with a short research proposal. All requests will be subject to rapid peer review, to enable the CPPC to coordinate and prioritise reagent allocation based on scientific merit and the urgency of the request. Once approved, a request will be allocated to one of the CPPC’s expert protein production laboratories in the UK, all of whom are committed to providing high-quality reagents as quickly as possible.
In the spirit of Open Science, recipient labs will be required to provide feedback to the CPPC on their results, and to share important outcomes with the scientific community. By contributing to the coordination of research efforts across the UK, the COVID-19 Protein Portal will accelerate vital research to deliver effective clinical management of COVID-19.
Although current funding limits the portal to UK scientists at present, it is hoped that following an initial period of monitoring activity in the UK, there may be an opportunity, if funding is available, to extend or duplicate this initiative to support global COVID-19 research efforts. For more information, email contact@covid19proteinportal.org.
Dr Michael Dunn, Wellcome’s Head of Genetics and Molecular Science, noted ‘Researchers around the world are working at an unprecedented pace to deepen our understanding of COVID-19 and develop vaccines, treatments and tests against it. By collaborating across borders and openly sharing research and resources, we can learn more about the virus and help to bring this pandemic to an end.’
Professor Fiona Watt, Executive Chair of the Medical Research Council noted “The COVID-19 Protein Portal brings together the expertise of leaders in protein engineering and production throughout the UK, including colleagues in MRC funded Institutes and Units. These researchers have very quickly developed high-quality robust research reagents, now being shared through the Portal. This consortium is an ideal demonstration of collaboration and coordination across the research community, aiming to accelerate progress towards treatment of COVID-19.”
