SARS-CoV-2 causes COVID-19 pandemic and continues to pose a threat to
global public health through genetic mutation. In this study, we have
found that an ACE2-specific monoclonal antibody at low concentration was
able to greatly enhance SARS-CoV-2 infection and growth in cell culture.
Strikingly, it promotes SARS-CoV-2 plaque formation, resulting in
accurate titration of different SARS-CoV-2 variants, particularly the
newly emerged Omicron variants, which otherwise cannot be determined by
standard plaque assays. Quantification of infectious titers of the newly
emerged variants will facilitate the development and evaluation of
vaccines and antiviral drugs against SARS-CoV-2.