title: Detection of herpes simplex virus using the polymerase chain reaction followed by endonuclease cleavage.
abstract: The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to amplify herpes simplex virus DNA using a single set of primers that amplify both herpes simplex virus I (HSVI) and II (HSVII). The viruses can be differentiated by a single restriction enzyme cleavage. Virus from dilutions of HSV-infected A549 cell suspensions were amplified and the infectivity endpoints of cell culture were compared with the PCR, and with another direct detection method, the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The PCR was capable of detecting virus at a 10(-4) dilution for both HSVI and HSVII, when the corresponding TCID50 endpoints were 10(-5.9) and 10(-5.7), respectively. The ELISA detected virus only down to the 10(-1) dilution. The amplification procedure showed the greatest sensitivity when an initial protease digestion was followed by filtration. The PCR may have use in detection of HSV in clinical situations in which a rapid result is desirable.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Women and Infants' Hospital, Providence, Rhode Island 02905.
authors.forename: B B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Rogers
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Josephson
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Mak
mesh_terms: D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D004262:DNA Restriction Enzymes; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*
chemical_list: D000956:Antigens, Viral; D004262:DNA Restriction Enzymes