Rapid detection of viruses of the tick-borne encephalitis virus complex by RT-PCR of viral RNA.
Studies were performed to identify a pair of primers, specific for the tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) virus complex of the Flaviviridae, with which to develop a rapid and specific identification system based on reverse transcription and the polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The specificity of a putative primer pair was examined by RT-PCR of representative viruses from other antigenic complexes of the Flaviviridae and by computer sequence homology checks. All viruses of the TBE complex tested, with a single exception, were identified by RT-PCR using the identified primer pair. Accumulated data suggest that one of the putative primers identified in these studies may have flavivirus group specificity. The advantages of such a primer in the development of identification systems for all virus complexes of the Flaviviridae is discussed.
Whitby
J E
JE
Department of Virology, Central Veterinary Laboratory, Weybridge, Surrey, UK.
Ni
H
H
Whitby
H E
HE
Jennings
A D
AD
Bradley
L M
LM
Lee
J M
JM
Lloyd
G
G
Stephenson
J R
JR
Barrett
A D
AD
D001483:Base Sequence; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D017931:DNA Primers; D004669:Encephalitis Viruses, Tick-Borne / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000235:genetics
D017931:DNA Primers; D012367:RNA, Viral