Typing and subtyping clinical isolates of influenza virus using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.
BACKGROUND
Influenza virus infections are a major cause of morbidity and the identification of the type or subtype of a clinical isolate has important clinical and epidemiological implications.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the ability of a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay to type and subtype clinical human isolates of influenza virus.


METHODS
Reference strains of influenza A H1N1, A/H3N2, and B viruses and human clinical isolates of influenza virus representing antigenic variants from the last 15 years were evaluated using an RT-PCR assay.


RESULTS
Amplicons of 325, 198 and 365 base pairs in length were obtained from RNA extracted from influenza A/H1N1, A/H3N2 and B viruses, respectively. All human-derived A/H1N1, A/H3N2, and B reference strains and antigenic variants tested were correctly identified.


CONCLUSIONS
RT-PCR is an effective alternative to traditional methods for typing and subtyping influenza viruses.
Atmar
R L
RL
Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA. ratmar@fluctr.bcm.tmc.edu
Baxter
B D
BD
D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D004285:Dogs; D006801:Humans; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009981:Influenza B virus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000821:virology; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis
D012367:RNA, Viral