title: Development of real-time PCR assays for the quantitative detection of Epstein-Barr virus and cytomegalovirus, comparison of TaqMan probes, and molecular beacons.
abstract: Human Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) can cause serious complications in immunocompromised patients. Rapid diagnosis of EBV and CMV infection is critical in the management of the disease so that anti-viral therapy can be started early. Here we describe the development of real-time PCR assays using TaqMan probes and molecular beacons and compare the performance of both assays with a well-established, validated, gel-based PCR method for the quantification of EBV and CMV in patients' samples. The TaqMan and molecular beacon assays were linear between 10 to 10(7) viral genomes/reaction. Both assays generated calibration curves with strong correlation and low intra-assay and interassay variation. Results of EBV and CMV viral load determination inpatient samples obtained by the gel-based and real-time PCR were very similar. The real-time PCR assays showed increases in viral load before clinical measures of viral disease and decreases in viral load during anti-viral therapy in two of six pediatric patients. The data indicate that these TaqMan and molecular beacon approaches are accurate, rapid, and reliable assays for the diagnosis and monitoring of EBV and CMV infections in patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, USA.
authors.forename: Jiska
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jebbink
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.forename: Beverly Barton
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Rogers
authors.forename: D Brian
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Dawson
authors.forename: Richard H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Scheuermann
authors.forename: Rana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Domiati-Saad
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000821:virology; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000821:virology; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D015336:Molecular Probe Techniques; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes / Q000235:genetics; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes