Rolling-circle amplification of viral DNA genomes using phi29 polymerase.
Techniques for the single-step amplification of whole genomes have been developed into powerful tools for phylogenetic analyses, epidemiological studies and studies on genome organization. Recently, the bacteriophage phi29 DNA polymerase has been used for the efficient amplification of circular DNA viral genomes without the need of specific primers by a rolling-circle amplification (RCA) mechanism. Various protocols have been applied for detection of novel viruses, for differentiation between circular and linear forms of viral genomes and for generation of infectious genomic clones directly from specimens. Here, we summarize the broad application of the RCA technique to DNA viruses infecting humans, animals and plants.
Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Diedersdorfer Weg 1, 12277 Berlin, Germany. Reimar.Johne@bfr.bund.de
Reimar
R
Johne
Hermann
H
Müller
Annabel
A
Rector
Marc
M
van Ranst
Hans
H
Stevens
D000818:Animals; D001435:Bacteriophages / Q000201:enzymology*; D004261:DNA Replication; D004267:DNA Viruses / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004270:DNA, Circular / Q000378:metabolism; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000378:metabolism*; D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D010944:Plants / Q000821:virology; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*
D004270:DNA, Circular; D004279:DNA, Viral; D014764:Viral Proteins; D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase