A new RT-PCR assay specific for influenza A(H2), multiplexed with an assay specific for HPAI A(H5N1).
Worldwide efforts are ongoing to improve influenza pandemic preparedness, including from the perspective of the clinical virology laboratory. In particular, much work has been devoted to the development of diagnostic assays targeted at the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) A(H5N1); much less efforts have been devoted to the A(H2) subtype. Yet, A(H2) subtype has a proven capacity to cause pandemics and is among the subtypes prioritized for surveillance and control. Although the human A(H2N2) virus that caused the pandemic of 1957 no longer circulates, many related avian A(H2) viruses circulate in avian population and could conceivably adapt to infect humans and cause a new pandemic. In this study the design and development of an RT-PCR assay specific for A(H2) subtype is presented. It is shown that the assay is highly sensitive and specific, able to detect human and avian A(H2) viruses, and can be incorporated into a multiplex assay with another previously described assay for HPAI A(H5N1).
Yea
C
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Genetics and Genome Biology Program, Research Institute, Hospital for Sick Children, Canada.
Petric
M
M
Pasick
J
J
Tellier
R
R
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D001681:Biological Assay / Q000379:methods*; D001717:Birds / Q000821:virology; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D053121:Influenza A Virus, H2N2 Subtype / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D053124:Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005585:Influenza in Birds / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D058873:Pandemics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013045:Species Specificity; D034421:Sus scrofa / Q000821:virology
D017931:DNA Primers