title: Genotyping of rubella virus RNA in sera and dried blood spots collected during routine surveillance and in archival sera.
abstract: Information on the molecular epidemiology of rubella has been valuable in supporting efforts to control and eliminate rubella in several countries. The preferred samples for virus isolation or RNA detection, such as throat swabs, are often not available making it difficult to obtain a robust database of rubella virus sequences. A method for obtaining rubella virus genotypes from more commonly collected samples such as sera or dried blood spots using real-time RT-PCR to screen samples followed by nested set amplification is described. Rubella genotypes were obtained from dried blood spots and recent and archival sera collections. Eighteen percent of the RNAs extracted from the archival sera were real-time RT-PCR positive, and 44% of these RNAs were amplified successfully by nested RT-PCR and sequenced. Implementation of this technique could provide another tool to improve global rubella molecular surveillance.
authors.affiliation: Division of Viral Diseases, National Center for Immunizations and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333, United States.
authors.forename: Qi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Emily S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Abernathy
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Zhen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de Filippis
authors.forename: Chantal
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Akoua-Koffi
authors.forename: Hinda
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.forename: Victoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Morris-Glasgow
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Quist-Therson
authors.forename: Joseph P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Icenogle
mesh_terms: D001769:Blood / Q000821:virology*; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D012412:Rubella virus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics*; D014773:Virology / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral