title: Comparative analysis of rodent tissue preservation methods and nucleic acid extraction techniques for virus screening purposes.
abstract: The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has become an essential method for the detection of viruses in tissue specimens. However, it is well known that the presence of PCR inhibitors in tissue samples may cause false-negative results. Hence the identification of PCR inhibitors and evaluation and optimization of nucleic acid extraction and preservation methods is of prime concern in virus discovery programs dealing with animal tissues. Accordingly, to monitor and remove inhibitors we have performed comparative analyses of two commonly used tissue storage methods and five RNA purification techniques using a variety of animal tissues, containing quantified levels of added MS2 bacteriophages as the indicator of inhibition. The results showed (i) no significant difference between the two methods of sample preservation, viz. direct storage at -80°C or 4°C in RNAlater, (ii) lung rodent tissues contained lower levels of inhibitor than liver, kidney and spleen, (iii) RNA extraction using the EZ1+PK RNA kit was the most effective procedure for removal of RT-PCR inhibitors.
authors.affiliation: Aix-Marseille University, French Institute of Research for Development, EHESP French School of Public Health, UMR_D 190 "Emergence des Pathologies Virales", 13005 Marseille, France. rnabio@aol.fr
authors.forename: Ines N
authors.initials: IN
authors.lastname: Yama
authors.forename: Madougou
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Garba
authors.forename: Janice
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Britton-Davidian
authors.forename: Simon-Djamel
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Thiberville
authors.forename: Gauthier
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dobigny
authors.forename: Ernest A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Gould
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: de Lamballerie
authors.forename: Remi N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Charrel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001435:Bacteriophages / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015415:Biomarkers; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009696:Nucleic Acids / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D057089:Pathology, Molecular / Q000379:methods*; D012376:Rodent Diseases / Q000821:virology*; D014021:Tissue Preservation / Q000379:methods*; D014730:Veterinary Medicine / Q000379:methods*; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D014780:Viruses / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D009696:Nucleic Acids