title: Development of Lentivirus-Based Reference Materials for Ebola Virus Nucleic Acid Amplification Technology-Based Assays.
abstract: The 2013-present Ebola virus outbreak in Western Africa has prompted the production of many diagnostic assays, mostly based on nucleic acid amplification technologies (NAT). The calibration and performance assessment of established assays and those under evaluation requires reference materials that can be used in parallel with the clinical sample to standardise or control for every step of the procedure, from extraction to the final qualitative/quantitative result. We have developed safe and stable Ebola virus RNA reference materials by encapsidating anti sense viral RNA into HIV-1-like particles. The lentiviral particles are replication-deficient and non-infectious due to the lack of HIV-1 genes and Envelope protein. Ebola virus genes were subcloned for encapsidation into two lentiviral preparations, one containing NP-VP35-GP and the other VP40 and L RNA. Each reference material was formulated as a high-titre standard for use as a calibrator for secondary or internal standards, and a 10,000-fold lower titre preparation to serve as an in-run control. The preparations have been freeze-dried to maximise stability. These HIV-Ebola virus RNA reference materials were suitable for use with in-house and commercial quantitative RT-PCR assays and with digital RT-PCR. The HIV-Ebola virus RNA reference materials are stable at up to 37°C for two weeks, allowing the shipment of the material worldwide at ambient temperature. These results support further evaluation of the HIV-Ebola virus RNA reference materials as part of an International collaborative study for the establishment of the 1st International Standard for Ebola virus RNA.
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Biological Standards and Controls-MHRA, South Mimms-Potters Bar, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Giada
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mattiuzzo
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Biological Standards and Controls-MHRA, South Mimms-Potters Bar, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ashall
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Biological Standards and Controls-MHRA, South Mimms-Potters Bar, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Kathryn S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Doris
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Biological Standards and Controls-MHRA, South Mimms-Potters Bar, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Kirsty
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: MacLellan-Gibson
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Biological Standards and Controls-MHRA, South Mimms-Potters Bar, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Carolyn
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nicolson
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Biological Standards and Controls-MHRA, South Mimms-Potters Bar, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Dianna E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Wilkinson
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Biological Standards and Controls-MHRA, South Mimms-Potters Bar, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Harvey
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Biological Standards and Controls-MHRA, South Mimms-Potters Bar, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Neil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Almond
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Biological Standards and Controls-MHRA, South Mimms-Potters Bar, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Biological Standards and Controls-MHRA, South Mimms-Potters Bar, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Stacey
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Efstathiou
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Biological Standards and Controls-MHRA, South Mimms-Potters Bar, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Philip D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Minor
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Biological Standards and Controls-MHRA, South Mimms-Potters Bar, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Page
mesh_terms: D000354:Africa, Western / Q000453:epidemiology; D002138:Calibration; D029043:Ebolavirus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D057809:HEK293 Cells; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics; D019142:Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D016086:Lentivirus / Q000235:genetics*; D021141:Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012015:Reference Standards; D014771:Virion / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral