This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowReprints and Permissions
Right arrow Copyright Information
Right arrow Books from ASM Press
Right arrow MicrobeWorld
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Zou, S.
Right arrow Articles by Bridge, J.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Zou, S.
Right arrow Articles by Bridge, J.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Journal of Clinical Microbiology, June 1998, p. 1544-1548, Vol. 36, No. 6
0095-1137/98/$04.00+0
Copyright © 1998, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.

Identification of New Influenza B Virus Variants by Multiplex Reverse Transcription-PCR and the Heteroduplex Mobility Assay

Shimian Zou,* Carol Stansfield, and Jodi Bridge

Virus Laboratory, Laboratory Centre for Disease Control, Tunney's Pasture, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0L2

Received 2 December 1997/Returned for modification 2 February 1998/Accepted 12 March 1998

A quick genetic approach for the screening of influenza virus variants was developed in this laboratory (S. Zou, J. Clin. Microbiol. 35:2623-2627, 1997). It uses multiplex reverse transcription and multiplex PCR to amplify and differentiate the variable region of the hemagglutinin genes of different types and subtypes of influenza viruses. Variants within the same type or subtype are then identified by the heteroduplex mobility shift assay of the amplicons. The method was used to screen influenza virus isolates received from provincial laboratories during the 1996-1997 season and was able to identify new influenza B virus variants. Sequencing of the amplicons derived from the hemagglutinin gene of the identified variants and comparison with the vaccine strain B/Harbin/7/94 showed substitution rates of 2.26 to 2.55% at the nucleotide level and 4.26 to 4.68% at the amino acid level. The result further demonstrated that the approach provides a quick, sensitive, and reliable screening for influenza virus variants. It also suggested the necessity of close monitoring of influenza B virus isolates in the 1997-1998 season and critical evaluation of the reference strain for the type B influenza virus.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Postal Locator 3005A, Laboratory Centre for Disease Control, 11 Holland Ave., Suite 511, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0L2. Phone: (613) 946-8819. Fax: (613) 952-6668. E-mail: shimian_zou{at}inet.hwc.ca.

Journal of Clinical Microbiology, June 1998, p. 1544-1548, Vol. 36, No. 6
0095-1137/98/$04.00+0
Copyright © 1998, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.


This article has been cited by other articles:

  • Shigemori, Y., Mikawa, T., Shibata, T., Oishi, M. (2005). Multiplex PCR: use of heat-stable Thermus thermophilus RecA protein to minimize non-specific PCR products. Nucleic Acids Res 33: e126-e126 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Kapoor, A., Jones, M., Shafer, R. W., Rhee, S.-Y., Kazanjian, P., Delwart, E. L. (2004). Sequencing-Based Detection of Low-Frequency Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Drug-Resistant Mutants by an RNA/DNA Heteroduplex Generator-Tracking Assay. J. Virol. 78: 7112-7123 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Berinstein, A., Sellers, H. S., King, D. J., Seal, B. S. (2001). Use of a Heteroduplex Mobility Assay To Detect Differences in the Fusion Protein Cleavage Site Coding Sequence among Newcastle Disease Virus Isolates. J. Clin. Microbiol. 39: 3171-3178 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Elnifro, E. M., Ashshi, A. M., Cooper, R. J., Klapper, P. E. (2000). Multiplex PCR: Optimization and Application in Diagnostic Virology. Clin. Microbiol. Rev. 13: 559-570 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • White, P. A., Zhai, X., Carter, I., Zhao, Y., Rawlinson, W. D. (2000). Simplified Hepatitis C Virus Genotyping by Heteroduplex Mobility Analysis. J. Clin. Microbiol. 38: 477-482 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Charrel, R. N., Lévy, N., Tesh, R. B., Chandler, L. J. (1999). Use of Base Excision Sequence Scanning for Detection of Genetic Variations in St. Louis Encephalitis Virus Isolates. J. Clin. Microbiol. 37: 1935-1940 [Abstract] [Full Text]  


Copyright © 2009 by the American Society for Microbiology.   For an alternate route to Journals.ASM.org, visit: http://intl-journals.asm.org | More Info»