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A nested real‐time PCR assay has an increased sensitivity suitable for detection of viruses in aerosol studies
Author(s) -
Perrott P.,
Smith G.,
Ristovski Z.,
Harding R.,
Hargreaves M.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
journal of applied microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.889
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1365-2672
pISSN - 1364-5072
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2672.2008.04119.x
Subject(s) - virology , real time polymerase chain reaction , nested polymerase chain reaction , biology , virus , primer (cosmetics) , influenza a virus , airborne transmission , polymerase chain reaction , microbiology and biotechnology , infectious disease (medical specialty) , covid-19 , chemistry , gene , medicine , genetics , disease , organic chemistry , pathology
Aims: Influenza is commonly spread by infectious aerosols; however, detection of viruses in aerosols is not sensitive enough to confirm the characteristics of virus aerosols. The aim of this study was to develop an assay for respiratory viruses sufficiently sensitive to be used in epidemiological studies. Method: A two‐step, nested real‐time PCR assay was developed for MS2 bacteriophage, and for influenza A and B, parainfluenza 1 and human respiratory syncytial virus. Outer primer pairs were designed to nest each existing real‐time PCR assay. The sensitivities of the nested real‐time PCR assays were compared to those of existing real‐time PCR assays. Both assays were applied in an aerosol study to compare their detection limits in air samples. Conclusions: The nested real‐time PCR assays were found to be several logs more sensitive than the real‐time PCR assays, with lower levels of virus detected at lower Ct values. The nested real‐time PCR assay successfully detected MS2 in air samples, whereas the real‐time assay did not. Significance and Impact of the Study: The sensitive assays for respiratory viruses will permit further research using air samples from naturally generated virus aerosols. This will inform current knowledge regarding the risks associated with the spread of viruses through aerosol transmission.