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Singh S, Stainton D, Tzanetakis IE. Development of Rapid and Affordable Virus-Mimicking Artificial Positive Controls. PLANT DISEASE 2024; 108:30-34. [PMID: 37578360 DOI: 10.1094/pdis-06-23-1072-sr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/15/2023]
Abstract
A major bottleneck in the development of detection assays is the availability of positive controls. Their acquisition can be problematic, their maintenance is expensive, and without them, assays cannot be validated. Herein, we present a novel strategy for the development of virus-mimicking artificial positive controls (ViMAPCs). The time between design and application is less than 5 days, unlike alternatives which normally take several weeks to obtain and implement. The ViMAPCs provide a realistic representation of natural infection unlike alternatives and allow for an effortless recognition of laboratory-based contamination. The feasibility and adaptability of the strategy was evaluated using several RNA and DNA plant viruses. ViMAPCs can be used in diagnostics laboratories but also in the monitoring of pathogen outbreaks where rapid response is of utmost importance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shivani Singh
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Division of Agriculture, University of Arkansas System, Fayetteville, AR 72701
| | - Daisy Stainton
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Division of Agriculture, University of Arkansas System, Fayetteville, AR 72701
| | - Ioannis E Tzanetakis
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Division of Agriculture, University of Arkansas System, Fayetteville, AR 72701
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Crone MA, Freemont PS. Simple Low-Cost Production of DNA MS2 Virus-Like Particles As Molecular Diagnostic Controls. GEN BIOTECHNOLOGY 2022; 1:496-503. [PMID: 36644571 PMCID: PMC9814128 DOI: 10.1089/genbio.2022.0033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Suitable controls are integral for the validation and continued quality assurance of diagnostic workflows. Plasmids, DNA, or in vitro transcribed RNA are often used to validate novel diagnostic workflows, however, they are poorly representative of clinical samples. RNA phage virus-like particles (VLPs) packaged with exogenous RNA have been used in clinical diagnostics as workflow controls, serving as surrogates for infectious viral particles. Comparable controls for DNA viruses are more challenging to produce, with analogous DNA phages being infectious and packaging of DNA within RNA phages requiring complex purification procedures and expensive chemical linkers. We present a simple and inexpensive method to produce Emesvirus zinderi (MS2) VLPs, packaged with DNA, that makes use of affinity chromatography for purification and enzymatic production of exogenous DNA suitable for packaging. The produced VLPs were packaged with hepatitis B virus DNA and were then quantified using droplet digital PCR and calibrated against the WHO international standard using a commercial assay in an accredited clinical laboratory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael A. Crone
- London Biofoundry, Imperial College Translation and Innovation Hub, London, United Kingdom; Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.,Section of Structural and Synthetic Biology, Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom; and Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.,UK Dementia Research Institute Care Research and Technology Centre, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Paul S. Freemont
- London Biofoundry, Imperial College Translation and Innovation Hub, London, United Kingdom; Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.,Section of Structural and Synthetic Biology, Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom; and Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.,UK Dementia Research Institute Care Research and Technology Centre, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.,Address correspondence to: Paul S. Freemont, London Biofoundry, Imperial College Translation and Innovation Hub, White City Campus, 84 Wood Lane, London W12 0BZ, United Kingdom,
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Dimaculangan M, Wiid SC, Bester PA, Sekee TR, Burt FJ. A simple and rapid approach to prepare Sindbis and West Nile viral RNA controls for differentiation between positive samples and laboratory contamination. J Virol Methods 2020; 278:113822. [PMID: 31954734 DOI: 10.1016/j.jviromet.2020.113822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2019] [Revised: 01/14/2020] [Accepted: 01/15/2020] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) is frequently used for surveillance and diagnosis of arboviruses and emerging viruses. A disadvantage of RT-PCR assays, especially nested assays, is the potential for false-positive results caused by laboratory contamination from either positive controls or positive samples. Positive reactors usually require sequence determination for confirmation which delay timeous reporting of a result. Thus, the aim of the study was to use a simple technique to prepare a positive control allowing true positives to be differentiated from laboratory contamination based on size differentiation for conventional PCR, or melt temperatures for real time assays. A flavivirus positive control and an alphavirus positive control were prepared for two RT-PCR assays that we are currently using for arbovirus surveillance in South Africa. Primers targeting a region of the partial genes of interest cloned in pGEM®T-easy were modified at the 5' ends with non-viral nucleotides. The resulting amplicons were circularised, resulting in pGEM®T-easy constructs with 51 and 65 non-viral bases inserted into the partial flaviviral and alphaviral genes respectively and used as template for transcribing RNA. Sequence analysis was used to confirm the manipulation of the partial genes. Using virus specific primer pairs, viral RNA could be readily differentiated from the modified positive controls either by size differentiation, or melt temperature in a SYBR®Green real time RT-PCR. This study demonstrates how simple recombinant technology can be used to produce a positive control that has application in the laboratory for surveillance studies or as a diagnostic tool using synthetic genes to abrogate the requirement for handling infectious virus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Micah Dimaculangan
- Division of Virology, Faculty of the Health Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
| | - Siewert C Wiid
- Division of Virology, Faculty of the Health Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
| | - Phillip A Bester
- Division of Virology, Faculty of the Health Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa; National Health Laboratory Service, Bloemfontein, South Africa
| | - Tumelo R Sekee
- Division of Virology, Faculty of the Health Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
| | - Felicity J Burt
- Division of Virology, Faculty of the Health Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa; National Health Laboratory Service, Bloemfontein, South Africa.
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Abstract
It was widely believed in the late 1960s that infectious diseases had been conquered by vaccines and antibiotics and humans were no longer under threat by microbial pathogens. Yet, since that time more than 60 pathogens have been discovered that can cause serious emerging infectious diseases. Molecular methods have played critical roles in the discovery, monitoring, and clinical diagnostics of emerging pathogens. In this chapter, we present well-recognized emerging pathogens. We provide examples of the utility of molecular assays in research and clinical care of emerging infectious diseases. We also discuss some theoretical and practical limitations of molecular tests and the future prospects of expanding molecular diagnostics for emerging pathogens based on new advances of knowledge and technologies.
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Wang Y, Ostlund EN, Jun Y, Nie FP, Li YG, Johnson DJ, Lin R, Li ZG. Combining reverse-transcription multiplex PCR and microfluidic electrophoresis to simultaneously detect seven mosquito-transmitted zoonotic encephalomyelitis viruses. Vet J 2015; 212:27-35. [PMID: 27256022 DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2015.10.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2014] [Revised: 10/10/2015] [Accepted: 10/13/2015] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Several mosquito-transmitted viruses are causative agents for zoonotic encephalomyelitis. Rapid identification of these viruses in mosquito populations is an effective method for surveying these diseases. To detect multiple mosquito-transmitted viral agents, including West Nile virus, Saint Louis encephalitis virus, Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis virus, Western equine encephalomyelitis virus, Eastern equine encephalomyelitis virus, Highlands J virus and Japanese encephalitis virus, an assay using multiplex reverse-transcription PCR combined with microfluidic electrophoresis was developed and evaluated. Tailed nested primers were used in the assay to amplify specific viral genomic segments, and products with specific length were further analyzed by using a microfluidic electrophoresis chip. The assay exhibited good specificity and analytical sensitivity (10(2) copies/µL). This technology can be helpful in the quarantine and surveillance of exotic encephalomyelitis viruses which are transmitted by mosquitoes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400030, China; Technical Center of Chongqing Entry Inspection and Quarantine Bureau, Engineering Research Center for Import and Export Food Safety, Chongqing 400020, China
| | - Eileen N Ostlund
- Diagnostic Virology Laboratory, National Veterinary Services Laboratories, STAS/VS/APHIS/USDA, Ames, IA 50010, USA
| | - Yang Jun
- Technical Center of Chongqing Entry Inspection and Quarantine Bureau, Engineering Research Center for Import and Export Food Safety, Chongqing 400020, China
| | - Fu-Ping Nie
- Technical Center of Chongqing Entry Inspection and Quarantine Bureau, Engineering Research Center for Import and Export Food Safety, Chongqing 400020, China
| | - Ying-Guo Li
- School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400030, China; Technical Center of Chongqing Entry Inspection and Quarantine Bureau, Engineering Research Center for Import and Export Food Safety, Chongqing 400020, China
| | - Donna J Johnson
- Diagnostic Virology Laboratory, National Veterinary Services Laboratories, STAS/VS/APHIS/USDA, Ames, IA 50010, USA
| | - Rui Lin
- School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400030, China
| | - Zheng-Guo Li
- School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400030, China.
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