Analysis of respiratory syncytial virus nonstructural protein 1 amino acid variation and clinical characteristics / 中华儿科杂志

Objective: To investigate the relationship between amino acid variations of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) nonstructural protein (NS) 1 and the clinical characteristics. Method: A retrospective case review was conducted. From December 2018 to January 2020, a total of 81 cases of hospitalized children who were tested only positive for RSV by RT-PCR or PCR at the Department of Respiratory Medicine, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University were included in the study. The NS1 genes of RSV subtype A and subtype B were amplified by PCR and sequenced. The amino acid sequences were analyzed. The Chi-square test and Mann-Whitney rank sum test were used to compare the clinical characteristics and type Ⅰ interferon levels of children with or without NS1 variation in the variation and non-variation groups. Results: Among 81 cases, there were 58 males and 23 females. There were 11 cases in the variation group, the age of onset was 2.0 (1.0, 11.0) months, included 4 cases of subtype A (variant sites were: 2 cases for Lys33Gln, one case for Gly2Asp, Pro67Ser, Leu137Phe, respectively) and 7 cases of subtype B (variant sites were: two cases for Val121Ile, one case for Tyr30Cys, Val65Met, Asn85Ser, Ser118Asn, Asp124Asn, respectively). These variant sites all appeared at a very low frequency 0.08 (0.04, 0.29) % in the NCBI PROTEIN database. There were 70 cases in non-variation group, the onset age was 3.5 (1.0, 7.0) months. The proportion of dyspnea in the variation group was higher than that in the non-variation group (10/11 vs. 47% (33/70), χ2=7.31, P<0.01). Conclusions: There are some variant sites in nonstructural protein NS1 of RSV. Children may be prone to have dyspnea with NS1 variations.

Development and application of a rapid scheme for detection of respiratory virus nucleic acid / 生物工程学报

This study aimed to develop a portable, accurate and easy-to-operate scheme for rapid detection of respiratory virus nucleic acid. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to verify the effect of extraction-free respiratory virus treatment reagent (RTU) on viral nucleic acid treatment and the effect of ultra-fast fluorescence quantitative PCR instrument (FQ-8A) on nucleic acid amplification, respectively. RTU and FQ-8A were combined to develop a rapid detection scheme for respiratory virus nucleic acid, and the positive detection rate was judged by Ct value using a fluorescence quantitative PCR instrument, and the accuracy of the scheme in clinical samples detection was investigated. The results showed that RTU had comparable sensitivity to the automatic nucleic acid extraction instrument, its extraction efficiency was comparable to the other 3 extraction methods when extracting samples of different virus types, but the extraction time of RTU was less than 5 min. FQ-8A had good consistency in detection respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and adenovirus (ADV) compared with the control instrument ABI-7500, with kappa coefficients of 0.938 (P < 0.001) and 0.887 (P < 0.001), respectively, but the amplification time was only about 0.5 h. The RTU and FQ-8A combined rapid detection scheme had a highly consistent detection rate with the conventional detection scheme, with a sensitivity of 91.70% and specificity of 100%, and a kappa coefficient was 0.944 (P < 0.001). In conclusion, by combining RTU with FQ-8A, a rapid respiratory virus nucleic acid detection scheme was developed, the whole process could be completed in 35 min. The scheme is accurate and easy-to-operate, and can provide important support for the rapid diagnosis and treatment of respiratory virus.

Effects of neutrophil extracellular traps during human respiratory syncytial virus infection in vitro / Efeitos das redes extracelulares dos neutrófilos durante a infecção in vitro pelo vírus sincicial respiratório

The human respiratory syncytial virus (hRSV) is the most common cause of severe lower respiratory tract diseases in young children worldwide, leading to a high number of hospitalizations and significant expenditures for health systems. Neutrophils are massively recruited to the lung tissue of patients with acute respiratory diseases. At the infection site, they release neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) that can capture and/or inactivate different types of microorganisms, including viruses. Evidence has shown that the accumulation of NETs results in direct cytotoxic effects on endothelial and epithelial cells. Neutrophils stimulated by the hRSV-F protein generate NETs that are able to capture hRSV particles, thus reducing their transmission. However, the massive production of NETs obstructs the airways and increases disease severity. Therefore, further knowledge about the effects of NETs during hRSV infections is essential for the development of new specific and effective treatments. This study evaluated the effects of NETs on the previous or posterior contact with hRSV-infected Hep-2 cells. Hep-2 cells were infected with different hRSV multiplicity of infection (MOI 0.5 or 1.0), either before or after incubation with NETs (0.5–16 μg/mL). Infected and untreated cells showed decreased cellular viability and intense staining with trypan blue, which was accompanied by the formation of many large syncytia. Previous contact between NETs and cells did not result in a protective effect. Cells in monolayers showed a reduced number and area of syncytia, but cell death was similar in infected and non-treated cells. The addition of NETs to infected tissues maintained a similar virus-induced cell death rate and an increased syncytial area, indicating cytotoxic and deleterious damages. Our results corroborate previously reported findings that NETs contribute to the immunopathology developed by patients infected with hRSV.

O vírus sincicial respiratório humano (hRSV) é a causa mais comum de doenças graves do trato respiratório inferior em crianças pequenas em todo o mundo, resultando em grande número de hospitalizações e gastos significativos para os sistemas de saúde. Neutrófilos são recrutados em massa para o tecido pulmonar de pacientes com doenças respiratórias agudas. No local da infecção, eles liberam armadilhas extracelulares de neutrófilos (NETs) que podem capturar e/ou inativar diferentes tipos de microrganismos, incluindo vírus. Evidências demonstraram que o acúmulo de NETs resulta em efeitos citotóxicos diretos nas células endoteliais e epiteliais. Os neutrófilos estimulados pela proteína F do vírus sincicial respiratório (hRSV-F) geram NETs que são capazes de capturar partículas virais, reduzindo assim sua transmissão. No entanto, a produção maciça de NETs obstrui as vias aéreas e aumenta a gravidade da doença. Assim, um maior conhecimento sobre os efeitos das NETs durante as infecções por hRSV é essencial para o desenvolvimento de novos tratamentos específicos e eficazes. Este estudo avaliou os efeitos das NETs no contato prévio ou posterior à infecção de células Hep-2 com hRSV. As células Hep-2 foram infectadas com diferentes quantidades de hRSV (multiplicidade de infecção ou MOI 0,5 ou 1,0), antes ou após a incubação com NETs (0,5–16 μg/mL). Células infectadas e não tratadas mostraram redução da viabilidade celular e intensa coloração com azul de tripano, que foi acompanhada pela formação de sincícios numerosos e grandes. O contato prévio entre as NETs e as células não resultou em efeito protetor. As células em monocamadas mostraram um número e área de sincícios reduzidos, mas a morte celular foi semelhante àquela apresentada por células infectadas e não tratadas. A adição de NETs aos tecidos infectados manteve taxa de morte celular e formação de sincícios [...].

Virus isolation and genotype identification of human respiratory syncytial virus in Guizhou Province, China

ABSTRACT To investigate the genetic variation and molecular epidemiology characteristics of Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus (HRSV) in Guizhou Province, nasopharyngeal aspirates were collected from patients with acute respiratory infection (ARI) in Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital, from December 2017 to March 2018, and inoculated to Hep-2 cells to isolate HRSV. Cells that showed cytopathic effect (CPE) were then confirmed by indirect immunofluorescence assay and reverse transcription. The sequence of the PCR products was determined for HRSV isolates, and the genetic variation was analyzed. Out of 196 nasopharyngeal aspirate samples, HRSV were isolated in 39. The second hypervariable region at the 3' terminal of glycoprotein gene (HVR2) sequence analysis showed that subgroup A was dominant. Seventy-nine percent of the isolates belonged to subgroup A, ON1 genotype, and 21 % belonged to subgroup B, BA9 genotype, which indicates that the dominant HRSV circulating in Guizhou Province was subgroup A, genotype ON1, co-circulating with a less prevalent subgroup B, genotype BA9.

Evaluación de un método de amplificación isotérmica mediado por bucle para la detección rápida del virus sincicial respiratorio en niños con infección respiratoria aguda / Evaluation of a loop-mediated isothermal amplification method for the rapid detection of human respiratory syncytial virus in children with acute respiratory infection

Resumen Introducción. El virus sincicial respiratorio humano (hRSV) es la causa más frecuente de infección respiratoria aguda de las vías respiratorias inferiores en niños menores de cinco años. El desarrollo de técnicas moleculares para identificarlo es uno de los retos actuales en el campo de la investigación clínica. Objetivo. Evaluar un método de amplificación isotérmica para la detección rápida del hRSV en niños con infección respiratoria aguda. Materiales y métodos. Se extrajo el ARN viral de 304 muestras de hisopado nasal en niños con síntomas de infección respiratoria aguda atendidos en el servicio de urgencias del Hospital de la Universidad del Norte en Barranquilla entre abril del 2016 y julio del 2017. Se evaluó la prueba de amplificación isotérmica mediada por bucle mediante transcriptasa inversa de la proteína de la matriz (M) (Reverse Transcription Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification, RT-LAMP) comparada con técnicas moleculares como la reacción en cadena de la polimerasa mediante transcriptasa inversa múltiple anidada (Reverse Transcription- Polymerase Chain Reaction, RT-PCR), la cual se empleó como la prueba estándar, la PCR en tiempo real (quantitative PCR, qPCR) y la RT-LAMP de la proteína L (L) para la detección rápida del virus sincicial respiratorio (VSR), subtipo A y subtipo B. Resultados. La prueba de RT-LAMP (M) tuvo una sensibilidad de 93,59 %, una especificidad de 92,92 % y una concordancia de 0,83 ± 0,036 comparada con la prueba de RT-PCR anidada. El índice kappa del RT-LAMP (M) fue superior, y los valores del RT-LAMP (L) y la qPCR concordaron (0,75 ± 0,043 y 0,71 ± 0,045, respectivamente). Conclusiones. Estos resultados indican que la prueba RT-LAMP (M) puede considerarse como una herramienta de utilidad clínica para detectar el hSRVA, dado que el tiempo requerido para la obtención de resultados, así como los costos, es menor, y su desempeño es mejor que el de las otras pruebas moleculares evaluadas.

Abstract Introduction: Human respiratory syncytial virus (hRSV) is the most frequent cause of acute respiratory infection of the lower respiratory tract in children under the age of five. The development of molecular techniques able to identify hRSV is one of the current challenges in the field of clinical research. Objective: To evaluate the ability of an isothermal amplification method to rapidly detect hRSV in children with acute respiratory infection. Materials and methods: We collected 304 nasopharyngeal swab samples from children with symptoms of acute respiratory infection who attended the emergency unit at Hospital de la Universidad del Norte in Barranquilla from April, 2016, to July, 2017. After extracting viral RNA from the samples, we evaluated the ability of the reverse transcriptase-loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) M assay to rapidly detect hRSVA and hRSVB compared to other molecular techniques: quantitative PCR (qPCR), reverse transcriptase-LAMP L assay, and as a standard, the multiplex nested reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (nested RT-PCR). Results: The RT-LAMP M assay had a sensitivity of 93.59% and a specificity of 92.92%, and a concordance of 0.83 ± 0.036 as compared with the nested RT-PCR test. While the Kappa index of the RT-LAMP M assay was higher than the values for the RT-LAMP L assay and the qPCR, the values of the latter two methods were in agreement (0.75 ± 0.043 and 0.71 ± 0.045, respectively). Conclusion: Due to the shorter running times, lower costs and better performance of the RT-LAMP M assay, it can be considered as a useful clinical tool for the detection of RSVA.

Viral etiology of acute respiratory infections in children in Southern Iran

Abstract INTRODUCTION: Prevalence of influenza A virus (Flu-A), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and human metapneumovirus (hMPV) was assessed in children with acute respiratory infections (ARIs). METHODS: Nasopharyngeal aspirates and throat swabs were subjected to real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect RSV and Flu-A and to conventional PCR to detect hMPV. RESULTS: Of the 156 children assessed, 93 (59.6%) carried at least one virus, with 35.9% positive for RSV, 14.1% for hMPV, and 9.6% for Flu-A. The prevalence of co-infections was 2.6%. CONCLUSIONS: The high detection rate may reflect increased sensitivity of real-time PCR compared to traditional PCR and viral culture.

A survey strategy for human respiratory syncytial virus detection among haematopoietic stem cell transplant patients: epidemiological and methodological analysis

Human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV) causes severe infections among children and immunocompromised patients. We compared HRSV infections among Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant program (HSCT) patients and children using direct immunofluorescence (DFA), point-of-care RSV Bio Easy® and a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. Overall, 102 samples from HSCT patients and 128 from children obtained positivity rate of 18.6% and 14.1% respectively. PCR sensitivity was highest mainly on samples collected after five days of symptoms onset. A combination of both DFA and reverse transcriptase-PCR methods for HSCT high-risk patients is the best diagnostic flow for HRSV diagnosis among these patients.

Duplex-PCR assay for the detection of adenovirus and respiratory syncytial virus in nasopharyngeal samples

Human adenovirus (HAdV) and human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV) are important etiologic agents of acute respiratory infections. In this study, a duplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay was developed for the simultaneous detection of HAdV and HRSV in clinical samples. Sixty previously screened nasopharyngeal aspirates were used: 20 HAdV-positive, 20 HRSV-positive and 20 double-negative controls. Eight samples were positive for both viruses. The duplex PCR assay proved to be as sensitive and specific as single-target assays and also detected the mixed infections with certainty. The identification of both viruses in a single reaction offers a reduction in both cost and laboratory diagnostic time.

Genotypes and clinical data of respiratory syncytial virus and metapneumovirus in brazilian infants: a new perspective

The aim of this study was to determine if there was a correlation between respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and metapneumovirus (MPV) genotypes and clinical data of Brazilian infants hospitalized for acute lower respiratory infection. The viruses in the patients' nasopharyngeal secretions were studied using the polymerase chain reaction and phylogenetic analysis. The study assessed 144 infants; 31.9 percent were RSV positive and 5.6 percent were MPV positive. Statistical analysis was performed using the chi-squared test, Fisher's test, Odds ratio, univariate logistic regression, non-conditional multivariate logistic regression and the forward - stepwise method. Multivariate analysis confirmed a significant relationship between a positive PCR test for RSV and hospitalization during the month of May and with pulse oximetry less than 90 percent. The phylogenetic analysis indicated the genotypes GA2, GA5, SAA1 (Group A), SAB1, SAB3 and BA (Group B) for RSV and Group B, subgroup B1, for MPV.

Prevalence and clinical aspects of respiratory syncytial virus A and B groups in children seen at Hospital de Clínicas of Uberlândia, MG, Brazil

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is well recognized as the most important pathogen causing acute respiratory disease in infants and young children, mainly in the form of bronchiolitis and pneumonia. Two major antigenic groups, A and B, have been identified; however, there is disagreement about the severity of the diseases caused by these two types. This study investigated a possible association between RSV groups and severity of disease. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction was used to characterize 128 RSV nasopharyngeal specimens from children less than five years old experiencing acute respiratory disease. A total of 82 of 128 samples (64.1 percent) could be typed, and, of these, 78 percent were group A, and 22 percent were group B. Severity was measured by clinical evaluation associated with demographic factors: for RSV A-infected patients, 53.1 percent were hospitalized, whereas for RSV B patients, 27.8 percent were hospitalized (p = 0.07). Around 35.0 percent of the patients presented risk factors for severity (e.g., prematurity). For those without risk factors, the hospitalization occurred in 47.6 percent of patients infected with RSV A and in 18.2 percent infected with RSV B. There was a trend for RSV B infections to be milder than those of RSV A. Even though RSV A-infected patients, including cases without underlying condition and prematurity, were more likely to require hospitalization than those infected by RSV B, the disease severity could not to be attributed to the RSV groups.

Performance of indirect immunofluorescence assay, immunochromatography assay and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction for detecting human respiratory syncytial virus in nasopharyngeal aspirate samples

Comparison of the use of indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA), immunochromatography assay (ICA-BD) and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for detecting human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV) in 306 nasopharyngeal aspirates samples (NPA) was performed in order to assess their analytical performance. By comparing the results obtained using ICA-BD with those using IFA, we found relative indices of 85.0 percent for sensitivity and 91.2 percent for specificity, and the positive (PPV) and negative (NPV) predictive values were 85.0 percent and 91.2 percent, respectively. The relative indices for sensitivity and specificity as well as the PPV and NPV for RT-PCR were 98.0 percent, 89.0 percent, 84.0 percent and 99.0 percent, respectively, when compared to the results of IFA. In addition, comparison of the results of ICA-BD and those of RT-PCR yielded relative indices of 79.5 percent for sensitivity and 95.4 percent for specificity, as well as PPV and NPV of 92.9 percent and 86.0 percent, respectively. Although RT-PCR has shown the best performance, the substantial agreement between the ICA-BD and IFA results suggests that ICA-BD, also in addition to being a rapid and facile assay, could be suitable as an alternative diagnostic screening for HRSV infection in children.

Utilidad de la reacción de polimerasa en cadena en tiempo real en el diagnóstico de infecciones por virus respiratorio sincicial en adultos / Utility of real time polymerase chain reaction in the diagnosis of respiratory syncytial virus infection among adult patients

Introducción: Las infecciones respiratorias virales (IRV) son causa importante de morbilidad en adultos. Virus respiratorio sincicial (VRS) causa hasta 20 por ciento de las IRV en esta edad; sin embargo, su diagnóstico es subestimado debido a una menor sensibilidad de las técnicas diagnosticas convencionales (IF y ELISA). Objetivos: Evaluar el impacto del uso de reacción de la polimerasa en cadena en tiempo real (TR-RPC en tiempo real) en el diagnóstico de IRV por VRS en adultos y caracterizar su perfil clínico. Pacientes y Métodos: Durante ocho semanas del año 2005, los adultos hospitalizados en Hospital Clínico de la Universidad Católica con sospecha de IRV, e IFD negativa para VRS, FLU-A, -B, paraFLU-1, 2, 3 y ADV de muestra de hisopado nasofaríngeo, fueron sometidos a detección de VRS por TR-RPC en tiempo real. Se confeccionó una base de datos con los antecedentes clínicos, laboratorio y evolución de cada paciente. Resultados: De 114 pacientes con IFD negativa en 17 (14,9 por ciento) se detectó VRS. Fiebre, congestión faríngea, tos y signos de obstrucción bronquial, configuraron en más de 80 por ciento de los casos el perfil clínico de los pacientes. Treinta por ciento presentaba enfermedad crónica y 47 por ciento eran inmunocomprometidos. Tres de 17 (18 por ciento) presentaron descompensación de la enfermedad de base y 1/17 (6 por ciento) requirió ventilación mecánica. No hubo mortalidad asociada. Conclusiones: El uso de TR-RPC en tiempo real permitió duplicar la detección de infecciones por VRS en adultos hospitalizados respecto a las diagnosticadas por IFD. Se recomienda considerar el empleo la técnica de TR-RPC en tiempo real en aquellos pacientes con sospecha clínica de VRS durante la temporada de VRS y estudio viro lógico negativo por métodos convencionales.

Introduction: Viral respiratory infections (VRI) are a frequent cause of morbidity among adult population. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) produces 20 percent> of VRI, however diagnosis is limited for a low sensitivity of conventional (FDA and ELISA) tests. Aim: To assess the impact of real time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (real time RT-PCR) technique in RSV diagnosis in adult hospitalized patients; to characterize RSV infection among these patients. Patients and Methods: All adults hospitalized in Hospital Clínico Universidad Católica during 8 weeks of winter season, with clinical picture of VRI, and with negative DFA for influenza A and B, parainfluenza 1, 2, 3 and adenovirus were included. Real time RT-PCR was performed from nasopharyngeal sample. Clinical information, general laboratory exams and chest X ray reports were collected. Results: Out of 114 patients with negative DFA, 17 (14.9 percento) Debe decir: RSV cases were demonstrated using real time RT- PCR. Fever, pharyngeal congestion, cough and bronchial obstruction were present in 80 percent> of patients. Thirty percent of them had a baseline chronic disease and 47 percent> were immunocompromised. One out of 17 patients (6 percent) required mechanical ventilation. No mortality was observed. Conclusions: Use of RT-PCR allowed increasing detection of RSV infection over 100 percent> among adults with VRI without virological diagnosis with conventional techniques. It is necessary to consider RSV RT-PCR test among patients with clinical picture of VRI during RSV season, with negative virological screening tests.

Molecular epidemiology of human respiratory syncytial virus in Uruguay: 1985-2001 - A review

The variability of the G glycoprotein from human respiratory syncytial viruses (HRSV) (groups A and B) isolated during 17 consecutive epidemics in Montevideo, Uruguay have been analyzed. Several annual epidemics were studied, where strains from groups A and B circulated together throughout the epidemics with predominance of one of them. Usually, group A predominates, but in some epidemics group B is more frequently detected. To analyse the antigenic diversity of the strains, extracts of cells infected with different viruses of group A were tested with a panel of anti-G monoclonal antibodies (MAbs). The genetic variability of both groups was analyzed by sequencing the C-terminal third of the G protein gene. The sequences obtained together with previously published sequences were used to perform phylogenetic analyses. The data from Uruguayan isolates, together with those from the rest of the world provide information regarding worldwide strain circulation. Phylogenetic analyses of HRSV from groups A and B show a model of evolution analogous to the one proposed for influenza B viruses providing information that would be beneficial for future immunization programs and to design safe vaccines.

Características do lactente hospitalizado com infecção do aparelho respiratório inferior por vírus sincicial respiratório: tipos e genótipos do vírus e anticorpos séricos específicos / Characteristics of infants hospitalized with lower respiratory tract infection due to respiratory syncytial virus: types and genotypes of the virus and specific serum antibodies

As doenças do aparelho respiratório inferior (DARI) são responsáveis por altos índices de morbi-mortalidade em crianças em todo o mundo. O principal agente causador de DARI em lactentes é o vírus sincicial respiratório (VSR), que acomete, principalmente os lactentes no primeiro ano de vida. O perfil dos tipos e genotipos de VSR causadores de DARI e o papel dos anticorpos séricos do lactente ainda estão indefinidos. Este conhecimento é importante para o desenvolvimento de medidas terapêuticas e profiláticas eficazes.Throughout the world, lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) is responsible for high mortality rates among children. The main etiological agent of LRTI in infants is respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) that mainly involves infants in the first year of life. The profile of the types and genotypes of RSV that cause LRTI and the role of the infant's serum antibodies have yet to be fully clarified. This knowledge is important for the development of effective therapeutic and prophylactic measures...

Antigenic and Genetic Characterization of Twenty-six Strains of Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus (Subgroup A) Isolated During Three Consecutive Outbreaks in Havana City, Cuba

Twenty-six human respiratory syncytial virus strains (subgroup A) isolated from three outbreaks in Havana City during the period 1994/95, 1995/96 and 1996/97 were analyzed to determine their antigenic and genetic relationships. Analyses were performed by monoclonal antibodies and restriction mapping (N gene) following amplification of the select region of the virus genome by polymerase chain reaction. All isolated strains were classified as subgroup A by monoclonal antibodies and they showed a restriction pattern NP4 that belonged to subgroup A. Thus the results obtained in this work, showed a close relation (100 percent) between antigenic and genetic characterization of the isolated strains in our laboratory. These methods permit the examination of large numbers of isolates by molecular techniques, simplifying the researchs into the molecular epidemiology of the virus

Variabilidad antigénica de cepas de virus sincitial respiratorio aisladas en ciudad de la Habana mediante ELISA utilizando anticuerpos monoclonales / Antigenic variance of strains of the espiratory sincitial virus isolated in Habana city by eans of ELISA using antibodies

Se realizó el estudio de caracterización y análisis de la variabilidad antigénica con un panel de 10 anticuerpos monoclonales que reconocen a epítopes lineales de la protéina G, a 15 cepas de Virus Sincitial Respiratorio aisladas en dos brotes ocurridos en Ciudad Habana entre los meses de octubre a enero (1994-1995) y octubre (1996), respectivamente. Para ello se utilizaron dos cepas de referencia: la Cepa Long y la Cepa A/Mon/3/88. El ELISA fue el método empleado para los ensayos. Los resultados mostraron la variabilidad de la proteína G entre los aislamientos y su relación antigénica con la cepa prototipo Long, además de confirmar que todas las cepas que habían circulado en estos períodos correspondían antigénicamente al Subgrupo A

Aplicación de la reacción en cadena de la polimerasa para la identificación del virus sincitial respiratorio / Application of the polymerase chain reaction to identify the respiratory syncytial virus

Se desarrolló la reacción en cadena de la polimerasa (RCP) para la identificación del virus sincitial respiratorio (VSR) con el uso de la cepa de referencia. La alta sensibilidad y la especifidad obtenidas en nuestro trabajo demuestran la utilidad de la RCP para la detección del genoma del VSR y su aplicación en el diagnóstico

Detection of respiratory syncytial virus from clinical specimens: comparison between reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and tissue culture.

RT-PCR was compared with tissue culture to detect RSV from nasopharyngeal aspirates. RT-PCR was more sensitive and specific than tissue culture method. RT-PCR has sensitivity and specificity of 100% and 97%, respectively. The results indicate that RT-PCR can be used for detection of RSV in clinical specimens.