PCR Primers and Detecting Rhinovirus | CDC EID

EID Journal Home > Volume 17, Number 2–February 2011

Volume 17, Number 2–February 2011
Dispatch
Usefulness of Published PCR Primers in Detecting Human Rhinovirus Infection
Cassandra E. Faux, Katherine E. Arden, Stephen B. Lambert, Michael D. Nissen, Terry M. Nolan, Anne B. Chang, Theo P. Sloots, and Ian M. Mackay

Author affiliations: The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia (C.E. Faux, K.E. Arden, S.B. Lambert, M.D. Nissen, T.P. Sloots, I.M. Mackay); The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (T. Nolan); and Royal Children's Hospital, Brisbane (A.B. Chang)

Suggested citation for this article

Abstract
We conducted a preliminary comparison of the relative sensitivity of a cross-section of published human rhinovirus (HRV)–specific PCR primer pairs, varying the oligonucleotides and annealing temperature. None of the pairs could detect all HRVs in 2 panels of genotyped clinical specimens; >1 PCR is required for accurate description of HRV epidemiology.

Human rhinoviruses (HRVs) cause more asthma exacerbations than any other known factor, in addition to causing most colds and influenza-like illnesses. The prevalence of HRV in published reports varies considerably. A novel HRV clade identified in 2006, now known as HRV species C (HRV-C) (1), can be identified only by PCR. Since 1988, seasonality and clinical outcomes and numerous different primer pairs have been used to identify HRV; how well these methods perform on new HRV types is uncertain. Given the likely variation in the preparation of RNA, the quality and formulations of commercial reverse transcription (RT)-PCR enzymes and reaction mix components and changes in thermal cyclers since 1988, not surprisingly many, perhaps most, of these assays are not being used in the manner they were originally described. For example, the first HRV-specific primers reported (2) have subsequently been used with different RNA preparation methods, amounts of reverse transcriptase, cDNA priming strategies, dNTP concentrations, annealing temperatures (TMs), and cycling conditions (3,4).

full-text:
PCR Primers and Detecting Rhinovirus | CDC EID


Suggested Citation for this Article
Faux CE, Arden CE, Lambert SB, Missen MD, Nolan TM, Chang AB, et al. Usefulness of published PCR primers in detecting human rhinovirus infection. Emerg Infect Dis [serial on the Internet]. 2011 Feb [date cited]. http://www.cdc.gov/EID/content/17/2/296.htm

DOI: 10.3201/eid1702.101123


Comments to the Authors
Please use the form below to submit correspondence to the authors or contact them at the following address:

Ian M. Mackay, Queensland Children's Medical Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital–Queensland Paediatric Infectious Diseases Laboratory, Sir Albert Sakzewski Virus Research Centre, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; email: ian.mackay@uq.edu.au