Sensitive enzyme immunoassay for the rapid diagnosis of influenza a virus infections in clinical specimens

Samples of nasopharyngeal secretion (NPS) from 100 infants and small children admitted for acute respiratory disease during the period from January to March 1989 were examined for the presence of influenza A virus. All samples were tested by enzyme immunoassay (EIA), fluorescent antibody (FA) technique and by isolation in cell culture 3–6 h after they were obtained from the patients. Of 24 influenza strains found by isolation, 21 were detected by EIA and 19 were FA⁺. In comparison with virus isolation, EIA gave the following values: sensitivity 88 %, specificity 100 %, positive prognostic value (PPV) 100 %, and negative prognostic value (NPV) 96 %. A rabbit anti-influenza-A serum (A-13) was used as catching antibody and a monoclonal anti-influenza-A pool against NP protein was used as detector antibody in EIA. A-13 gave bands corresponding to influenza A core proteins (NP and M1) in Western blot (WB) studies when different H3N2 strains were employed as antigens. A-13 gave only a band corresponding to the NP protein when H1N1 strains were examined by WB. The detection level by EIA for both H3N2 and H1N1 strains precipitated by polyethylene glycol from tissue culture maintenance medium was 1–2 ng.     

Detection of Campylobacter jejuni added to foods by using a combined selective enrichment and nucleic acid sequence-based amplification (NASBA).

An assay to detect Campylobacter jejuni in foods that uses a short selective enrichment culture, a simple and rapid isolation procedure, NASBA amplification of RNA, and a nonradioactive in solution hybridization was studied. The presence of high numbers of indigenous flora affected the sensitivity of the assay. However, detection of C. jejuni was possible up to a ratio of indigenous flora to C. jejuni of 10,000:1. Interference by food components was eliminated by centrifugation following the enrichment step. Fourteen food samples artificially inoculated with C. jejuni (1 to 1,000 CFU/10 g) were analyzed with the NASBA assay and the conventional culture method with Campylobacter charcoal differential agar (CCDA). A few false-negative results were obtained by both NASBA (1.42%) and CCDA (2.86%) isolation. Yet the use of enrichment culture and NASBA shortened the analysis time from 6 days to 26 h. The relative simplicity and rapidity of the NASBA assay make it an attractive alternative for detection of C. jejuni in food samples.     

套式RT—PCR方法检测临床样品中的猪流感病毒

猪流感是由猪流感病毒(Swine influenza vi rus, SIV)引起的一种呼吸道传染病,具有发病率高、死亡率低的特点,罹患流感的怀孕母猪还有并发流产的危险。猪流感已给我国养猪业带来严重危害。SIV属于正粘病毒科 A 型流感病毒属[1]。A型流感病毒可感染多种动物,一般认为,水禽是流感病毒的自然宿主和基因库,猪则是人流感病毒株与禽流感病毒株的中间宿主和混合器[1],通过基因重配产生抗原转移而导致新流感病毒株的出现。研究病毒两种受体[2],因此所有A型流感病毒都能感染猪,猪在流感病毒的生态分布中占有重要地位。目前猪流感的主要流行血…     

H5亚型禽流感病毒一步法RT-PCR检测方法的建立

针对家禽中流行较为广泛、危害相对大的H5亚型禽流感病毒的血凝素（HA）基因,通过分析流感数据库221个HA序列,在保守区内用Oligo6.0软件设计并合成了一对引物,建立了用于快速诊断H5亚型禽流感病毒的一步法RT-PCR方法,其扩增的目的片段大小为372bp。通过对H5亚型禽流感病毒尿囊液和棉拭子浸出液进行不同稀释倍数检测,结果表明病毒尿囊液最低检出量为10-4稀释;阳性棉拭子最低检出量为8倍稀释。用病毒分离和该方法同时检测不同脏器、口咽及泄殖腔棉拭子样品,结果表明该方法检测灵敏度比病毒分离低10～100倍。用该方法检测H1～H15亚型禽流感病毒和鸡新城疫病毒等其他14种禽病病原,仅有H5亚型禽流感病毒扩增出特异性目的条带。该方法具有方便快捷、特异性强、敏感性高等特点,为我国禽流感的快速诊断和分子流行病学调查提供了技术支撑。     

Detection of influenza A in clinical specimens and cell culture fluid by a commercial EIA

A MoAb-based capture EIA for the direct detection of influenza A from clinical samples was compared with cell culture isolation. A total of 330 respiratory specimens were submitted for detection of influenza A and/or other respiratory viruses. Influenza A was detected in 39 of 330 (12%) respiratory samples by culture or EIA. There were 33 concordant (EIA+/Culture-) samples (82%), and 6 discordant samples (3 EIA +/Culture-; 3 EIA-/Culture+). Compared to viral isolation, the EIA had a sensitivity of 92%, a specificity of 98%, with positive and negative predictive values of 92% and 99%, respectively.     

Nucleic acid sequence-based amplification methods to detect avian influenza virus

Infection of poultry with highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (AIV) can be devastating in terms of flock morbidity and mortality, economic loss, and social disruption. The causative agent is confined to certain isolates of influenza A virus subtypes H5 and H7. Due to the potential of direct transfer of avian influenza to humans, continued research into rapid diagnostic tests for influenza is therefore necessary. A nucleic acid sequence-based amplification (NASBA) method was developed to detect a portion of the haemagglutinin gene of avian influenza A virus subtypes H5 and H7 irrespective of lineage. A further NASBA assay, based on the matrix gene, was able to detect examples of all known subtypes (H1-H15) of avian influenza virus. The entire nucleic acid isolation, amplification, and detection procedure was completed within 6h. The dynamic range of the three AIV assays was five to seven orders of magnitude. The assays were sensitive and highly specific, with no cross-reactivity to phylogenetically or clinically relevant viruses. The results of the three AIV NASBA assays correlated with those obtained by viral culture in embryonated fowl's eggs.     

Comparative evaluation of two commercially available antigen enzyme immunoassays (EIA) for the detection of Legionella pneumophila urinary antigen in frozen non-concentrated urine samples

We evaluated two commercial enzyme immunoassay kits, Binax EIA (for detection of soluble antigen of Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1) and Biotest EIA (for detection of antigens of Legionella pneumophila serogroups and other Legionella spp.) in order to introduce this test routinely for the diagnosis of Legionnaires' disease (LD) in our Laboratory. Frozen non-concentrated urine samples belonging to 45 patients with and without LD were tested. The sensitivity of Binax EIA and Biotest EIA was 47.4% and 42.1% respectively, the specificity was 95% by both tests. Biotest did not detect antigen from a patient with culture-proven infection of L. pneumophila serogroup 6. The detection of urinary antigen by both EIA tests is a useful tool for rapid diagnosis of LD, especially when samples are unavailable for culture; the sensitivity may be increased if the assay is performed on unfrozen and concentrated samples.     

Influenza A virus nucleoprotein derived from Escherichia coli or recombinant vaccinia (Tiantan) virus elicits robust cross-protection in mice

Immunity to conserved viral antigens is an attractive approach to develop a universal vaccine against epidemic and pandemic influenza. A nucleoprotein (NP)-based vaccine has been explored and preliminary studies have shown promise. However, no study has explored the immunity and cross-protective efficacy of recombinant NP derived from Escherichia coli compared with recombinant vaccinia virus (Tiantan). Recombinant NP protein (rNP) from influenza virus A/Jingke/30/95(H3N2) was obtained from E. coli and recombinant vaccinia virus (Tiantan) RVJ1175NP. Purified rNP without adjuvant and RVJ1175NP were used to immunize BALB/c mice intramuscularly. Humoral immune responses were detected by ELISA, while cell-mediated immune responses were measured by ex vivo IFN-γ ELISPOT and in vivo cytotoxicity assays. The cross-protective efficacy was assessed by a challenge with a heterosubtype of influenza virus A/PR/8/34(H1N1). Our results demonstrate that a high dose (90 μg) of rNP induced NP-specific antibodies and T cell responses that were comparable with those of RVJ1175NP in mice. Importantly, the survival ratio (36, 73, and 78%) of the vaccinated mice after the influenza virus A/PR/8/34(H1N1) challenge was rNP vaccine dose-dependent (10, 30, and 90 μg, respectively), and no significant differences were observed between the rNP- and RVJ1175NP-immunized (91%) mice. Influenza A virus NP derived from E. coli or recombinant vaccinia (Tiantan) virus elicited cross-protection against influenza virus in mice, and the immune response and protective efficacy of rNP were comparable to RVJ1175NP. These data provide a basis for the use of prokaryotically expressed NP as a candidate universal influenza vaccine.     

NASBA快速检测禽流感H5亚型病毒

采用建立的依赖核酸序列的扩增(Nucleicacidsequencebasedamplification,NASBA)对禽流感病毒3株H5亚型、1株H1、H3、H6亚型、3株禽流感H9亚型、5株不同宿主来源的新城疫病毒、鸭肝炎病毒、鸭瘟病毒、SPF鸡胚尿囊液及禽流感(H9)疫苗、新城疫疫苗、传染性法氏囊病疫苗、传染性支气管炎疫苗进行检测,结果NASBA(H5试剂)仅检测到禽流感病毒H5亚型,表明方法的特异性强。采用已知禽流感病毒A/Chicken/HK/1000/97(H5N1)的鸡胚尿囊液(ELD5010-7.5/mL),经10倍连续稀释,将经典的鸡胚病原分离法和NASBA进行比较,二种方法的灵敏度相当。用A/Chicken/HK/1000/97(H5N1)病毒人工感染SPF鸡、商品鸡,采用NASBA和病原分离法同时对人工感染鸡的粪拭子、血液进行了动态检测;采集感染死亡鸡的组织脏器,共检测了101个组织脏器,两种方法的符合率为90%(87/97)。     

The results of using the molecular hybridization of nucleic acids in the complex study of nasopharyngeal smears from patients with influenza and other acute respiratory diseases

A complex study of samples obtained from patients with influenza and other acute respiratory diseases has revealed that the laboratory methods used in this study can be rated in the following order according to their sensitivity: isolation of the virus in chick embryos, analysis of seroconversions in the hemagglutination inhibition test, immunofluorescent determination of viral antigens, determination of viral antigens by enzyme immunoassay (EIA), detection of RNA-containing viral structures by means of molecular hybridization. From the point of view of the possibility of documenting influenza A in patients, the best results are achieved by the combination of molecular hybridization and EIA techniques: 90% and more of all cases. A rational scheme for the examination of samples obtained from patients with a view to epidemiological study, including both traditional and new rapid diagnostic methods, is proposed.     

Rapid Detection of Oculopathogenic Adenovirus in Conjunctivitis

Ocular adenovirus (Ad) infections occur throughout the world in both sporadic and epidemic forms. Accurate laboratory diagnosis of Ad in conjunctival samples is always valuable. The present study was carried out to explore the presence of Ad as a causative agent in clinically suspected viral conjunctivitis and to compare the performance of conventional virus isolation on cell cultures, direct detection of Ad antigens in conjunctival cells by a direct fluorescence assay, Ad DNA detection by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and specific IgM measurement by ELISA. Samples included scrapes from conjunctiva. Scrapes were subjected to study by direct immunofluorescence stain, culture on the Hep-2 cell line, and PCR for Ad detection. Blood samples were also taken and subjected to study for specific anti-Ad IgM determination. The culture for Ad was positive in 77.8%, direct antigen detection by fluorescent stain was positive in 72.2%, PCR was positive in 83.3%, and serology was positive in 88.9% of patients. Both determination of antibody IgM and PCR correctly identified a larger group of patients compared to cell culture. The most sensitive and specific method for diagnosis of Ad compared to culture was PCR (100%), followed by IgM detection (92.9%) then direct antigen detection by fluorescent stain (85.8%). From this study, we conclude that Ad is a common pathogen in sporadic cases of conjunctivitis. Screening of adenoviral conjunctivitis is possible by using specific IgM due to its high sensitivity. A confirmatory test can be done by PCR for diagnosis of Ad, as it is a rapid, specific, and accurate method.     

禽流感H5、H7、H9亚型多重实时荧光RT-PCR检测方法的建立

为了对致病性强、危害性大的H5、H7、H9亚型禽流感病毒进行同时集成化快速检测,通过对GenBank已报道的禽流感病毒的HA基因进行序列分析比较,设计了H5、H7、H9 3个亚型的特异性引物和分别用3个荧光基团标记的Taqman MGB核酸探针。将各个亚型引物与探针优化组合,筛选出能够同时检测禽流感病毒H5、H7、H9 3个亚型、且对Ct值和扩增效率影响不大的3组引物和探针,建立了三重实时荧光RT-PCR方法。该方法特异性好,在我们检测的样品中,没有发现假阳性和假阴性现象。同时敏感性高,检测禽流感病毒H5、H7、H9亚型的敏感性分别达到1 0001、000、500个模板拷贝数;此外抗干扰能力强,对禽流感H5、H7、H9 3个亚型的不同模板浓度进行组合,仍可有效地同时检测3个病毒亚型。所建立的方法对保存的89个禽流感病毒样品进行检测,结果与经典检测方法(病毒分离鉴定、HA、HI)的符合率达100%。用上述建立的方法与鸡胚分离法同时对新鲜采集的4 000多份临床样品进行检测,两种方法的检测结果符合率为100%。     

A flu optical immunoassay (ThermoBioStar''s FLU OIA): a diagnostic tool for improved influenza management.

ThermoBioStar's and Biota's flu optical immunoassay (FLU OIA) is a rapid test designed to diagnose influenza A and B infection using a variety of specimen types. The assay uses highly sensitive thin-film detection methods, coupled with specific monoclonal antibodies to the nucleoprotein. The test is simple to perform, requires no instrumentation and is intended to provide a result within 15 min of test initiation in the 'point-of-care' environment. In initial clinical studies, the assay was demonstrated to be equivalent to culture in identifying infected individuals. Subsequent independent studies using a variety of sample types have demonstrated sensitivity ranging from 48 to 100% and specificities ranging from 93 to 97%. In addition to detecting human strains, this assay has been demonstrated to be capable of detecting a variety of avian and non-human mammalian influenza viruses. The FLU OIA test has been used in large-scale surveillance schemes intended to provide rapid epidemiological data during normal influenza seasons and has demonstrated the potential for fulfilling a similar role for multispecies surveillance in, for example, conditions that offer challenges for conventional virus isolation methods. Conceivably, such use should facilitate the timely recognition of influenza outbreaks and prioritization of positive specimens for more conventional, laboratory characterization, leading to improved interpandemic surveillance and rapid reaction in the face of the next pandemic.     

Purification and molecular structure of RNA polymerase from influenza virus A/PR8

The RNA-dependent RNA polymerase of influenza virus A/PR/8 was isolated from virus particles by stepwise centrifugation in cesium salts. First, RNP (viral RNA-NP-P proteins) complexes were isolated by glycerol gradient centrifugation of detergent-treated viruses and subsequently NP was dissociated from RNP by cesium chloride gradient centrifugation. The P-RNA (P proteins-viral RNA) complexes were further dissociated into P proteins and viral RNA by cesium trifluoroacetate (CsTFA) gradient centrifugation. The nature of P proteins was further analyzed by glycerol gradient centrifugation and immunoblotting using monospecific antibodies against each P protein. The three P proteins, PB1, PB2, and PA, sedimented altogether as fast as the marker protein with the molecular weight of about 250,000 Da. Upon addition of the template vRNA, the RNA-free P protein complex exhibited the activities of capped RNA cleavage and limited RNA synthesis. When a cell line stably expressing cDNAs for three P proteins and NP protein was examined, the three P proteins were found to be co-precipitated by antibodies against the individual P proteins. These results indicate that the influenza virus RNA-dependent RNA polymerase is a heterocomplex composed of one each of the three P proteins and that the RNA-free RNA polymerase can be isolated in an active form from virus particles. Furthermore, the three P proteins form a complex in the absence of vRNA.     

一种快速检测甲型流感病毒的方法

目的 开发一种快速、简便的基于胶体金免疫层析法（GICA）的试剂盒,以用于对甲型流感病毒的检测。方法以柠檬酸三钠还原法制备胶体金颗粒,标记抗甲型流感病毒内部抗原的单克隆抗体。硝酸纤维素膜上包被两种抗甲型流感病毒单克隆抗体的混合液,制成免疫层析试纸。待测样品中的甲型流感病毒首先与胶体金标记抗体结合,后移动至硝酸纤维素上与固定的单克隆抗体发生反应,形成肉眼可见的红色带。结果GICA试纸条与甲1型和甲3型流感病毒共16种毒株均能发生特异性反应,与乙型流感病毒、副流感病毒、腺病毒和呼吸道合胞病毒无交叉反应。用三种不同甲型流感病毒毒株的不同浓度标本与美国同类经过FDA批准的产品比较,灵敏度相同。结论GICA试纸条灵敏度能够达到临床使用的要求,并具有简便快速、无需特殊仪器设备等优点,对甲型流感的诊断和流行病学调查具有十分重要的应用价值。     

新城疫液相芯片快速检测方法的建立

目的：建立可检测新城疫病毒（Newcastle disease virus,NDV）的液相芯片快速检测技术。方法：用DNAStar软件对GEN-BANK中NDV的NP基因进行序列分析设计NDV特异性探针并标记生物素,利用该探针与荧光编码微球偶联后与抽提的NDV病毒RNA的RT-PCR产物杂交反应,用液相芯片检测仪（Liquichip 200）检测荧光信号建立了NDV快速液相芯片检测方法。结果：检测结果显示,该法具有较好的特异性,不与H5AIV和H9AIV反应;检测灵敏度达到150个EID50;该法与鸡胚病毒分离法检出NDV的符合率达到97.1%。结论：初步建立了检测NDV的液相芯片技术,为进一步搭建NDV全新快速高通量检测平台奠定了基础,也为其他同类病毒的快速高通量检测提供了借鉴和经验。