Diagnostic Microarray for Influenza B Viruses

摘要

The importance of global influenza surveillance usingsimple and rapid diagnostics has been frequently high-lighted. For influenza type B, the need exists for discrimination between the two currently circulating major lineages, represented by virus strains B/Victoria/2/87 and B/Yamagata/16/88, as only one of these lineages is represented in seasonal influenza vaccines. Here, the development and characterization of a low-density DNA microarray (designated BChip) designed to detect and identify the two influenza B lineages is presented. The assay involved multiplex nucleic acid amplification and microarray hybridization of viral RNA. Detection and lineage identification was achieved in less than 8 h. In a study of 62 influenza B virus samples from 19 countries, dating from 1945 to 2005, as well as 5 negative control samples, the assay exhibited 97percent sensitivity and 100percent specificity. Furthermore, application of a trained artificial neural network to the pattern of relative fluorescence signals resulted in correct lineage assignment for 94percent of 50 applicable influenza B viruses, with no false assignments.