Serotype-specific identification of enterovirus 71 by RT-PCR

摘要

The present invention provides nucleic acids which can be used as primers in amplification or sequencing reactions to rapidly amplify or sequence, respectively, EV71 nucleic acids. A preferred group of nucleic acids of the present invention when used as primer pairs in amplification reactions, detect EV71 with a high degree of specifically and sensitivity. With these preferred primer pairs, the specificity of amplification methods of the present invention is such that EV71 nucleic acid is amplified to a detectable level, whereas CA16 DNA is not. The nucleic acid primers of the present invention contain mixed bases or deoxyinosine residues at positions of codon degeneracy. Examples of nucleic acid primers for amplifying and sequencing EV71 nucleic acid are set forth in the Sequence Listing as SEQ ID NOS:1-12. Examples of preferred primers for discriminating between EV71 and CA16 are set forth in the Sequence Listing as SEQ ID NOS:1-4.