Gabrichevsky Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Institute of Gene Technologies, Institute of Biochemistry, Moscow, Russia
The test system for the detection of measles virus RNA, based on the single-tube variant of reverse transcription—polymerase chain reaction (RT—PCR), was developed. The buffer system was selected and the optimum proportion of the enzyme mixture M-MLV-revertase, RNAase inhibitor and modified DNA-polymerase, ensuring the “hot start”, was established. The C-end area of the nucleoprotein gene (N-gene) 685 nucleotides long, used in gene typing, was flanked by specific primers. The method proved to be highly sensitive and specific and could be recommended for the rapid diagnostics of measles, while the products obtained in the reaction could be directly used for the gene typing of the visus isolate.
Zh. Mikrobiol. (Moscow), 2003, No. 6, P. 53—56