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PCR-RFLP based molecular typing of enteroviruses isolated from patients with aseptic meningitis in Korea
1Department of Life Science, College of Natural Science, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, Korea.
Abstract:
We have evaluated PCR-RFLP as a practical method for rapid typing of enteroviruses causing aseptic meningitis in Korea. Through blind examination of 80 clinical isolates from patients with aseptic meningitis, we have compared the results of conventional serotyping with PCR-RFLP based genotyping, which was developed for this study. Among the 80 case isolates, which had been previously typed by routine neutralization test, only 42 cases (52.5%) were matched with typing by PCR-RFLP. The result clearly demonstrated that the enterovirus serotype does not coincide with the genotype. Therefore, the classification of enteroviruses by genotyping with PCR-RFLP, although rapid and simple, may be complicated by regional or seasonal differences. However, the PCR-RFLP method developed in this study is applicable to the epidemiological study of enteroviruses when regional or seasonal differences exist, and is useful in identifying the source of an infection.
Insights
Polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) offers a rapid method for enterovirus genotyping. However, enterovirus genotypes identified by PCR-RFLP may not align with serotypes, complicating classification due to regional variations.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Molecular Biology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Enteroviruses are a significant cause of aseptic meningitis worldwide.
- Accurate and rapid typing of enteroviruses is crucial for epidemiological studies and outbreak investigations.
- Conventional serotyping methods can be time-consuming and may not always reflect genetic diversity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate Polymerase Chain Reaction Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) as a rapid genotyping method for enteroviruses causing aseptic meningitis in Korea.
- To compare PCR-RFLP genotyping results with conventional serotyping.
- To assess the utility of PCR-RFLP for epidemiological studies of enteroviruses.
Main Methods:
- Development of a novel PCR-RFLP genotyping assay for enteroviruses.
- Blind examination of 80 clinical isolates from aseptic meningitis patients in Korea.
- Comparison of typing results obtained by PCR-RFLP with those from routine neutralization tests (serotyping).
Main Results:
- A significant discrepancy was observed between PCR-RFLP genotyping and conventional serotyping, with only 52.5% concordance (42 out of 80 isolates).
- The study demonstrated that enterovirus serotype does not consistently correlate with genotype.
- PCR-RFLP genotyping results showed potential for complication by regional or seasonal differences in enterovirus strains.
Conclusions:
- While PCR-RFLP is a rapid and simple method for enterovirus genotyping, its classification may be influenced by geographical and temporal factors.
- The developed PCR-RFLP method is valuable for epidemiological surveillance of enteroviruses, particularly when accounting for regional or seasonal variations.
- This technique can aid in identifying the sources of enterovirus infections.
