Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 29, 2026
13:45
Using a Pan-Viral Microarray Assay (Virochip) to Screen Clinical Samples for Viral Pathogens
Published on: April 27, 2011
[Typing and subtyping avian influenza virus using DNA microarrays]
Zhongping Yang1, Xiurong Wang, Lina Tian
1Animal Influenza Laboratory of Ministry of Agriculture and National Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology of Harbin Veterinary Research Institute of CAAS, Harbin 150001, China. yangzhongping19812@126.com
Wei Sheng Wu Xue Bao = Acta Microbiologica Sinica
|October 8, 2008
Summary
A novel DNA microarray method enables simultaneous detection and subtyping of avian influenza virus (AIV). This sensitive and specific diagnostic tool aids in rapid identification of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) for disease control.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Molecular Diagnostics
- Bioinformatics
Context:
- Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreaks cause significant economic losses and pose risks to human health.
- Accurate and rapid identification of avian influenza virus (AIV) strains is crucial for effective disease management and control strategies.
- Existing diagnostic methods may lack the speed or comprehensiveness required for timely intervention during outbreaks.
Purpose:
- To develop and evaluate a simultaneous microarray-based approach for the detection and subtyping of avian influenza viruses (AIV).
- To assess the sensitivity and specificity of the DNA microarray assay compared to traditional methods like RT-PCR and chicken embryo inoculation.
- To provide a rapid and reliable diagnostic tool for identifying key AIV subtypes from clinical samples.
Summary:
- A DNA microarray was designed using specific primers for AIV M gene, HA subtypes (H5, H7, H9), and NA subtypes (N1, N2).
- Reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) was used to generate labeled cDNA for hybridization and scanning on the microarray.
- The microarray assay demonstrated high specificity, with no cross-hybridization, and proved more sensitive and specific than RT-PCR and chicken embryo inoculation for AIV detection and subtyping.
Impact:
- The developed DNA microarray technology offers a valuable diagnostic method for simultaneously detecting and differentiating major epidemic AIV strains.
- This approach facilitates prompt identification of HPAI, enabling faster implementation of control measures to mitigate economic damage and prevent human transmission.
- The enhanced diagnostic capability supports improved surveillance and response efforts in poultry health and public safety.
Related Concept Videos
00:36Viral Mutations
A mutation is a change in the sequence of bases of DNA or RNA in a genome. Some mutations occur during replication of the genome due to errors made by the polymerase enzymes that replicate DNA or RNA. Unlike DNA polymerase, RNA polymerase is prone to errors because it is not capable of “proofreading” its work. Viruses with RNA-based genomes, like HIV, therefore accrue mutations faster than viruses with DNA-based genomes. Because mutation and recombination provide the raw material for adaptive...
02:34DNA Microarrays
Microarrays are high-throughput and relatively inexpensive assays that can be automated to analyze large quantities of data at a time. They are used in genome-wide studies to compare gene or protein expression under two varied conditions, such as healthy and diseased states. Microarrays consist of glass or silica slides on which probe molecules are covalently attached through surface functionalization. Most commonly, the slides are prepared through the chemisorption of silanes to silica...
02:28Leaky Scanning
During most eukaryotic translation processes, the small 40S ribosome subunit scans an mRNA from its 5' end until it encounters the first start AUG codon. The large 60S ribosomal subunit then joins the smaller one to initiate protein synthesis. The location of the translation initiation is largely determined by the nucleotides near the start codon as there may be multiple translation initiation sites present on the mRNA. Marilyn Kozak discovered that the sequence RCCAUGG (where R stands for...