[The use of molecular hybridization with synthetic deoxyoligonucleotides for differentiating strains of the tick-borne encephalitis virus]

Synthetic deoxyoligonucleotides complementary to different regions of genome RNA of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) Sofjin virus strain were used to differentiate TBE virus strains. Nine TBE strains isolated in different geographical areas from different sources and several viruses of the TBE subgroup were tested. The probes revealed genetic heterogeneity of TBE strains. The probes complementary to different regions of the genome had different specificity. The pattern of hybridization of TBE virus strains with a panel of 11 oligonucleotide probes correlated significantly with the source of the virus strain and to a smaller extent with the geographical isolation site.