Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 7, 2026

Author Spotlight: Studying Host-Virus Interactions with Pseudotyped Viruses
Published on: November 21, 2023
Monitoring Viral Genetic Variation as a Tool To Improve Molecular Diagnostics for Mumps Virus
Meik Dilcher1, Kevin Barratt1, Jennifer Douglas1
1Microbiology Department, Virology/Serology Section, Canterbury Health Laboratories, Christchurch, New Zealand.
Abstract:
Here, we report how the analysis of viral genetic variation using next-generation sequencing (NGS) can be used as a tool to improve mumps virus diagnostics. Analysis of NGS data from recently circulating mumps virus isolates allowed optimization of the current mumps virus real-time reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) by primer and probe modifications due to nucleotide variations. The modified assay showed a higher efficiency and sensitivity than the previously used CDC protocol for the detection of currently circulating mumps virus strains and could therefore offer better support for outbreak control. The NGS sequence data were also used to make predictions of changes in the hemagglutinin-neuraminidase protein structure that could explain possible immune escape mechanisms.
Related Concept Videos
Genetic Variation
Genes exist in different versions called alleles,...
What are Viruses?
Viral Recombination
Viral Structure
What is Variation?
The range, standard deviation, standard error, and variance are the different measures of variation.
Range: The range is the difference between its maximum and...
Viral Mutations

