A practical approach to genetic screening for influenza virus variants

This report describes a quick genetic approach to the screening of influenza virus variants. Multiplex reverse transcription (MRT) and multiplex PCR (MPCR) were used to amplify and differentiate the hemagglutinin (HA) genes of different types and subtypes of influenza viruses. Heteroduplex mobility assay (HMA) was then used to differentiate strains within the same type and subtype. Three primers complementary to the consensus 3' termini of viral genomic RNA segments of human influenza virus types A, B, and C were used in a single MRT reaction to prime the synthesis of cDNA of all the viral genome segments. The cDNA was then amplified in an MPCR containing primers for the HA genes of the H1 and H3 subtypes of type A, the HA gene of type B, and the counterpart of type C virus. Amplicons of the different types and subtypes differ in size, thus allowing typing and subtyping. The regions amplified cover most of the HA1 portion of the HA genes and therefore amplicons of variants identified by the described HMA can be sequenced directly. In the HMA, the amplicon of an individual strain was mixed with that of a reference strain and heteroduplexes derived from mismatches migrated more slowly than homoduplexes of the same size in electrophoresis, with the mobility shift pattern indicating the divergence of amplicons. The whole process from viral RNA extraction to HMA can be completed within 2 days and thus provides a quick screening before further analysis by hemagglutination inhibition testing and sequencing. In addition, all segments of the viral genome can be amplified from a single MRT reaction, which can yield valuable sources of products for future genetic analyses. This method should facilitate genetic screening and characterization of influenza virus variants.