Frontiers in Microbiology (May 2018)

A Rapid and Specific Assay for the Detection of MERS-CoV

  • Pei Huang,
  • Pei Huang,
  • Hualei Wang,
  • Hualei Wang,
  • Hualei Wang,
  • Zengguo Cao,
  • Zengguo Cao,
  • Hongli Jin,
  • Hongli Jin,
  • Hang Chi,
  • Jincun Zhao,
  • Jincun Zhao,
  • Beibei Yu,
  • Feihu Yan,
  • Xingxing Hu,
  • Xingxing Hu,
  • Fangfang Wu,
  • Cuicui Jiao,
  • Pengfei Hou,
  • Pengfei Hou,
  • Shengnan Xu,
  • Shengnan Xu,
  • Yongkun Zhao,
  • Yongkun Zhao,
  • Na Feng,
  • Na Feng,
  • Jianzhong Wang,
  • Weiyang Sun,
  • Weiyang Sun,
  • Tiecheng Wang,
  • Tiecheng Wang,
  • Yuwei Gao,
  • Yuwei Gao,
  • Songtao Yang,
  • Songtao Yang,
  • Xianzhu Xia,
  • Xianzhu Xia

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2018.01101
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 9

Abstract

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Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is a novel human coronavirus that can cause human respiratory disease. The development of a detection method for this virus that can lead to rapid and accurate diagnosis would be significant. In this study, we established a nucleic acid visualization technique that combines the reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification technique and a vertical flow visualization strip (RT-LAMP-VF) to detect the N gene of MERS-CoV. The RT-LAMP-VF assay was performed in a constant temperature water bath for 30 min, and the result was visible by the naked eye within 5 min. The RT-LAMP-VF assay was capable of detecting 2 × 101 copies/μl of synthesized RNA transcript and 1 × 101 copies/μl of MERS-CoV RNA. The method exhibits no cross-reactivities with multiple CoVs including SARS-related (SARSr)-CoV, HKU4, HKU1, OC43 and 229E, and thus exhibits high specificity. Compared to the real-time RT-PCR (rRT-PCR) method recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), the RT-LAMP-VF assay is easy to handle, does not require expensive equipment and can rapidly complete detection within 35 min.

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