Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: Background
A novel coronavirus of zoonotic origin (2019-nCoV) has recently been identified in patients with acute respiratory disease. This virus is genetically similar to SARS coronavirus and bat SARS-like coronaviruses. The outbreak was initially detected in Wuhan, a major city of China, but has subsequently been detected in other provinces of China. Travel-associated cases have also been reported in a few other countries. Outbreaks in health care workers indicate human-to-human transmission. Molecular tests for rapid detection of this virus are urgently needed for early identification of infected patients.Methods
We developed two 1-step quantitative real-time reverse-transcription PCR assays to detect two different regions (ORF1b and N) of the viral genome. The primer and probe sets were designed to react with this novel coronavirus and its closely related viruses, such as SARS coronavirus. These assays were evaluated using a panel of positive and negative controls. In addition, respiratory specimens from two 2019-nCoV-infected patients were tested.Results
Using RNA extracted from cells infected by SARS coronavirus as a positive control, these assays were shown to have a dynamic range of at least seven orders of magnitude (2x10-4-2000 TCID50/reaction). Using DNA plasmids as positive standards, the detection limits of these assays were found to be below 10 copies per reaction. All negative control samples were negative in the assays. Samples from two 2019-nCoV-infected patients were positive in the tests.Conclusions
The established assays can achieve a rapid detection of 2019n-CoV in human samples, thereby allowing early identification of patients.
SUBMITTER: Chu DKW
PROVIDER: S-EPMC7108203 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Apr
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Chu Daniel K W DKW Pan Yang Y Cheng Samuel M S SMS Hui Kenrie P Y KPY Krishnan Pavithra P Liu Yingzhi Y Ng Daisy Y M DYM Wan Carrie K C CKC Yang Peng P Wang Quanyi Q Peiris Malik M Poon Leo L M LLM
Clinical chemistry 20200401 4
<h4>Background</h4>A novel coronavirus of zoonotic origin (2019-nCoV) has recently been identified in patients with acute respiratory disease. This virus is genetically similar to SARS coronavirus and bat SARS-like coronaviruses. The outbreak was initially detected in Wuhan, a major city of China, but has subsequently been detected in other provinces of China. Travel-associated cases have also been reported in a few other countries. Outbreaks in health care workers indicate human-to-human transm ...[more]