A novel PCR assay for quantification of HIV-1 RNA

L Shan, SA Rabi, GM Laird, EE Eisele, H Zhang… - Journal of …, 2013 - Am Soc Microbiol
L Shan, SA Rabi, GM Laird, EE Eisele, H Zhang, JB Margolick, RF Siliciano
Journal of virology, 2013Am Soc Microbiol
Current assays for quantification of HIV-1 virions rely on real-time reverse transcriptase (RT)-
PCR detection of conserved regions of HIV-1 RNA and can be limited by detection of
contaminating viral or plasmid DNA. We developed a novel RT-PCR assay using a reverse
primer that hybridizes with the poly (A) tail of HIV-1 mRNAs, anchored by conserved viral
nucleotides at the most distal region of the transcript. This assay can detect and quantify HIV-
1 RNA with high specificity and sensitivity.
Abstract
Current assays for quantification of HIV-1 virions rely on real-time reverse transcriptase (RT)-PCR detection of conserved regions of HIV-1 RNA and can be limited by detection of contaminating viral or plasmid DNA. We developed a novel RT-PCR assay using a reverse primer that hybridizes with the poly(A) tail of HIV-1 mRNAs, anchored by conserved viral nucleotides at the most distal region of the transcript. This assay can detect and quantify HIV-1 RNA with high specificity and sensitivity.
American Society for Microbiology