Peer-Reviewed Journal Details
Mandatory Fields
Sheehy, P.,Scallan, M.,Kenny-Walsh, E.,Shanahan, F.,Fanning, L. J.
2005
February
Journal of Virological Methods
A strategy for obtaining near full-length HCV cDNA clones (assemblicons) by assembly PCR
Validated
()
Optional Fields
123
2
115
124
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype is a predictor of response, and guides the duration of antiviral therapy. However, with the exception of HCV genotype la, lb and 2a, a limited number of clones from other genotypes exist. Here we report the optimization of long RT-PCR to generate three overlapping amplicons that span the near full length HCV genome from a panel of HCV genotypes (I a, I b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 4a, 5a). Assembly-PCR (As-PCR) was used to construct near full-length cDNA clones (assemblicons) for each genotype. The optimization of the long RT-PCR on genotype I a and I b indicated that QIAamp Viral RNA kit (Qiagen, UK), Expand(TM) RT and Expand(TM) Long Template PCR system (Roche, UK), were the most efficient in producing the requisite three overlapping amplicons and assemblicons for each genotype. The genotype of each assemblicon was confirmed. Assemblicon generation was only possible when the overlapping amplicons were biotinylated. As-PCR obviated the need for time consuming ligations and cloning. The use of three overlapping amplicons in the construction of HCV assemblicons minimised the chimeric nature of the resultant clone. As-PCR may prove a methodological avenue through which a larger panel of consensus HCV clones could be made available for HCV in vitro investigation. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype is a predictor of response, and guides the duration of antiviral therapy. However, with the exception of HCV genotype la, lb and 2a, a limited number of clones from other genotypes exist. Here we report the optimization of long RT-PCR to generate three overlapping amplicons that span the near full length HCV genome from a panel of HCV genotypes (I a, I b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 4a, 5a). Assembly-PCR (As-PCR) was used to construct near full-length cDNA clones (assemblicons) for each genotype. The optimization of the long RT-PCR on genotype I a and I b indicated that QIAamp Viral RNA kit (Qiagen, UK), Expand(TM) RT and Expand(TM) Long Template PCR system (Roche, UK), were the most efficient in producing the requisite three overlapping amplicons and assemblicons for each genotype. The genotype of each assemblicon was confirmed. Assemblicon generation was only possible when the overlapping amplicons were biotinylated. As-PCR obviated the need for time consuming ligations and cloning. The use of three overlapping amplicons in the construction of HCV assemblicons minimised the chimeric nature of the resultant clone. As-PCR may prove a methodological avenue through which a larger panel of consensus HCV clones could be made available for HCV in vitro investigation. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
0166-09340166-0934
://WOS:000226534500001://WOS:000226534500001
Grant Details