The first genetic characterization of a D4 measles virus strain derived from a patient with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis.

Measles virus (MV) strains derived from patients with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE), SSPE strains, possess numerous mutations when compared to viruses belonging to the same genotype and circulating in similar time period. Although many SSPE strains have been extensively characterized, none of them belongs to D4 genotype which currently predominates in Europe where it has caused a number of recent outbreaks/epidemics. We sequenced an MV derived from a patient with long-term SSPE; the virus was named MVs/Zagreb.

Intra- and intergenotype characterization of D6 measles virus genotype.

Determination of inter- and intragenotype stability and variability are the basic tools for the molecular epidemiology and evolutionary investigation of measles virus (MV). We made a comparison between complete genome sequences of four MVs (two wt MV strains-WA.USA/17.

A comparison of complete untranslated regions of measles virus genomes derived from wild-type viruses and SSPE brain tissues.

We compared complete untranslated regions (UTRs) of two subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) measles virus (MV) strains and two wild-type (wt) MV strains, all belonging to the same genotype (D6). In comparison to wt MVs of the same genotype, base changes were identified in the two SSPE measles virus strains at 27 and 33 noncoding positions, respectively. Majority of these residues are unique for each of the SSPE virus sequences in comparison to all other reported measles virus strain sequences.

Restriction enzyme cleavage of fluorescently labeled DNA fragments--analysis of the method and its usage in examination of digestion completeness.

Restriction enzymes have proven to be among the most valuable tools in molecular biology. In this work, we demonstrate that the cleavage of fluorescently labeled, PCR-amplified DNA can be used as a simple and highly sensitive technique for detection of sequences present in a percentage as low as 0.6% in a DNA pool.

Screening of serologically negative plasma pools for hepatitis C virus by nucleic acid amplification testing in Croatia, 2001-2003.

A residual risk of HCV infection by different blood products exists due to blood donations collected during the serological window period in the early stages of infection. The aim of this study is nucleic acid amplification technique (NAT)-based screening of the anti-HCV negative plasma pools obtained from various Croatian transfusion centres between 2001 and 2003 for HCV RNA. During this period 2647 anti-HCV negative plasma pools were tested by NAT and 12 (0.

Genetic characterization of L-Zagreb mumps vaccine strain.

Eleven mumps vaccine strains, all containing live attenuated virus, have been used throughout the world. Although L-Zagreb mumps vaccine has been licensed since 1972, only its partial nucleotide sequence was previously determined (accession numbers , and ). Therefore, we sequenced the entire genome of L-Zagreb vaccine strain (Institute of Immunology Inc.

Determination of the coding and non-coding nucleotide sequences of genuine Edmonston-Zagreb master seed and current working seed lot.

To confirm the genetic stability of the Edmonston-Zagreb vaccine strain, we determined and compared the nucleotide sequences of genuine Edmonston-Zagreb master seed (EZ D22) and current working seed lot (EZ D24 2/99). Sequence analysis and comparison of the two sequences confirmed that these two sequences are the same at the molecular level. The obtained sequences were also compared to reference strains, i.

Genetic characterization of a mumps virus isolate during passaging in the amniotic cavity of embryonated chicken eggs.

The aim of this study was the molecular characterization of a historical mumps isolate (an alleged individual sample). After RNA extraction and cDNA synthesis, selective nested PCR amplification with specific primers, automated DNA sequencing and RFLP analyses were performed. The relative ratios of the detected virus sequences were determined by GeneScan electrophoresis.

Detection and characterization of measles virus strains in cases of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis in Croatia.

Two cases of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE), diagnosed in Croatia in 2002, were investigated. The coding regions of the matrix (M), hemagglutinin (H) and nucleoprotein (N) genes of measles virus were sequenced following direct RT-PCR amplification of viral RNA extracted from brain tissue. Phylogenetic analysis of the sequences of H and N genes, showed that both strains belonged to genotype D6.