Arboviral Diagnosis and Strain Variability

虫媒病毒在新环境中持续存在的能力无疑是快速 它们的RNA基因组的适应性，如西尼罗河病毒(18，72)，系统性红斑狼疮(71)和乙脑病毒的大量存在 (89)存在于新生态系统中的基因变异。此外，相当多的基因数据表明 SLEV(9，81)、WNV(5)和JEV(47，84)毒力潜力的病毒遗传成分。这 遗传变异性需要鉴定保守的病毒基因序列，这些序列可用于 开发用于病毒鉴定和表征的基因工具。除了高度具体之外 检测方法，能够检测广泛引入的虫媒病毒的新诊断分析方法 代理也是必要的。生成多个潜在的基本遗传序列数据 引进的虫媒病毒制剂将允许靶向病毒基因组的不同区域 交叉反应快速扩增方法的开发将有助于改善现有的 预防人类和兽医疾病的监测和预测紧急情况模型 引入了病毒剂。在人类或动物样本中，病毒基因组和抗原可能不再存在 目前，抗体的检测可以表明引入的试剂的存在。目前，快速 血清学筛查分析是非特异性的，而更具体的确证分析(例如，中和 抗体检测)需要很多天的培养和专门的生物遏制实验室。Rapid(Sameday)， 高度特异的血清学检测能够检测虫媒病毒反应性免疫球蛋白，而不需要 需要与实际代理合作，都是迫切需要的。 在卡罗尔·格拉泽博士的指导下，VRDL进行标准斑块和其他检测 对公共卫生具有重要意义的虫媒病毒，如西尼罗河病毒和SLEV。在拟议的合作研究中， VRDL将与加州大学戴维斯分校的研究人员一起，将新的分子检测与标准检测进行比较，并 将协助在整个加州公共卫生系统推广使用新的化验方法。

The ability of arboviruses to persist in novel environments is undoubtedly a function of the rapid adaptability of their RNA genomes, as illustrated by the large number of WNV(18, 72), SLE (71)and JEV (89) genotypic variants that exist in new ecosystems. In addition, considerable genetic data demonstrates a viral genetic component for virulence potential for SLEV (9, 81), WNV (5) and JEV (47, 84) strains. This genetic variability necessitates the identification of conserved viral genetic sequences that can be utilized in the development of genetic tools for viral identification and characterization. In addition to highly specific detection methodologies, new diagnostic assays capable of detecting a wide range of introduced arboviral agents are also needed. Generation of fundamental genetic sequence data on a number of potentially introduced arboviral agents will allow for the targeting of different regions of viral genomes for the development of cross-reactive rapid amplification methodologies that will aid in the improvement of existing surveillance and predictive emergence models for the prevention of human and veterinary disease from introduced viral agents. In human or animal samples where viral genome and antigen may no longer be present, the detection of antibodies can indicate the presence of an introduced agent. Currently, rapid serologic screening assays are non-specific, and the more specific confirmatory assays (e.g., neutralizing antibody assays) require many days of culture and specialized biocontainment laboratories. Rapid (sameday), highly specific serologic assays capable of detecting arboviral reactive irnmunoglobulin, without the need to work with the actual agent, are urgently needed. Under the direction of Dr. Carol Glaser, the VRDL performs standard plaque and other assays for arboviruses of public health importance, such as WNV and SLEV. In the proposed collaborative studies, the VRDL, along with UC Davis investigators, will compare the new molecular assays to standard assays, and will assist in disseminating use of the new assays throughout the California public health system.