William Hanna
CY Molecular Diagnostics, Inc., (CYMD), USA
Title: Manufacturing of HIV-1 RT-PCR test kit, to support Zika virus project in the world
Biography
Biography: William Hanna
Abstract
According to The Guardian “ZIKA VIRUS’s spread in Brazil continues, but where else is in danger?” (2016), 1.5 million people have been infected with the virus in Brazil, and more than 4,000 suspected cases of microcephaly. Zika is confirmed to cause a negative impact on fetal development, which leads to microcephaly, and damage to the neurological system in adults. Detecting Zika with serological assays that detect specific IgM or IgG against Zika are only useful later in the disease, while RT-PCR can detect the viral RNA sooner and more specifically since there is significant cross-reactivity between Flavivirus serology. Direct detection of Zika is possible from samples by utilizing RT-PCR to amplify Zika RNA. Real Time-PCR for detection and quantitation of specific amplicons has been achieved using quencher and dye labeled oligo probes (QDOPs). The QDOP has a fluorescent reporter dye at 5’-end and a quencher at the 3’-end. When the closed QDOP is excited by irradiation the reporter fluorescence is greatly reduced by quenching through the process of fluorescence resonance energy transfer. When the QDOP hybridizes to the target, the stem loop opens the reporter dye, with the quencher dye, thus increasing the reporter dye fluorescence intensity.