Selection and Multiplexing of Reverse Transcription-Quantitative PCR Tests Targeting Relevant Honeybee Viral Pathogens

Overview

Journal Microorganisms

Specialty Microbiology

Date 2024 Jun 27

PMID 38930487

Authors

Franca Rossi

Ilaria Del Matto

Luciano Ricchiuti

Lucio Marino

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Verifying the inclusivity of molecular detection methods gives indications about the reliability of viral infection diagnosis because of the tendency of viral pathogens to undergo sequence variation. This study was aimed at selecting inclusive probes based on reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) assays for the diagnosis of the most widespread and detrimental viruses infecting honeybees, namely the acute bee paralysis virus (ABPV), the black queen cell virus (BQCV), the chronic paralysis bee virus (CBPV), the deformed wing virus variants A (DWVA) and B (DWVB), and the sacbrood virus (SBV). Therefore, previously described detection methods were re-evaluated in silico for their specificity and inclusivity. Based on this evaluation, selected methods were modified, or new ones were designed and tested in duplex RT-qPCR reactions. The limits of detection (LODs), effect of multiplexing on sensitivity and the viral RNA quantification potential in bees and hive debris were assessed. This study made available diagnostic assays able to detect an increased number of virus variants compared with previously described tests and two viral pathogens in a single PCR reaction.

Citing Articles

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Rossi F, Iannitto M, Hulaj B, Manocchio P, Gentile F, Matto I Insects. 2024; 15(10).

PMID: 39452362 PMC: 11508623. DOI: 10.3390/insects15100786.

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