Chloe K S Wong, Huachen Zhu, Olive T W Li, Yin Hung C Leung, Michael C W Chan, Yi Guan, Joseph S M Peiris, Leo L M Poon
BACKGROUND: A novel subtype of influenza A virus (H7N9) was recently identified in humans. The virus is a reassortant of avian viruses, but these human isolates contain mutations [hemagglutinin (HA) Q226L and PB2 E627K] that might make it easier for the virus to adapt to mammalian hosts. Molecular tests for rapid detection of this virus are urgently needed. METHODS: We developed a 1-step quantitative real-time reverse-transcription PCR assay to detect the novel human H7N9 virus...
July 2013: Clinical Chemistry