Patent ID: 7875422
Filing Date: 2011-01-25
Classification: C12Q,G01N

Abstract:
1. A method of testing phenotypic drug susceptibility of a retrovirus in a mammalian individual infected by said retrovirus by testing a reverse transcriptase packed inside the retrovirus particle, comprising the steps of a) obtaining a biological sample from said individual; b) adding a cysteine modifying agent to said biological sample for inactivating polymerase activity present in said sample other than that present inside said retrovirus particle, wherein the cysteine modifying agent is 5,5′-dithiobis-(2-nirobenzoic acid); c) removing enzyme activity blocking antibodies, endogenous enzyme activity inhibitors, and antiviral drugs present in said biological sample, as well as said cysteine modifying agent, thereby obtaining the purified retrovirus particle; d) lysing the retrovirus particle to release said reverse transcriptase packed inside said retrovirus particle; e) recovering said reverse transcriptase essentially free from its cellular counterparts resulting from steps b) through d); and f) assaying the activity of the recovered reverse transcriptase by using a polymerase assay, and determining the drug sensitivity profile of said individual.