Patent ID: 7279275
Filing Date: 2007-10-09
Classification: C12Q

Abstract:
1. A method for detecting the presence, absence, or quantity of a segmented negative strand RNA virus in a biological sample suspected of comprising the virus, the method comprising: a) providing a genetically engineered vertebrate cell comprising a recombinant RNA molecule that comprises an artificial segment of a segmented negative strand RNA virus or the complement thereof, the artificial segment comprising a 5′ untranslated region (UTR) of a segmented negative strand RNA virus, a reporter gene encoding a polypeptide, and a 3′ UTR of a segmented negative strand RNA virus, wherein expression of the polypeptide depends upon the presence in the cell of an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase of the virus suspected of being comprised by the sample and wherein the cell lacks at least one nucleocapsid protein of the virus; b) contacting the cell with a biological sample suspected of comprising a segmented negative strand RNA virus; and c) detecting the absence, presence, or quantity of the polypeptide encoded by the reporter gene, thereby indicating the absence, presence, or quantity, respectively, of the virus suspected of being comprised by the sample.