TYPING OF LACROSSE, SNOWSHOE HARE, AND TAHYNA VIRUSES BY ANALYSES OF SINGLE-STRAND CONFORMATION POLYMORPHISMS OF THE SMALL RNA SEGMENTS

Single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis was developed to diff erentiate the small RNA segments of three California serogroup bunyavi ruses. The small RNA segments of La Crosse, snowshoe hare, and Tahyna viruses were reverse transcribed and PCR amplified. The cDNAs were the n denatured, rapidly chilled to promote intrastrand reassociation, sep arated electrophoretically on a nondenaturing gel at room temperature, and silver stained, The resulting single-strand conformation polymorp hism patterns were specific for the respective viruses. This molecular technique offers great potential for virus typing and taxonomic studi es.