RAPID IDENTIFICATION OF FLAVIVIRUSES BASED ON CONSERVED NS5-GENE SEQUENCES

Two conserved regions in the sequence of the NS5 gene of Flaviviruses were identified. Primers were designed from the consensus sequence of these regions and were used in a reverse transcription/polymerase chai n reaction (RT/PCR) to amplify a region of the central european tick-b orne encephalitis virus Kumlinge NS5 gene. The authenticity of the amp lified fragment was confirmed by nucleotide sequencing. A band of the expected size was also obtained when this RT/PCR was applied to 13 oth er flaviviral RNAs. This method may be useful for characterisation of the NS5 genes of flaviviruses and as a potential pan-flavivirus diagno stic tool.