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. 2024 Feb;29(5):2400034.
doi: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2024.29.5.2400034.

Identification of a measles variant displaying mutations impacting molecular diagnostics, Geneva, Switzerland, 2023

Francisco-Javier Pérez-Rodríguez  1   2   3 , Pascal Cherpillod  1   2   3 , Valentine Thomasson  3 , Pauline Vetter  1   3 , Manuel Schibler  1   2   3
Affiliations

Identification of a measles variant displaying mutations impacting molecular diagnostics, Geneva, Switzerland, 2023

Francisco-Javier Pérez-Rodríguez et al. Euro Surveill. 2024 Feb.

Abstract

Real-time PCR is one of the most widely used techniques to diagnose measles cases. Here we report measles virus variants with three genetic mutations in the reverse primer annealing site of a widely used PCR. The mutations result in a slight loss of the PCR sensitivity. Variants bearing the three mutations presently circulate in different countries since at least the end of 2021. Our findings highlight the usefulness of molecular surveillance in monitoring if oligonucleotides in diagnostic tests remain adequate.

Keywords: PCR primer mismatch; PCR sensitivity; genetic variability; measles.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest: None declared.

Figures

Figure
Figure
Alignment between CDC measles RT-rPCR primers and probea and the distinct sequence identifiers (DSIds) detected in Switzerland, January–December 2023 (n = 9 DSIds)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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