ABSTRACT Knowledge of SARS-CoV-2 variants is essential for formulating effective control policies. Currently, variants are only identified in relatively small percentages of cases as the required genome sequencing is expensive, time-consuming, and not always available. In countries with facilities to sequence the SARS-CoV-2, the Delta variant currently predominates. Elsewhere, the prevalence of the Delta variant is unclear. To avoid the need for sequencing, we investigated a RT-FRET-PCR that could detect all SARS-CoV-2 strains and simultaneously identify the Delta variant. The established Delta RT-FRET-PCR was performed on reference SARS-CoV-2 strains, and human nasal swab samples positive for the Delta and non-Delta strains. The Delta RT-FRET-PCR established in this study detected as few as ten copies of the DNA target and 100 copies of RNA target per reaction. Melting points of products obtained with SARS-CoV-2 Delta variants (around 56.1°C) were consistently higher than products obtained with non-Delta strains (around 52.5°C). The Delta RT-FRET-PCR can be used to diagnose COVID-19 patients and simultaneously identify if they are infected with the Delta variant. The Delta RT-FRET-PCR can be performed with all major thermocycler brands meaning data on Delta variant can now be readily generated in diagnostic laboratories worldwide.
【저자키워드】 FRET-PCR, SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant, C22995A mutation, high-resolution melting curve analysis, diagnostic laboratories, 【초록키워드】 SARS-CoV-2, Sequencing, variant, SARS-CoV-2 variant, diagnostic, Delta, delta variant, variants, Laboratory, RNA, Prevalence, DNA, Genome sequencing, SARS-CoV-2 variants, nasal swab, Strains, COVID-19 patients, diagnose, Delta variants, strain, COVID-19 patient, reaction, sequence, SARS-CoV-2 strains, positive, SARS-CoV-2 strain, country, effective, thermocycler, identify, performed, detect, investigated, required, was performed, can be used, time-consuming, Melting point, percentage, the SARS-CoV-2, 【제목키워드】 High-resolution, identification, the SARS-CoV-2,