Minor groove binder probe real-time RT-PCR for detection of foot-and mouth disease virus in Egypt

Abstract

Shorter, more specific minor groove binders (MGBs) probes are dsDNA-binding agents attached to the 3' end of TaqMan probes that could be designed strictly to invariant region. Application and assessing of a new trend for viral detection in Egypt depending on MGB probe real-time RT-PCR (rRT-PCR) was applied on local FMDV serotypes O, A, and SAT2. Moreover, FMDV O were detected using two serotype specific primer sets by SYBR Green real-time RT-PCR assaying rapid formats. The limit of detection of diluted RNAs using MGB probe rRT-PCR assay reached to ≤ 6 fg/ul. Besides, high specificity of the former assay was clear. In contrary, the employing of FMDV O specific primer pairs in SYBR Green real-time RT-PCR showed a relative less sensitivity and specificity, particularly one of them displayed a very poor performance. Lastly, the local financial cost of MGB probe is considered the obvious hinder.