Human respiratory viruses are a diverse group of pathogens composed of hundreds of virus strains, and this presents a major challenge for diagnostic laboratories. To efficiently detect numerous viruses in a large epidemiologic study, we developed a fast, multitarget, sensitive, and specific assay named the Respiratory MultiCode-PLx Assay (RMA). The RMA utilizes improved multiplex PCR chemistry ...

Virus detection and enumeration has become increasingly important in fields ranging from medicine and biotechnology to environmental science. Although there are a wide variety of techniques that can be used to count viruses, there is demand for a rapid and more accurate means for virus enumeration. In this work, the performance of a flow cytometer that was designed and custom-built specifically...

Several new viral respiratory tract infectious diseases with epidemic potential that threaten global health security have emerged in the past 15 years. In 2003, WHO issued a worldwide alert for an unknown emerging illness, later named severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). The disease caused by a novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV) rapidly spread worldwide, causing more than 8000 cases and 800 deat...

ARI: Acute Respiratory Infections; URTIs: Upper Respiratory Tract Infections; IVs: Influenza Viruses; RSV: Respiratory Syncytial Virus; PIVs: Parainfluenza Viruses; KIPyV: KI Polyomaviruses; WUPyV: WU Polyomaviruses; hMPV: human Metapneumovirus; KEMRI: Kenya Medical Research Institute; GC: Gonococci ; WHO: World Health Organization; CDC; Centers for Disease Control; cDNA: complimentary DNA; RT-...

In an epidemiologic investigation of respiratory infections in Italy, October 2008-September 2009, we tested samples from patients for respiratory viruses. Human enterovirus genotype EV-104 (identified in Switzerland) was found in 3 immunocompromised and 2 immunocompetent patients. EV-104 is closely related to human rhinoviruses; thus, both types of viruses should be sought in respiratory syndr...

Viral upper respiratory infection is the most common reason for seeking medical care for children. Recurrent viral respiratory infections and subsequent complications (e.g. acute otitis media (AOM)) are a burden for children, their families and society. Over the past decade, our knowledge on the significance of respiratory viruses has broadened remarkably. Viruses cause large variety of respira...

Objective-To study the role ofrespiratory viruses in exacerbations ofasthma in adults. Design-Longitudinal study of 138 adults with asthma. Setting-Leicestershire Health Authority. Subjects-48 men and 90 women 19-46 years of age with a mean duration of wheeze of 19-6 years. 75% received regular treatment with bronchodilators; 89%'/o gave a history of eczema, hay fever, allergic rhinitis, nasal ...

OBJECTIVES To identify and characterize respiratory viruses that infect children from daycare centers with symptoms of respiratory infection and to evaluate the association of clinical and epidemiological disease data with the identified virus. METHODS We conducted a study between 2003 and 2005 in 176 children with respiratory infection symptoms attending a municipal daycare center. Samples f...

BACKGROUND Upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) is a major reason for hospitalization in childhood. More than 80% of URTIs are viral. Etiological diagnosis of URTIs is important to make correct clinical decisions on treatment methods. However, data for viral spectrum of URTIs are very limited in Shanghai children. METHODS Nasopharyngeal swabs were collected from a group of 164 children ag...