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Clinical Microbiology Reviews, January 1998, p. 202-227, Vol. 11, No. 1
Department of Virology,
Human enteroviruses have traditionally been typed according to neutralization serotype. This procedure is limited by the difficulty in culturing some enteroviruses, the availability of antisera for serotyping, and the cost and technical complexity of serotyping procedures. Furthermore, the impact of information derived from enterovirus serotyping is generally perceived to be low. Enteroviruses are now increasingly being detected by PCR rather than by culture. Classical typing methods will therefore no longer be possible in most instances. An alternative means of enterovirus typing, employing PCR in conjunction with molecular genetic techniques such as nucleotide sequencing or nucleic acid hybridization, would complement molecular diagnosis, may overcome some of the problems associated with serotyping, and would provide additional information regarding the epidemiology and biological properties of enteroviruses. We argue the case for developing a molecular typing system, discuss the genetic basis of such a system, review the literature describing attempts to identify or classify enteroviruses by molecular methods, and suggest ways in which the goal of molecular typing may be realized.
0893-8512/98/$04.00+0
Copyright © 1998, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.
Molecular Typing of Enteroviruses: Current Status
and Future Requirements

for The European Union Concerted Action
on Virus Meningitis and Encephalitis
*
Corresponding author. Mailing address: Department of
Virology, UMDS St. Thomas's Hospital, Lambeth Palace Rd., London SE1 7EH, United Kingdom. Phone: (44) 171 922 8167. Fax: (44) 171 922 8387. E-mail: p.muir{at}umds.ac.uk.
All authors are members of the European Union Concerted Action on
Virus Meningitis and Encephalitis. Other group members are listed in
the Appendix.
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