Identification of poliovirus strains

A method for the identification of a poliovirus strain in a sample, comprising selectively hybridising an oligonucleotide to the polioviral nucleic acid in the sample, wherein the oligonucleotide is at least one of:

• a) an oligonucleotide comprising at least 12 contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:
• 1 or its complement and wherein the oligonucleotide comprises the sequence of positions 1942-1944 of SEQ ID NO:
• 1 or its complement at the 5′ or 3′ end;
• b) an oligonucleotide comprising at least 12 contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:
• 1 or its complement and wherein the oligonucleotide comprises the sequence of positions 3894-3896 of SEQ ID NO:
• 1 or its complement at the 5′ or 3′ end;
• c) an oligonucleotide comprising at least 12 contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:
• 2 or its complement and wherein the oligonucleotide comprises the sequence of positions 1942-1944 of SEQ ID NO:
• 2 or its complement at the 5′ or 3′ end;
• and,
• d) an oligonucleotide comprising at least 12 contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:
• 2 or its complement and wherein the oligonucleotide comprises the sequence of positions 3894-3896 of SEQ ID NO:
• 2 or its complement at the 5′ or 3′ end;
• whereby, selective hybridisation with the oligonucleotide in a) is indicative of the presence of a poliovirus strain selected from the group consisting of Mahoney type 1, Brunhilde, CHAT and Cox;
• selective hybridisation with the oligonucleotide in b) is indicative of the presence of the Mahoney type 1 poliovirus strain;
• selective hybridisation with the oligonucleotide in c) is indicative of the presence of the Sabin type 1 poliovirus strain;
• and, selective hybridisation with the oligonucleotide in d) is indicative of the presence of a poliovirus strain selected from the group consisting of Sabin type 1, CHAT and Cox.

An oligonucleotide, primer or probe selected from the group consisting of:

• a) an oligonucleotide comprising at least 12 contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:
• 1 or its complement and wherein the oligonucleotide comprises the sequence of positions 1942-1944 of SEQ ID NO:
• 1 or its complement at the 5′ or 3′ end;
• b) an oligonucleotide comprising at least 12 contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:
• 1 or its complement and wherein the oligonucleotide comprises the sequence of positions 3894-3896 of SEQ ID NO:
• 1 or its complement at the 5′ or 3′ end;
• c) an oligonucleotide comprising at least 12 contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:
• 2 or its complement and wherein the oligonucleotide comprises the sequence of positions 1942-1944 of SEQ ID NO:
• 2 or its complement at the 5′ or 3′ end;
• and
• d) an oligonucleotide comprising at least 12 contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:
• 2 or its complement and wherein the oligonucleotide comprises the sequence of positions 3894-3896 of SEQ ID NO:
• 2 or its complement at the 5′ or 3′ end.

A kit comprising:

• a) at least one of an oligonucleotide, primer or probes selected from the group consisting of:
• a) an oligonucleotide comprising at least 12 contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:
• 1 or its complement and wherein the oligonucleotide comprises the sequence of positions 1942-1944 of SEQ ID NO:
• 1 or its complement at the 5′ or 3′ end;
• b) an oligonucleotide comprising at least 12 contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:
• 1 or its complement and wherein the oligonucleotide comprises the sequence of positions 3894-3896 of SEQ ID NO:
• 1 or its complement at the 5′ or 3′ end;
• c) an oligonucleotide comprising at least 12 contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:
• 2 or its complement and wherein the oligonucleotide comprises the sequence of positions 1942-1944 of SEQ ID NO:
• 2 or its complement at the 5′ or 3′ end;
• and
• d) an oligonucleotide comprising at least 12 contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:
• 2 or its complement and wherein the oligonucleotide comprises the sequence of positions 3894-3896 of SEQ ID NO:
• 2 or its complement at the 5′ or 3′ end;
• and
• b) at least one of an enzyme and a buffer.