Detecting bluetongue virus RNA in cell culture by dot hybridization with a cloned genetic probe

A 70% copy of genome segment 7 of bluetongue virus (BTV)-17 has been cloned into the plasmid pBR-322. This cloned BTV segment when used as a radioactive probe will hybridize to BTV doublestranded RNA extracted from cell cultures and dotted onto nitrocellulose paper. This dot hybridization technique is therefore suitable for detecting and identifying BTV in cell culture. The specificity of cloned probes is discussed in relation to detecting gene sequences specific for either the bluetongue serogroup or different serotypes of BTV.