"Determination of the Genome Composition of Influenza Virus Reassortants using Multiplex Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction Followed by Fluorescent Single-Strand Conformation Polymorphism Analysis."

According to the authors' abstract of an article published in Analytical Biochemistry, "The influenza virus genome is composed of eight negative-strand RNA segments. In cells coinfected with two or more influenza strains, the genomic RNAs reassort at random, resulting in progeny viruses (reassortants) that contain genes derived from each parent. Genetic reassortment among influenza viruses occurs naturally and plays an important role in viral epidemiology and pathogenicity. The reassortment process is also utilized for the annual production of influenza vaccines. Each year, the two gene segments that encode the major surface antigens of the current virulent, wild-type viruses are...

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