20.500.12556/DiRROS-30039 A novel digital PCR assay for detection and comprehensive characterization of Molluscum contagiosum virus genotypes MOCV1, MOCV2, and MOCV3 and recombinant lineages Molluscum contagiosum virus (MOCV) is an important human pathogen causing a high disease burden worldwide. It is the last exclusively human-infecting poxvirus still circulating in its natural reservoir-a valuable model of poxviral evolution. Unfortunately, MOCV remains neglected, and little is known about its evolutionary history and circulating genomic variants, especially in non-privileged countries. The design weaknesses of available MOCV detection/genotyping assays surfaced with recent accumulation of abundant sequence information: all existing MOCV assays fail at accurate genotyping and capturing sub-genotype level diversity. Because complete MOCV genome characterization is an expensive and labor-intensive task, it makes sense to prioritize samples for whole-genome sequencing by diversity triage screening. To meet this demand, we developed a novel assay for accurate MOCV detection and genotyping, and comprehensive sub-genotype qualification to the level of phylogenetic groups (PGs). The assay included a novel set of oligonucleotide primers and probes, and it was implemented using digital polymerase chain reaction (dPCR). It offers sensitive, specific, and accurate detection, genotyping (MOCV1-MOCV3), and PG qualification (PG1-6) of MOCV DNA from clinical samples. The novel dPCR assay is suitable for MOCV diversity triage screening and prioritization of samples for complete MOCV genome characterization. Molluscum contagiosum Molluscum contagiosum virus digital PCR diversity screening molecular diagnostics sample prioritization triage Molluscum contagiosum virus Molluscum contagiosum digitalni PCR presejalni pregled raznolikosti molekularna diagnostika prednostna triaža vzorcev true false true Angleški jezik Slovenski jezik Neznano 2026-06-12 11:10:51 2026-06-12 11:10:51 2026-06-13 03:52:12 0000-00-00 00:00:00 2024 0 0 Nasl. z nasl. zaslona; Opis vira z dne 16. 7. 2024; str. 1-8 article 114993 Vol. 329 2024 0000-00-00 Zaloznikova Objavljeno NiDoloceno 0000-00-00 0000-00-00 0000-00-00 577.2 1879-0984 10.1016/j.jviromet.2024.114993 201868291 RAZ_Zorec_Tomaz_Mark_2024.pdf RAZ_Zorec_Tomaz_Mark_2024.pdf 1 D6379888FB66C343F5B9CCC473591426 809878cefc1f563c414c575d3a8c5bbf54c6199d842ce8754398dec89e33c3ca bc8e8b37-663e-11f1-aebd-001a4af901a5 https://dirros.openscience.si/Dokument.php?lang=slv&id=45300 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0166093424001174 1 9ca4191f-663e-11f1-aebd-001a4af901a5 https://dirros.openscience.si/Dokument.php?lang=slv&id=45299 Univerzitetni klinični center Ljubljana 0 0 0