The classification of picornaviruses isolated from respiratory secretions as human rhinoviruses (HRVs) or enteroviruses (EVs) by using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction was compared to that derived from acid lability testing. Of the 135 clinical isolates examined, 91 were found to be HRVs and 44 were EVs. There was 100% concordance between the two classification methods. Reverse t...

........................................................................................................................................... IX 1. GENERAL INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................... 1 2. LITERATURE REVIEW .......................................................................................................

Hop stunt viroid (HSVd), a significant pathogen of some hop cultivars, was detected for the first time in hops Australia. Plants were tested graft-transmissible pathogens prior to their use research trials. Upon observing symptoms indicative potential infection, RNA extracted and amplified using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR); HSVd identity confirmed by sequencing.