Technology ID
TAB-1977

qPCR Assay for Detection of JC Virus

E-Numbers
E-152-2009-0
Lead Inventor
Major, Eugene (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
Co-Inventors
Ryschkewitsch, Caroline (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
Applications
Research Materials
Diagnostics
Therapeutic Areas
Infectious Disease
Development Status
Materials and assay have been developed and tested.
Lead IC
NINDS
JC Virus causes a fatal disease in the brain called progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) that occurs in many patients with immunocompromised conditions. For example, more than five percent (5%) of AIDS patients develop PML. Additionally, these conditions include, but are not limited to, cancers such as leukemias and lymphomas, organ transplants such as kidney, heart and autoimmune conditions with treatment that modulates the immune system such as Multiple Sclerosis (MS), rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and systemic lupus erythematosus. The finding of JCV DNA in the patients with neurological symptoms of PML is a diagnostic criterion and is needed to confirm the diagnosis of PML to rule out other neurological conditions.

This technology describes a qPCR assay that utilizes viral DNA standards and testing samples to detect the presence of the JC viral genome in patients' cerebrospinal fluid and blood, blood products, and tissue samples from biopsy or autopsy.
Commercial Applications
Development of JC Virus (JCV) diagnostics, calibration of existing JCV assays.

Competitive Advantages
Assay is sensitive, reproducible and highly specific because the amount JCV DNA in cerebrospinal fluid or blood or blood product samples may be very small.
Licensing Contact: