This data article contains data related to the research article entitled \"Rapid detection of enterovirus and Coxsackievirus A10 by a TaqMan based duplex one-step real time RT-PCR assay\" (Chen at al., 2017) [1]. Primers and probe sequence design are among the most critical factors in real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay optimization. Linearity, sensitivity, specificity and precision are the crucial criteria which are used to evaluate the performance of a new method. This data article report the primers and probe design and precision assessment of the new assay. VP1 gene of Coxsackievirus A10 (CV-A10) and 5\'-NCR of different enterovirus (EV) serotypes were retrieved from GenBank database and aligned. The intra- and inter-assay variation were assessed using high, medium and low concentration of control plasmid DNA and viral RNA samples.

A TaqMan based duplex one-step real time RT-PCR (rRT-PCR) assay was developed for the rapid detection of Coxsackievirus A10 (CV-A10) and other enterovirus (EVs) in clinical samples. The assay was fully evaluated and found to be specific and sensitive. When applied in 115 clinical samples, a 100% diagnostic sensitivity in CV-A10 detection and 97.4% diagnostic sensitivity in other EVs were found.

BACKGROUND: In May 2015, an imported case of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection occurred in China, so rapid and reliable diagnosis of suspected cases was necessary.
OBJECTIVE: An external quality assessment (EQA) program for the molecular detection of MERS-CoV was organized by the National Center for Clinical Laboratories (NCCL).
METHODS: MS2 virus-like particles (VLPs) encapsulating specific RNA sequences of MERS-CoV were prepared as positive specimens. The assessment panel, which comprised of three negative and seven positive samples with different concentrations of VLPs, was distributed to 56 laboratories from 16 provinces, municipalities, or autonomous regions for molecular detection.
RESULTS: Among the received data sets, three employed an in-house-developed real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) assay and the others applied various commercial rRT-PCR kits. Overall, the majority of laboratories (46/56, 82.1%) could achieve 100% accuracy for MERS-CoV detection, but three laboratories (5.4%) still had room for improvement. Consequently, all negative samples were identified correctly, reaching 100% specificity. The false-negative rate was 3.1%, and most of the false-negative results were obtained from samples with relatively low concentration, indicating an urgent need to improve detection in weak-positive specimens.
CONCLUSIONS: The majority of participants possessed reliable diagnostic capacity for the detection of MERS-CoV. Moreover, EQA is indispensable because it can help enhance the diagnostic capability for the surveillance of MERS-CoV infections and allow comparison of the results among different laboratories.

Several Chinese commercial real-time PCR kits for Zaire ebolavirus have been developed after the Ebola outbreak and used by Chinese medical teams in West Africa. In order to know the essential performance indicators of these kits, analytical sensitivity and precision were evaluated with virus-like particle (VLP)-encapsulated EBOV RNA. The limit of detection (LOD) and the precision were completed with a series of VLPs. The maximum and minimum of LOD was acquired by ZJ BioTech and Daan gene, respectively. For precision, all of the detection results were <5% except the maximum 5.17%. Among them, Puruikang, Daan gene, Sansure, ZJ BioTech, and Huada demonstrated superior reproducibility. Overall, the requirements of LOD <1000 copies/mL and coefficient of variation <5% could be satisfied by all kits except Kehua. Meanwhile, it is feasible for VLPs as a substitute of positive samples in assay evaluation.

In this study, a homologous gene named plzfa was identified and characterized in medaka Oryzias latipes. Oryzias latipes plzfa was detected in all the tissues including brain, gill, muscle, liver, intestine, kidney, spleen, testis and ovary using reverse transcriptase (RT)-PCR. plzfa was detected in the oocytes of the ovary and in the spermatogonia and somitic cells of the testis by in situ hybridization. plzfa had a maternal origin with continuous and dynamic expression during embryonic development. plzfa was observed in the brain, neural rod and sensor organs including the eyes, ears and nose during embryogenesis. plzfa was also detected in the neural crest, somite, pectoral fin, intestine and skin. These results indicate that plzfa is a pleiotropic gene that may play major roles in various tissues.

The objective of this study was to build and apply a duplex real time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for rubella virus. Firstly, a 60-bp-long armored RV RNA was constructed in the laboratory. Secondly, a duplex real time RT-PCR assay was established. Thirdly, the 60-bp-long armored RV RNA was used as an internal positive control (IPC) for the duplex real time RT-PCR. And finally the duplex real time RT-PCR assay was applied to detect RV RNA in clinical specimens. The in-house assay has a high amplification efficiency (0.99), a high analytical sensitivity (200 copies/mL), and a good reproducibility. The diagnostic specificity and sensitivity of the in-house assay were both 100%, due to the monitoring of the armored RV RNA IPC. Therefore, the in-house duplex real time quantitative RT-PCR assay is a specific, sensitive, reproducible and accurate assay for quantitation of RV RNA in clinical specimens. And noncompetitive armored RV RNA IPC can monitor RT-PCR inhibition and prevent false-negative and inaccurate results in the real time detection system.

Ecdysteroids are steroid hormones that play important roles in the regulation of Arthropoda animal growth development, larvae ecdysis, and reproduction. The effect of ecdysteroids is mediated by ecdysteroid receptor (EcR). The ecdysone receptor (EcR) belongs to the superfamily of nuclear receptors (NRs) that are ligand-dependent transcription factors. Ecdysone receptor is present only in invertebrates and plays a critical role in regulating the expression of a series of genes during development and reproduction. Here, we isolated and characterized cDNA of the cricket Teleopgryllus emma (Ohmachi & Matsuura) (Orthoptera: Gryllidae) and studied mRNA expression pattern using real time-polymerase chain reaction. The full-length cDNA of T. emma EcR, termed TeEcR, is 2,558 bp and contains a 5\'-untranslated region of 555 bp and a 3\'-untranslated region of 407 bp. The open reading frame of TeEcR encodes deduced 531-amino acid peptides with a predicted molecular mass of 60.7 kDa. The amino acid sequence of T. emma EcR was similar to that of known EcR especially in the ligand-binding domain of insect EcR. Real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction was performed to compare TeEcR mRNA expression level at the whole body and gonad during T. emma development. The data revealed that TeEcR mRNA is differentially expressed during T. emma development, with the highest expression level in late-instar larvae of the body and lowest in third instar. The levels of TeEcR transcripts also vary among gonads development, and levels in ovaries were higher than in testes at every developmental stage. These results suggest that TeEcR may have potential significance to regulate the morphological structure and gonad development of T. emma, due to its expression in different developmental periods.