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dsRNA detection

Double-stranded (ds)RNA formation is a hallmark of viral infections that is essential for the induction of innate immunity. dsRNA is also involved in gene silencing and produced as side product during in vitro transription-based RNA synthesis. Anti-dsRNA monoclonal antibodies are efficient tools for the detection of dsRNA in cell culture & tissues such as FFPE samples as well as in vitro transcribed (m)RNA preparations [1-7] (Tab. 1) e.g.

  • for characterization & detection of viruses with dsRNA genomes or intermediates (including SARS, Hepatitis C, Dengue or West Nile Virus).
  • as diagnostic tool for determination whether an unknown pathogen is of viral or bacterial origin.
  • for quality control of in vitro transcribed (m)RNA preparations.



Table 1: Overview on available dsRNA detection products

ProductDescriptionApplicationSelection guide
Anti-dsRNA monoclonal antibody J2Mouse, IgG2a, kappa light chain

ELISA, IF, FACS, IHC, IP, Dot Blot, ChIP, affinity purification, immunoelectron microscopy
Gold standard for dsRNA detection
Recommended for quality control of in vitro transcribed (m)RNA
Anti-dsRNA monoclonal antibody K1Mouse, IgG2a, kappa light chainRecommended for Poly I:C detection
J2 alternative in case of cross reactions

Anti-dsRNA monoclonal antibody K2

Mouse, IgM, kappa light chain

ELISA, IHC, Dot Blot
Isotype alternative to J2 & K1
Recommended for (Sandwich-) ELISA
dsRNA 142 bpsynthetic dsRNAPositive control for Anti-dsRNA monoclonal antibodies J2, K1 and K2 n/a

Selected References

[1] Schönborn et al. (1991) Monoclonal antibodies to double-stranded RNA as probes of RNA structure in crude nucleic acid extracts. Nucleic Acids Res.19: 2993.
[2] Lukacs (1994) Detection of virus infection in plants and differentiation between coexisting viruses by monoclonal antibodies to double-stranded RNA. J. Virol. Methods47: 255.
[3] Lukacs (1997) Detection of sense:antisense duplexes by structure-specific anti-RNA antibodies. In: Antisense Technology. A Practical Approach, C. Lichtenstein and W. Nellen (eds), pp. 281-295. IRL Press, Oxford
[4] Weber et al. (2006) Double-Stranded RNA is produced by positive-strand RNA viruses and DNA viruses but not in detectable amounts by negative-strand RNA viruses. Journal of Virology 80(10): 5059.
[5] Knoops et al. (2008) SARS-Coronavirus replication is supported by a reticulovesicular network of modified endoplasmic reticulum. PLOS Biology 6(9): e226.
[6] Richardson et al. (2010) Use of antisera directed against dsRNA to detect viral infections in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue. Journal of Clinical Virology 49: 180.
[7] Karikó et al. (2011) Generating the optimal mRNA for therapy: HPLC purification eliminates immune activation and improves translation of nucleoside-modified, protein-encoding mRNA. Nucleic Acids Research 39(21): e142.