Rapid isolation of double-stranded RNAs from entomopathogenic species of the fungus Paecilomyces using a commercial minicolumn system.

A method is described for rapid extraction of double-stranded RNAs from entomopathogenic fungi. Lyophilised and ground mycelium is incubated with 6 M guanidine thiocyanate, centrifuged, and the cleared lysate applied to a QIAGEN silica-based mini-spin column. Following washing with 70% isopropanol, bound nucleic acids are eluted under low salt conditions and treated with DNAse I prior to analysis by non-denaturing agarose gel electrophoresis.