RECOMBINANT REVERSE TRANSCRIPTASE VARIANTS

1 . A recombinant reverse transcriptase, or a functional fragment thereof, comprising a polypeptide sequence having at least 75%, 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or more sequence identity to a reference sequence corresponding to residues 12 to 687 of SEQ ID NO: 2, 24, 94, or 352, or to a reference sequence corresponding to SEQ ID NO: 2, 24, 94, or 352, wherein the polypeptide sequence comprises one or more substitutions relative to the reference sequence corresponding to residues 12 to 687 of SEQ ID NO: 2, 24, 94, or 352, or to the reference sequence corresponding to SEQ ID NO: 2, 24, 94, or 352.

2 . The recombinant reverse transcriptase of claim 1 , comprising a polypeptide sequence having at least 75%, 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or more sequence identity to the reference sequence corresponding to residues 12 to 687 of SEQ ID NO: 2, or to the reference sequence corresponding to SEQ ID NO: 2, wherein the polypeptide sequence comprises one or more substitutions relative to the reference sequence corresponding to residues 12 to 687 of SEQ ID NO: 2, or to the reference sequence corresponding to SEQ ID NO: 2.

3 . The recombinant reverse transcriptase of claim 1 , comprising a polypeptide sequence having at least 75%, 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or more sequence identity to the reference sequence corresponding to residues 12 to 687 of SEQ ID NO: 24, 94, or 352, or to the reference sequence corresponding to SEQ ID NO: 24, 94, or 352, wherein the polypeptide sequence comprises one or more substitutions relative to the reference sequence corresponding to residues 12 to 687 of SEQ ID NO: 2, or to the reference sequence corresponding to SEQ ID NO: 2.

4 . The recombinant reverse transcriptase of claim 2 , wherein the polypeptide sequence comprises at least a substitution at amino acid position 18, 25, 49, 63, 68, 69, 72, 74, 78, 81, 83, 84, 85, 89, 90, 92, 94, 98, 102, 113, 114, 118, 119, 129, 130, 132, 134, 163, 167, 171, 173, 178, 196, 199, 205, 209, 210, 212, 216, 242, 258, 260, 261, 266, 294, 297, 298, 300, 303, 305, 307, 308, 309, 310, 311, 314, 317, 319, 321, 329, 331, 333, 338, 342, 343, 349, 356, 370, 403, 444, 447, 454, 464, 465, 466, 474, 479, 508, 509, 519, 536, 537, 554, 574, 576, 583, 595, 598, 606, 638, 639, or 662, or combinations thereof, wherein the amino acid positions are relative to the reference sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2.

5 . The recombinant reverse transcriptase of claim 2 , wherein the polypeptide sequence comprises at least a substitution 18E, 25E, 49G, 63L/P, 68S, 69R, 72M, 74K/M/P, 78V, 81K, 83E/A/C/R/W, 84N, 85R, 89A/M, 90I, 92T, 94L, 98S, 102C, 113G/T, 114G/K, 118R, 119Y, 129L, 130R/S, 132F, 134F/P, 163P, 167Y, 171L, 173A, 178L, 196C/H, 199L, 205M, 209A, 210L, 212K/N/V, 216R, 242A, 258T, 260G, 261N, 266V, 294Q, 297W, 298E/R, 300I, 303G/Q, 305P/S, 307K/N, 308G, 309E/P/T, 310R, 311A/I/P, 314A/K/M, 317C, 319C/G/S, 321A, 329S, 331E, 333V, 338V, 342W, 343A/V, 349G, 356P, 370G, 403H, 444L, 447G/L/R, 454A, 464L, 465S, 466K, 474A, 479D, 508L, 509E, 519P, 536E/A/N, 537W, 554T, 574D/Q, 576I, 583K, 595N, 598S, 606K/Q, 638H, 639H, or 662R, or combinations thereof, wherein the amino acid positions are relative to the reference sequence of SEQ ID NO:2.

6 . The recombinant reverse transcriptase of claim 2 , wherein the polypeptide sequence comprises at least a substitution at amino acid position 49, 266, 298, 307, 444, 509, or 536, or combinations thereof, wherein the amino acid positions are relative to the reference sequence of SEQ ID NO:2.

7 . The recombinant reverse transcriptase of claim 6 , wherein the polypeptide sequence comprises at least a substitution 49G, 266V, 298E/R, 307K/N, 444L, 509E, or 536E/A/N, or combinations thereof, wherein the amino acid positions are relative to the reference sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2.

8 - 18 . (canceled)

19 . The recombinant reverse transcriptase of claim 1 , comprising a polypeptide sequence having at least 75%, 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or more sequence identity to a reference sequence corresponding to residues 12 to 687 of SEQ ID NO: 24, 94, or 352, or to a reference sequence corresponding to SEQ ID NO: 24, 94, or 352.

20 . The recombinant reverse transcriptase of claim 1 , comprising a polypeptide sequence having at least 75%, 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or more sequence identity to a reference sequence corresponding to residues 12 to 687 of SEQ ID NO: 24, 94, or 352, or to a reference sequence corresponding to SEQ ID NO: SEQ ID NO: 24, 94, or 352, wherein the polypeptide sequence comprises one or more substitutions relative to the reference sequence corresponding to residues 12 to 687 of SEQ ID NO: 24, 94, or 352, or to the reference sequence corresponding to SEQ ID NO: 24, 94, or 352.

21 . The recombinant reverse transcriptase of claim 20 , wherein the polypeptide sequence comprises at least a substitution at amino acid position 18, 25, 49, 63, 68, 69, 72, 74, 78, 81, 83, 89, 90, 92, 94, 98, 102, 113, 114, 118, 119, 129, 130, 132, 134, 163, 167, 171, 173, 178, 196, 199, 205, 209, 210, 212, 216, 242, 258, 260, 261, 266, 294, 297, 298, 300, 303, 305, 307, 308, 309, 310, 311, 314, 319, 321, 329, 331, 338, 342, 343, 349, 356, 370, 403, 423, 444, 447, 454, 464, 465, 466, 474, 479, 508, 509, 519, 536, 537, 554, 574, 576, 583, 595, 598, 606, 650, 662, or 665, or combinations thereof, wherein the amino acid positions are relative to the reference sequence of SEQ ID NO: 24, 94, or 352.

22 . The recombinant reverse transcriptase of claim 20 or 21 , wherein the polypeptide sequence comprises at least an amino acid residue 18E, 25E, 49G, 63L/P, 68S, 69R, 72M, 74K/M/P, 78V, 81K, 83E/A/C/R/W, 89A/M, 90I, 92T, 94L, 98S, 102C, 113G/T, 114G/K, 118R, 119Y, 129L, 130R/S, 132F, 134F/P, 163P, 167Y, 171L, 173A, 178L, 196C/H, 199L, 205M, 209A, 210L, 212K/N/V, 216R, 242A, 258T, 260G, 261N, 266V, 294Q, 297W, 298E/R, 3001, 303G/Q, 305P, 307K/N, 308G, 309E/P/T, 310R, 311A/I/P, 314A/K/M, 319C/G/S, 321A, 329S, 331E, 338V, 342W, 343A/V, 349G, 356P, 370G, 403H, 444L, 447G/L/R, 454A, 464L, 465S, 466K, 474A, 479D, 508L, 509E, 519P, 536E/A/N, 537W, 554T, 574D/Q, 576I, 583K, 595N, 598S, 606K/Q, or 662R, or combinations thereof, wherein the amino acid positions are relative to the reference sequence of SEQ ID NO: 24, 94, or 352.

23 . The recombinant reverse transcriptase of claim 20 , wherein the polypeptide sequence comprises at least a substitution at amino acid position 49, 266, 298, 307, 444, 509, or 536, or combinations thereof.

24 . The recombinant reverse transcriptase of claim 20 , wherein the polypeptide sequence comprises at least an amino acid residue 49G, 266V, 298E/R, 307K/N, 444L, 509E, or 536E/A/N, or combinations thereof.

25 - 36 . (canceled)

37 . The recombinant reverse transcriptase of claim 1 , wherein the reverse transcriptase comprises a polypeptide sequence comprising residues 12 to 687 of SEQ ID NO: 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 62, 64, 66, 68, 70, 72, 74, 76, 78, 80, 82, 84, 86, 88, 90, 92, 94, 96, 98, 100, 102, 104, 106, 108, 110, 112, 114, 116, 118, 120, 122, 124, 126, 128, 130, 132, 134, 136, 138, 140, 142, 144, 146, 148, 150, 152, 154, 156, 158, 160, 162, 164, 166, 168, 170, 172, 174, 176, 178, 180, 182, 184, 186, 188, 190, 192, 194, 196, 198, 200, 202, 204, 206, 208, 210, 212, 214, 216, 218, 220, 222, 224, 226, 228, 230, 232, 234, 236, 238, 240, 242, 244, 246, 248, 250, 252, 254, 256, 258, 260, 262, 264, 266, 268, 270, 272, 274, 276, 278, 280, 282, 284, 286, 288, 290, 292, 294, 296, 298, 300, 302, 304, 306, 308, 310, 312, 314, 316, 318, 320, 322, 324, 326, 328, 330, 332, 334, 336, 338, 340, 342, 344, 346, 348, 350, 352, 354, 356, 358, 360, 362, 364, 366, 368, 370, 372, 374, 376, 378, 380, 382, 384, 386, 388, 390, 392, 394, 396, 398, 400, 402, 404, 406, 408, 410, 412, 414, 416, 418, 420, 422, 424, 426, 428, 430, 432, 434, 436, 438, 440, 442, 444, 446, 448, 450, 452, 454, 456. 458, 460. 462, 464, 466, 468, 470, 472, 474, 476, 478, 480, 482, 484, 486, 488, 490, 492, 494, 496, 498, 500, 502, 504, 506, 508, 510, 512, 514, 516, 518, 520, 522, 524, 526, 528, 530, 532, 534, 536, 538, 540, 542, 544, 546, 548, 550, 552, 554, 556, 558, 560, 562, 564, or 566, wherein the polypeptide sequence optionally has 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or up to 10 substitutions.

38 . The recombinant reverse transcriptase of claim 1 , wherein the reverse transcriptase comprises a polypeptide sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 62, 64, 66, 68, 70, 72, 74, 76, 78, 80, 82, 84, 86, 88, 90, 92, 94, 96, 98, 100, 102, 104, 106, 108, 110, 112, 114, 116, 118, 120, 122, 124, 126, 128, 130, 132, 134, 136, 138, 140, 142, 144, 146, 148, 150, 152, 154, 156, 158, 160, 162, 164, 166, 168, 170, 172, 174, 176, 178, 180, 182, 184, 186, 188, 190, 192, 194, 196, 198, 200, 202, 204, 206, 208, 210, 212, 214, 216, 218, 220, 222, 224, 226, 228, 230, 232, 234, 236, 238, 240, 242, 244, 246, 248, 250, 252, 254, 256, 258, 260, 262, 264, 266, 268, 270, 272, 274, 276, 278, 280, 282, 284, 286, 288, 290, 292, 294, 296, 298, 300, 302, 304, 306, 308, 310, 312, 314, 316, 318, 320, 322, 324, 326, 328, 330, 332, 334, 336, 338, 340, 342, 344, 346, 348, 350, 352, 354, 356, 358, 360, 362, 364, 366, 368, 370, 372, 374, 376, 378, 380, 382, 384, 386, 388, 390, 392, 394, 396, 398, 400, 402, 404, 406, 408, 410, 412, 414, 416, 418, 420, 422, 424, 426, 428, 430, 432, 434, 436, 438, 440, 442, 444, 446, 448, 450, 452, 454, 456. 458, 460. 462, 464, 466, 468, 470, 472, 474, 476, 478, 480, 482, 484, 486, 488, 490, 492, 494, 496, 498, 500, 502, 504, 506, 508, 510, 512, 514, 516, 518, 520, 522, 524, 526, 528, 530, 532, 534, 536, 538, 540, 542, 544, 546, 548, 550, 552, 554, 556, 558, 560, 562, 564, or 566, wherein the polypeptide sequence optionally has 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or up to 10 substitutions. 39-44. (Canceled)

45 . A recombinant polynucleotide encoding a recombinant reverse transcriptase of claim 1 .

46 . The recombinant polynucleotide of claim 45 , comprising a sequence having at least 75%, 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or more sequence identity to a reference polynucleotide sequence corresponding to residues 34 to 2061 of SEQ ID NO: 1, 23, 93, or 351, or to a reference polynucleotide sequence corresponding to SEQ ID NO: 1, 23, 93, or 351, wherein the recombinant polynucleotide encodes a recombinant reverse transcriptase.

47 . (canceled)

48 . (canceled)

49 . The recombinant polynucleotide of claim 45 , wherein the polynucleotide sequence comprises nucleotide residues 34 to 2061 of SEQ ID NO: 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37. 39, 41, 43, 45, 47, 49, 51, 53, 55, 57, 59, 61, 63, 65, 67, 69, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, 83, 85, 87, 89, 91, 93, 95, 97, 99, 101, 103, 105, 107, 109, 111, 113, 115, 117, 119, 121, 123, 125, 127, 129, 131, 133, 135, 137, 139, 141, 143, 145, 147, 149, 151, 153, 155, 157, 159, 161, 163, 165, 167, 169, 171, 173, 175, 177, 179, 181, 183, 185, 187, 189, 191, 193, 195, 197, 199, 201, 203, 205, 207, 209, 211, 213, 215, 217, 219, 221, 223, 225, 227, 229, 231, 233, 235, 237, 239, 241, 243, 245, 247, 249, 251, 253, 255, 257, 259, 261, 263, 265, 267, 269, 271, 273, 275, 277, 279, 281, 283, 285, 287, 289, 291, 293, 295, 297, 299, 301, 303, 305, 307, 309, 311, 313, 315, 317, 319, 321, 323, 325, 327, 329, 331, 333, 335, 337, 339, 341, 343, 345, 347, 349, 351, 353, 355, 357, 359, 361, 363, 365, 367, 369, 371, 373, 375, 377, 379, 381, 383, 385, 387, 389, 391, 393, 395, 397, 399, 401, 403, 405, 407, 409, 411, 413, 415, 417, 419, 421, 423, 425, 427, 429, 431, 433, 435, 437, 439, 441, 443, 445, 447, 449, 451, 453, 455, 457. 459, 461. 463, 465, 467, 469, 471, 473, 475, 477, 479, 481, 483, 485, 487, 489, 491, 493, 495, 497, 499, 501, 503, 505, 507, 509, 511, 513, 515, 517, 519, 521, 523, 525, 527, 529, 531, 533, 535, 537, 539, 541, 543, 545, 547, 549, 551, 553, 555, 557, 559, 561, 563, or 565.

50 . The recombinant polynucleotide of claim 45 , wherein the polynucleotide sequence comprises SEQ ID NO: 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37. 39, 41, 43, 45, 47, 49, 51, 53, 55, 57, 59, 61, 63, 65, 67, 69, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, 83, 85, 87, 89, 91, 93, 95, 97, 99, 101, 103, 105, 107, 109, 111, 113, 115, 117, 119, 121, 123, 125, 127, 129, 131, 133, 135, 137, 139, 141, 143, 145, 147, 149, 151, 153, 155, 157, 159, 161, 163, 165, 167, 169, 171, 173, 175, 177, 179, 181, 183, 185, 187, 189, 191, 193, 195, 197, 199, 201, 203, 205, 207, 209, 211, 213, 215, 217, 219, 221, 223, 225, 227, 229, 231, 233, 235, 237, 239, 241, 243, 245, 247, 249, 251, 253, 255, 257, 259, 261, 263, 265, 267, 269, 271, 273, 275, 277, 279, 281, 283, 285, 287, 289, 291, 293, 295, 297, 299, 301, 303, 305, 307, 309, 311, 313, 315, 317, 319, 321, 323, 325, 327, 329, 331, 333, 335, 337, 339, 341, 343, 345, 347, 349, 351, 353, 355, 357, 359, 361, 363, 365, 367, 369, 371, 373, 375, 377, 379, 381, 383, 385, 387, 389, 391, 393, 395, 397, 399, 401, 403, 405, 407, 409, 411, 413, 415, 417, 419, 421, 423, 425, 427, 429, 431, 433, 435, 437, 439, 441, 443, 445, 447, 449, 451, 453, 455, 457. 459, 461. 463, 465, 467, 469, 471, 473, 475, 477, 479, 481, 483, 485, 487, 489, 491, 493, 495, 497, 499, 501, 503, 505, 507, 509, 511, 513, 515, 517, 519, 521, 523, 525, 527, 529, 531, 533, 535, 537, 539, 541, 543, 545, 547, 549, 551, 553, 555, 557, 559, 561, 563, or 565.

51 . An expression vector comprising at least one recombinant polynucleotide of claim 1 .

52 . (canceled)

53 . (canceled)

54 . A host cell transformed with a polynucleotide of any one of claims 45 - 50 or an expression vector of claim 51 .

55 . (canceled)

56 . A method of producing a recombinant reverse transcriptase polypeptide in a host cell comprising culturing a host cell of claim 54 , under suitable culture conditions such that at least one recombinant reverse transcriptase is produced.

57 . (canceled)

58 . (canceled)

59 . A composition comprising at least one recombinant reverse transcriptase of claim 1 .

60 . (canceled)

61 . (canceled)

62 . A method of preparing a complementary DNA of a target RNA, comprising contacting a target RNA with a recombinant reverse transcriptase of claim 1 in presence of substrates under conditions suitable for production of a complementary DNA to all or a portion of the target RNA.

63 . (canceled)

64 . A method for detecting presence of a target RNA, comprising contacting a sample suspected of containing a target RNA with a recombinant reverse transcriptase of claim 1 in presence of substrates under conditions suitable for reverse transcriptase mediated production of a DNA complementary to all or a portion of the target RNA, and detecting presence of the complementary DNA.

65 - 68 . (canceled)

69 . A kit comprising at least one recombinant reverse transcriptase of claim 1 .

70 - 72 . (canceled)