Development of a real-time fluorescence resonance energy transfer PCR to identify the main pathogenic Campylobacter spp.

A simple real-time fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) PCR, targeting the gyrA gene outside the quinolone resistance-determining region, was developed to identify Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli. These species were distinguished easily, as the corresponding melting points showed a difference of 15 degrees C. A second assay using the same biprobe and PCR conditions, but different PCR primers, was also developed to identify the less frequently encountered Campylobacter fetus. These assays were applied to 807 Campylobacter isolates from clinical specimens. Compared to phenotypic identification tests, the FRET assay yielded the same results for all except three of the isolates. Analysis by standard PCR and 16S rDNA sequencing demonstrated that two of these isolates were hippurate-negative C. jejuni strains, resulting in an erroneous phenotypic identification, while the third was an isolate of C. coli that contained a gyrA gene typical of C. jejuni, resulting in misidentification by the FRET assay. The FRET assay identified more isolates than standard PCR, which failed to yield amplification products with c. 10% of isolates. It was concluded that the FRET assays were rapid, reliable, reproducible and relatively cost-efficient, as they require only one biprobe and can be performed directly on boiled isolates.     

Effect of tissue fixatives on telomere length determination by quantitative PCR

Telomere length is a well established marker of cellular senescence and thus biological age. Quantitative PCR allows the determination even from very low amounts of tissue by using telomere specific and single copy gene primers. Comparing a directly processed tissue sample to a 4% formaldehyde fixed one showed a significantly reduced efficiency of PCR reactions (mainly in single copy gene experiments) in a storage time-dependent manner resulting in an artificial increase in reported relative telomere length. This effect was not seen when the tissue was stored in RNA later solution. In summary, telomere length determination from formaldehyde fixed material by quantitative PCR is not a reliable method. Unfortunately therefore, many easily accessible tissue samples from pathology laboratories are unsuitable for this technique.     

Virus diversity and an outbreak of group C rotavirus among infants and children with diarrhea in Maizuru city, Japan during 2002-2003

A total of 236 fecal specimens collected from infants and children with gastroenteritis in Maizuru city, Japan from July 2002 to June 2003, were tested for the presence of rotaviruses, noroviruses, sapoviruses, astroviruses, and adenoviruses by RT-PCR, PAGE, RPHA, and latex agglutination methods. Among diarrheal viruses detected, group A rotavirus was the most prevalent (32.2%; 76 of 236) followed by norovirus GII (21.2%; 50 of 236), group C rotavirus (10.2%; 24 of 236), adenovirus (3.8%; 9 of 236), sapovirus (2.5%; 6 of 236), astrovirus (1.3%; 3 of 236), and norovirus GI (0.8%; 2 of 236), respectively. It is noteworthy that group C rotavirus infection was apparently confined only within the period of 5 months (December 2002 through April 2003). This pattern of infection implied that the outbreak of group C rotavirus in these patients, which was the first outbreak of gastroenteritis attributed to group C rotavirus in Maizuru city. Moreover, about half (12 of 24) of group C rotavirus infected cases were confined to infants and young children less than 3 years old. Another interesting feature of the study was the demonstration of the mixed infections with group C rotavirus and group A rotavirus, as well as group C rotavirus and norovirus GII in 20.8% (5 of 24) and 8.3% (2 of 24), respectively. This is the first report of gastroenteritis associated with the mixed infections with group C rotavirus and other viral enteropathogens such as norovirus. The results indicate that group C rotavirus could infect not only older children and adults but also infants and young children under 3 years old.     

Rapid identification of female carriers of DMD/BMD by quantitative real-time PCR

Recently developed PCR systems offer online-monitoring of amplification and allow simple and reliable DNA quantification. We have used the LightCycler system to develop a simple and rapid method for direct identification of female carriers of deletions and duplications in the dystrophin gene. The challenge resides in the ability to identify the presence of a deleted or duplicated allele over the background contributed by the normal allele. Quantification is based on the determination of the ratio between potentially deleted/duplicated dystrophin exons and non-deleted/-duplicated reference exons using the unspecific dsDNA-dye SYBRgreen I. In a retrospective study, we evaluated our method in female relatives of DMD/BMD patients with known carrier status by comparative analysis of deleted or duplicated versus non-deleted/-duplicated exons. Carrier status was accurately attributed in 100% of cases, the mean ratios being 0.52+/-0.12 for deletion carriers (expected value: 0.5) and 1.56+/-0.18 for duplication carriers (expected value: 1.5) vs. 1.022+/-0.17 for non-carriers (expected value: 1.0). The method proved to be simple, rapid, reliable, and cost-effective. It may be used for direct determination of deletions/duplications in potential DMD/BMD carriers and may easily be adapted for other genetic conditions involving deletions and duplications.     

酶联免疫法检测PAF受体RNA的聚合酶链反应产物

目的：建立PCR—ELISA法检测附受体RNA。方法：提取20例银屑病病人和20例正常对照组血液单个核细胞标本中的总RNA，用双标记的PAF—R(Biotion与Digoxin标记)及β-actin(Biotin或Fluorescein标记)引物进行RT-PCR，用ELISA检测PCR产物，用传统的琼脂糖凝胶电泳对照。结果；ELISA法和琼脂糖凝胶电泳法对β-actin检测结果均为阳性；ELISA法检测PAF-R，20例病人标本均为阳性，20例对照组16例阳性；琼脂糖凝胶电泳法检测PAF—R，20例病人标本18例阳性，20例对照组16例阳性。结论：PCR-ELISA引物双标记法检测PAF—R操作简单，有较高的敏感性。     

不对称PCR制备单链探针检测登革Ⅱ型病毒复制型RNA和复制中间体RNA

登革病毒是具包膜的单股正链RNA虫媒病毒 ,病毒的复制过程发生在感染细胞胞浆 ,复制型 (RF)RNA是病毒半保留复制的循环模板 ,复制中间体 (RI)RNA的合成则是病毒复制所必需的。经RT PCR获得的DNA模板进行不对称PCR扩增 ,当限制性引物终浓度为 2 5 0nmol L ,两引物比例为 1 0 0∶1时 ,即得到不对称PCR的预计单链和双链DNA产物。此单链产物用于标记探针进行核酸杂交。结果表明不对称PCR制备单链探针进行核酸杂交可用于检测病毒复制型RNA和复制中间体RNA的合成     

孕妇生殖道支原体感染的实验室诊断及方法学评价

目的探讨孕妇生殖道支原体感染的实验室诊断及方法学评价，以寻找一种适合孕期常规查体的方法。方法2004年1月至2004年6月，检验科随即机对200名孕妇的阴道分泌物同时运用超高倍显微镜、支原体（Uu、Mh）分离鉴定试剂盒及聚合酶链反应（PCR）技术进行支原体检测。结果方法一：超高倍显微镜检测阳性率29.5％（59／200）。方法二：支原体（Uu、Mh）分离鉴定试剂检测阳性率25％（50／200）。方法三：PCR检测阳性率18．5％（37／200）。应用SPSS软件包分析：方法一与方法二无显著差异（P〉0．05），方法一与方法三有显著差异（P〈0．05）。结论超高倍显微镜在孕妇生殖道的支原体活体检测方面有一定的诊断价值，其准确性较PCR技术有一定的差距，建议用于病原微生物的初筛诊断试验，确诊应与临床表现和其他确诊试验相结合。     

Antibody response to a synthetic peptide derived from the human papillomavirus type 6/11 L2 protein in recurrent respiratory papillomatosis: Correlation between southern blot hybridization,polymerase chain reaction,and serology

Recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP) is the most common benign tumour of the larynx, affecting both children and adults. We present a series of 25 patients, including 10 cases of juvenile multiple, 8 cases of adult solitary, and 7 cases of adult multiple RRP. Biopsy tissue from each patient was screened by Southern blot hybridization and polymerase chain reaction for the presence of human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA. Sera from patients and age- and sex-matched controls were tested for the presence of HPV-specific antibodies using a synthetic pep-tide derived from the minor capsid protein (L2) of HPV 6/11. By Southern blot hybridization and/or polymerase chain reaction, biopsies from all patients were positive for HPV 6/11 DNA. There was no difference in antibody response between cases and controls. Female cases and controls had significantly higher antibody titers than male subjects. A correlation was observed between the HPV-specific antibody level and the number of surgery-necessitating recurrences. © 1994 Wiiey-Liss, Inc.     

荧光定量PCR快速诊断21三体综合征

目的　建立荧光定量PCR技术检测 2 1三体综合征。方法　采用PCR方法同时扩增位于 2 1号染色体上的人肝型磷酸果糖激酶基因 (humanliver typephosphofructokinasegene ,PFKL CH 2 1)和位于 1号染色体上的人肌型磷酸果糖激酶基因 (humanmuscle typephosphofructokinasegene ,PFKM CH1) ,使用SYBRGreenⅠ荧光染料处理产物、琼脂糖电泳后在凝胶成像系统进行分析 ,得出扩增产物的荧光强度对比值。用此方法检测 2 6例 2 1三体综合征患儿及 2 0名正常人。结果　 2 6例 2 1三体综合征患儿PFKL CH2 1/PFKM CH 1扩增产物的荧光强度对比值为 1.5 8± 0 .17,而正常人为 1 0 0± 0 .0 5 ,两者差异有显著性。结论　SYBRGreenⅠ荧光定量PCR技术检测 2 1三体综合征具有准确、快速、安全、实用等特点 ,有较高的临床使用价值。     

Tumor genes and their proteins in cytologic and surgical specimens: Relevance and detection systems

Oncogenesis is the consequence of a series of genetic alterations that allow unrestrained cellular growth, tissue invasion, and eventual metastases. Tumor-related genes can be classified into functional categories. Proto-oncogenes/oncogenes have a stimulatory role in cell growth, and the inactivation of cancer-suppressor genes/antioncogenes results in the loss of cell cycle regulation. More recently, three other groups of tumor-related genes have been recognized. They include the antiapoptosis genes which protect from programmed cell death, the antimetastasis genes, and multidrug resistance genes. Besides aiding in tumor diagnosis, the detection of such tumor-associated genes and their products allows the identification of individuals with an inherited predisposition to neoplastic growths, and the overexpression of many of these oncogene products has been shown to be a potential marker of tumor behavior and a predictor of treatment outcome and response. The ability to utilize DNA and RNA probes for nucleic acid hybridization and polymerase chain reaction procedures in cell and tissue preparations of solid tumors and lymphoid proliferations expands and complements the information provided by immunohistochemical techniques. These probes allow direct visualization and correlation of specific genes and their protein products with cytomorphologic features, and form a powerful addition to the armamentarium of the cytopathologist and surgical pathologist. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.