A rapid and easy method for multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 mutation detection using conformation-sensitive gel electrophoresis

Until now, the study of the multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) gene in patients suspected of having the disease was expensive and laborious due to the large size of the gene. We have optimized the conformation-sensitive gel electrophoresis (CSGE) technique to analyze by four rather simple multiplex PCR reactions, and a single electrophoresis run, the entire coding region of the MEN1 gene, plus the exon–intron boundaries. This improvement of the CSGE technique was confirmed as an effective procedure for screening for the MEN1 gene by detecting ten previously known MEN1 gene mutations and four polymorphisms. The MEN1 gene of 12 patients with unknown mutations was then screened, and an abnormal CSGE profile was identified in 10/12 cases. Subsequent DNA sequencing demonstrated 3 of them to be novel mutations (E45K, 4479delACAG, 6073insC) and 7 to have been previously reported; in the remaining 2 patients, we confirmed the absence of any alteration of the coding sequence of MEN1. Mutation screening of the MEN1 gene using CSGE was demonstrated to be a fast, simple, and inexpensive method to study patients suspected of having MEN1 disease. Received: November 29, 2001 / Accepted: January 28, 2002     

A new method of STR interpretation using inferential logic -development of a criminal intelligence database

Abstract A short tandem repeat (STR) system consisting of seven multiplexed loci has recently been introduced in the UK to support a National strategy to create large DNA databases for criminal intelligence purposes. The process uses automated sequencers, employing dye-labelled primers. Identification of tetrameric loci such as HUMTH01 are straightforward. Sizing windows are estimated by running a series of control allelic ladders on several gels and unknown samples are designated if they fall within a defined window. However, utilisation of complex STRs (eg. D21 S 11) characteristically have common variants which differ by just 2 bp. In addition, rare alleles are encountered which may differ by just 1 by from a common variant. To assist with the identification of alleles, we have introduced a series of allelic ladders, so that direct comparisons with unknown samples can be made on the same gel. To designate an allele, it should be within 0.5 by of an allelic ladder marker. Not all alleles (in particular rare alleles) can be included within an allelic ladder, however their expected positions can be easily calculated by reference to existing alleles in the ladder. Measurement of band shift is also a useful diagnostic tool. A series of guidelines are described to enable reliable allelic identification. These guidelines can be converted into computer programmes, which form the basis of an expert system.     

微流芯片检测流感病毒多重逆转录聚合酶链反应产物的实验研究

[目的 ]　建立应用微流芯片检测甲 1型、甲 3型、乙型流感病毒多重逆转录聚合酶链反应 (mRT -PCR)产物的方法 ,在mRT -PCR扩增核酸的基础上自动化灵敏的定量检测扩增产物 ,快速检测甲亚型、乙型流感病毒 ,帮助临床快速诊断和鉴别诊断其他呼吸道病毒感染 ,以及明确流感病毒在人群中感染、流行情况。　 [方法 ]　采用经MDCK细胞分离培养的甲 1型、甲 3型、乙型流感病毒毒株病毒液 ,使用 3组特异引物经mRT -PCR扩增核酸 ,扩增产物分别采用毛细管电泳技术经Caliper10 0 0微流芯片分析仪自动化检测和经 2 %琼脂糖凝胶电泳法检测。　[结果 ]　设计三组引物对相应甲 1型、甲 3型、乙型流感病毒靶基因的mRT -PCR扩增产物片段分别为 43 0bp、2 10bp、3 91bp ,本实验mRT -PCR扩增产物经 2 %琼脂糖凝胶电泳 ,与Marker比照 ,DNA条带基本在此位点附近 ;产物采用毛细管电泳法经Caliper10 0 0微流芯片分析仪后 ,分别于 413bp、2 0 3bp、3 79bp处出现陡峭的峰 ,如图所示。　[结论 ]　应用微流芯片采用毛细管电泳法可对流感病毒mRT -PCR产物进行定位及相对定量 ,有助于快速诊断流感病毒感染 ,有助于对流感的监测。     

耳炎差异球菌与成人分泌性中耳炎的相关性研究

目的探讨耳炎差异球菌与成人分泌性中耳炎的关系。方法采用多重PCR的方法，检测39例(42耳)成年分泌性中耳炎患者的中耳积液中耳炎差异球菌以及三种常见细菌[肺炎链球菌(S．pneumoniae)、流感嗜血杆菌(H．influenzae)和卡他莫拉杆菌(M．catarrhalis)]的DNA，就细菌DNA存在与成人分泌性中耳炎患者上呼吸道感染(简称上感)史、病程、积液性质和抗生素服用史之间的关系进行分析。结果收集到的42份中耳积液标本中有5份(11．9％)检测到有耳炎差异球菌DNA存在。急性分泌性中耳炎者有1例(3．6％)测得耳炎差异球菌DNA存在，慢性者则有4例(28．6％)，两者差异有显著性意义。浆液性中耳积液有3例(13．0％)测得耳炎差异球菌DNA存在，粘液性中耳积液则有2例(10．5％)为阳性，两者差异有显著性意义。抗生素使用史对耳炎差异球菌DNA检出率的影响无统计学意义。结论细菌参与部分成人分泌性中耳炎的发病，耳炎差异球菌可能是其致病菌之一；且慢性分泌性中耳炎中耳积液的持续存在可能与耳炎差异球菌感染有关。     

多重实时PCR快速同时检测沙门菌和志贺菌

目的 建立改良分子信标，多重实时PCR同时检测沙门菌和志贺菌的快速方法，应用于食源性致病菌的快速诊断。方法 根据GenBank公布的沙门菌侵袭性基因invA和ssaR基因，分别设计一对引物和改良分子信标探针，用同色荧光标记，用于同体系检测沙门菌。志贺菌根据ipaH基因的保守序列，设计引物和改良分子信标探针，加入沙门菌检测体系中，建立三重实时PCR一改良分子信标检测体系，应用于同时对沙门菌、志贺菌食物中毒的快速诊断和门诊肠道致病菌的检测。结果 改良分子信标一多重实时PCR反应体系DNA灵敏度为69～93fg/μl。菌液灵敏度为32～64CFU／ml或1～2CFu／PCR反应体系，无交叉反应。该反应体系同时检测134株沙门菌和67株志贺菌，均出现特异的荧光信号，两种细菌检测互不干扰。对细菌性食物中毒样本等共1100份同时进行沙门菌和志贺菌检测，569份沙门菌实时PCR阳性，其中551份沙门菌培养阳性；42份志贺菌实时PCR阳性，其中41份志贺菌培养阳性。从样品处理到检测结果仅需时间2h至1d。结论 改良分子信标-多重实时PCR检测体系快速、灵敏度高，特异性强，可用于沙门菌和志贺菌食物中毒的快速诊断，伤寒、痢疾等肠道传染病的初筛及预防医学门诊的健康人群体检，为食源性疾病的分子流行病学调查提供新的检测手段。     

用多引物聚合酶链反应检测鼠疫耶尔森菌

目的建立多引物检测鼠疫耶尔森菌（鼠疫菌）的PCR（M-PCR）方法.方法合成4对引物,分别来源于质粒和染色体DNA上F1、pla、Hms、Inv基因,对164株鼠疫菌进行扩增.结果在164株鼠疫菌中,有152株菌4种基因扩增均阳性,仅云南省12株Hms基因扩增为阴性.结论采用M-PCR方法检测鼠疫菌DNA具有较好的敏感性、特异性和稳定性,其可作为检测与鉴别鼠疫菌和疫情监测方面快速诊断的方法.     

Multiplex real-time PCR assay for detection of pathogenic Vibrio parahaemolyticus strains

Foodborne disease caused by pathogenic Vibrio parahaemolyticus has become a serious public health problem in many countries. Rapid diagnosis and the identification of pathogenic V. parahaemolyticus are very important in the context of public health. In this study, an EvaGreen-based multiplex real-time PCR assay was established for the detection of pathogenic V. parahaemolyticus. This assay targeted three genetic markers of V. parahaemolyticus (species-specific gene toxR and virulence genes tdh and trh). The assay could unambiguously identify pathogenic V. parahaemolyticus with a minimum detection limit of 1.4 pg genomic DNA per reaction (concentration giving a positive multiplex real-time PCR result in 95% of samples). The specificity of the assay was evaluated using 72 strains of V. parahaemolyticus and other bacteria. A validation of the assay with clinical samples confirmed its sensitivity and specificity. Our data suggest the newly established multiplex real-time PCR assay is practical, cost-effective, specific, sensitive and capable of high-throughput detection of pathogenic V. parahaemolyticus.     

Proteomics profiling reveals inflammatory biomarkers of antidepressant treatment response: Findings from the CO-MED trial

Animal and human studies suggest an association between depression and aberrant immune response. Further, common inflammatory markers may change during the course of antidepressant treatment in patients. The objective of this study was to evaluate changes in inflammatory markers and clinical outcomes from subjects enrolled in the Combining Medications to Enhance Depression Outcome (CO-MED) trial. At baseline and week 12 (treatment completion), plasma samples of 102 participants were analyzed via a multiplex assay comprised of inflammatory markers using a 27-plex standard assay panel plus a 4-plex human acute phase xMAP technology based platform. We carried out analyses in two steps. First, t-tests were used to identify inflammatory marker levels that changed between baseline and week 12. For markers that were altered, logistic regression models were then conducted to look for associated changes in remission at week 12. Among the 31 inflammatory markers analyzed, several cytokines (IL-5, IFN-γ, IL-13), two chemokines (Eotaxin-1/CCL11, RANTES) and an acute-phase reactant (serum amyloid P component) showed change from baseline to week 12. However, only two indicated differential remission responses. Interestingly, increased levels of Eotaxin-1/CCL11 correlated with remission at week 12, whereas decreased levels of IFN-γ correlated with non-remission at week 12. Results suggest that these inflammatory proteins may serve as predictors of treatment response.