Hybridization Probes (hybridization + probe)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Characterization of QoI resistance in Botrytis cinerea and identification of two types of mitochondrial cytochrome b gene

PLANT PATHOLOGY, Issue 1 2009
S. Banno
Botrytis cinerea field isolates collected in Japan were screened for resistance to Qo inhibitor fungicides (QoIs). Of the 198 isolates screened, six grew well on a medium containing azoxystrobin, a QoI, when salicylhydroxamic acid, an alternative oxidase inhibitor, was present. The resistance mutation in the cytochrome b gene (cytb) was characterized. All QoI-resistant isolates had the same mutation (GGT to GCT) in cytb that led to the substitution of glycine by alanine at position 143 of cytochrome b, which is known to confer QoI resistance in plant pathogens. To detect this mutation, a hybridization probe assay based on real-time PCR amplification and melting curve analysis was developed. Using DNA samples prepared from aubergines coinfected with QoI-resistant and QoI-sensitive B. cinerea isolates, two similar peak profiles with their corresponding melting temperatures were obtained. This result suggests that QoI-resistant and QoI-sensitive isolates may compete equally in terms of pathogenicity, and the assay may be used to assess the population ratio of mutant and wild-type isolates. However, the hybridization probe did not anneal to PCR products derived from the DNA samples of some QoI-sensitive isolates. Structural analysis of cytb revealed that B. cinerea field isolates could be classified into two groups: one with three introns and the other with an additional intron (Bcbi-143/144 intron) inserted between the 143rd and 144th codons. All 88 isolates possessing the Bcbi-143/144 intron were azoxystrobin-sensitive, suggesting that the QoI-resistant mutation at codon 143 in cytb prevents self-splicing of the Bcbi-143/144 intron, as proposed in some other plant pathogens. [source]


Changes in equine hindgut bacterial populations during oligofructose-induced laminitis

ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 5 2006
G. J. Milinovich
Summary In the horse, carbohydrate overload is thought to play an integral role in the onset of laminitis by drastically altering the profile of bacterial populations in the hindgut. The objectives of this study were to develop and validate microbial ecology methods to monitor changes in bacterial populations throughout the course of experimentally induced laminitis and to identify the predominant oligofructose-utilizing organisms. Laminitis was induced in five horses by administration of oligofructose. Faecal specimens were collected at 8 h intervals from 72 h before to 72 h after the administration of oligofructose. Hindgut microbiota able to utilize oligofructose were enumerated throughout the course of the experiment using habitat-simulating medium. Isolates were collected and representatives identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The majority of these isolates collected belonged to the genus Streptococcus, 91% of which were identified as being most closely related to Streptococcus infantarius ssp. coli. Furthermore, S. infantarius ssp. coli was the predominant oligofructose-utilizing organism isolated before the onset of lameness. Fluorescence in situ hybridization probes developed to specifically target the isolated Streptococcus spp. demonstrated marked population increases between 8 and 16 h post oligofructose administration. This was followed by a rapid population decline which corresponded with a sharp decline in faecal pH and subsequently lameness at 24,32 h post oligofructose administration. This research suggests that streptococci within the Streptococcus bovis/equinus complex may be involved in the series of events which precede the onset of laminitis in the horse. [source]


Desulfotomaculum genus- and subgenus-specific 16S rRNA hybridization probes for environmental studies

ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 2 2000
Krassimira R. Hristova
Based on comparative analysis of 16S rRNA sequences and the recently established phylogeny of the genus Desulfotomaculum, a set of phylogenetically nested hybridization probes was developed and characterized. A genus-specific probe targets all known Desulfotomaculum species (with the exception of Desulfotomaculum acetoxidans,), and five specific probes target subclusters within the Desulfotomaculum genus. The dissociation temperature of each probe was determined experimentally. Probe specificities were verified through hybridizations with pure culture rRNA isolated from a wide variety of target and non-target organisms and through an evaluation of probe ,nesting' using samples obtained from four different environments. Fixation and hybridization conditions for fluorescence in situ hybridizations were also optimized. The probes were used in quantitative membrane hybridizations to determine the abundance of Desulfotomaculum species in thermophilic anaerobic digesters, in soil, in human faeces and in pig colon samples. Desulfotomaculum rRNA accounted for 0.3,2.1% of the total rRNA in the digesters, 2.6,6.6% in soil, 1.5,3.3% in human faeces and 2.5,6.2% in pig colon samples. [source]


Masking selected sequence variation by incorporating mismatches into melting analysis probes,

HUMAN MUTATION, Issue 3 2006
Rebecca L. Margraf
Abstract Hybridization probe melting analysis can be complicated by the presence of sequence variation (benign polymorphisms or other mutations) near the targeted mutation. We investigated the use of "masking" probes to differentiate alleles with similar probe melting temperatures. Selected sequence variation was masked by incorporating mismatches (deletion, unmatched nucleotide, or universal base) into hybridization probes at the polymorphic location. Such masking probes create a probe/target mismatch with all possible alleles at the selected polymorphic location. Any allele with additional variation at another site is identified by a lower probe melting temperature than alleles that vary only at the masked position. This "masking technique" was applied to RET protooncogene and HPA6 mutation detection using unlabeled hybridization probes, a saturating dsDNA dye, and high-resolution melting analysis. Masking probes clearly distinguished all targeted mutations from polymorphisms when at least 1 base pair (bp) separated the mutation from the masked variation. We were able to mask polymorphisms immediately adjacent to mutations, except in certain cases, such as those involving single-base deletion probes when both adjacent positions had the same polymorphic nucleotides. The masking probes can also localize mutations to specific codons or nucleotide positions. Masking probes can simplify melting analysis of complex regions and eliminate the need for sequencing. Hum Mutat 27(3), 269,278, 2006. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Role of CYP2D6 polymorphism in predicting liver fibrosis progression rate in Caucasian patients with chronic hepatitis C

LIVER INTERNATIONAL, Issue 3 2006
Sigal Fishman
Abstract: Objective: Previous studies have demonstrated that CYP2D6 polymorphism is associated with liver cirrhosis. The aim of the present study was to find out whether CYP2D6*4, the poor metabolizer allele can predict fibrosis progression rate. Methods: Seventy-five Caucasian patients with chronic hepatitis C infection were recruited. They were divided into two groups, ,fast fibrosers' and ,slow fibrosers', according to Poynard's fibrosis progression curves. Sixty-two patients underwent liver biopsy. Twenty healthy neonates were included as control population. DNA was extracted from peripheral blood and CYP2D6*4 was tested by polymer chain reaction using fluorescent hybridization probes in a lightCycler instrument. Results: Forty-two patients were classified as ,fast fibrosers' and 33 patients as ,slow fibrosers'. The frequency of CYP2D6*4 allele in the ,fast fibrosers' (34.5%) was significantly higher compared with the ,slow fibrosers' (15%) (P -value=0.007). There was no significant difference between the frequency of CYP2D6*4 in the ,slow fibrosers' (15%) compared with the controls (12.5%). Carrier state of CYP2D6*4 was the only covariate that was significantly positively correlated with fast progression to cirrhosis (odds ratio=6.5, P=0.01). Conclusion: This study indicates for the first time that CYP2D6 genotype might be a significant predictor of liver fibrosis progression rate in chronic hepatitis C patients. [source]


High-throughput single molecule screening of DNA and proteins

THE CHEMICAL RECORD, Issue 2 2001
Edward S. Yeung
Abstract We report a novel imaging technology for real time comprehensive analysis of molecular alterations in cells and tissues appropriate for automation and adaptation to high-throughput applications. With these techniques it should eventually be possible to perform simultaneous analysis of the entire contents of individual biological cells with a sensitivity and selectivity sufficient to determine the presence or absence of a single copy of a targeted analyte (e.g., DNA region, RNA region, protein), and to do so at a relatively low cost. The technology is suitable for DNA and RNA through sizing or through fluorescent hybridization probes, and for proteins and small molecules through fluorescence immunoassays. This combination of the lowest possible detection limit and the broadest applicability to biomolecules represents the final frontier in bioanalysis. The general scheme is based on novel concepts for single molecule detection (SMD) and characterization recently demonstrated in our laboratory. Since minimal manipulation is involved, it should be possible to screen large numbers of cells in a short time to facilitate practical applications. This opens up the possibility of finding single copies of DNA or proteins within single biological cells for disease markers without performing polymerase chain reaction or other biological amplification. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. and The Japan Chemical Journal Forum Chem Rec 1:123,139, 2001 [source]


Design of (Gd-DO3A)n -polydiamidopropanoyl-peptide nucleic acid- D(Cys-Ser-Lys-Cys) magnetic resonance contrast agents

BIOPOLYMERS, Issue 12 2008
Nariman V. Amirkhanov
Abstract We hypothesized that chelating Gd(III) to 1,4,7-tris(carboxymethylaza)cyclododecane-10-azaacetylamide (DO3A) on peptide nucleic acid (PNA) hybridization probes would provide a magnetic resonance genetic imaging agent capable of hybridization to a specific mRNA. Because of the low sensitivity of Gd(III) as an magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agent, a single Gd-DO3A complex per PNA hybridization agent could not provide enough contrast for detection of cancer gene mRNAs, even at thousands of mRNA copies per cell. To increase the Gd(III) shift intensity of MRI genetic imaging agents, we extended a novel DO3An -polydiamidopropanoyl (PDAPm) dendrimer, up to n = 16, from the N-terminus of KRAS PNA hybridization agents by solid phase synthesis. A C-terminal D(Cys-Ser-Lys-Cys) cyclized peptide analog of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) was included to enable receptor-mediated cellular uptake. Molecular dynamic simulation of the (Gd-DO3A-AEEA)16 -PDAP4 -AEEA2 - KRAS PNA-AEEA- D(Cys-Ser-Lys-Cys) genetic imaging nanoparticles in explicit water yielded a pair correlation function similar to that of PAMAM dendrimers, and a predicted structure in which the PDAP dendron did not sequester the PNA. Thermal melting measurements indicated that the size of the PDAP dendron included in the (DO3A-AEEA)n -PDAPm -AEEA2 - KRAS PNA-AEEA- D(Cys-Ser-Lys-Cys) probes (up to 16 Gd(III) cations per PNA) did not depress the melting temperatures (Tm) of the complementary PNA/RNA hybrid duplexes. The Gd(III) dendrimer PNA genetic imaging agents in phantom solutions displayed significantly greater T1 relaxivity per probe (r1 = 30.64 ± 2.68 mM,1 s,1 for n = 2, r1 = 153.84 ± 11.28 mM,1 s,1 for n = 8) than Gd-DTPA (r1 = 10.35 ± 0.37 mM,1 s,1), but less than that of (Gd-DO3A)32 -PAMAM dendrimer (r1 = 771.84 ± 20.48 mM,1 s,1) (P < 0.05). Higher generations of PDAP dendrimers with 32 or more Gd-DO3A residues attached to PNA- D(Cys-Ser-Lys-Cys) genetic imaging agents might provide greater contrast for more sensitive detection. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers 89: 1061,1076, 2008. This article was originally published online as an accepted preprint. The "Published Online" date corresponds to the preprint version. You can request a copy of the preprint by emailing the Biopolymers editorial office at biopolymers@wiley.com [source]


Bacterial artificial chromosome library for genome-wide analysis of Chinese hamster ovary cells

BIOTECHNOLOGY & BIOENGINEERING, Issue 5 2009
Takeshi Omasa
Abstract Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell lines are widely used for scientific research and biotechnology. A CHO genomic bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) library was constructed from a mouse dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) gene-amplified CHO DR1000L-4N cell line for genome-wide analysis of CHO cell lines. The CHO BAC library consisted of 122,281 clones and was expected to cover the entire CHO genome five times. A CHO chromosomal map was constructed by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) imaging using BAC clones as hybridization probes (BAC-FISH). Thirteen BAC-FISH marker clones were necessary to identify all the 20 individual chromosomes in a DHFR-deficient CHO DG44 cell line because of the aneuploidy of the cell line. To determine the genomic structure of the exogenous Dhfr amplicon, a 165-kb DNA region containing exogenous Dhfr was cloned from the BAC library using high-density replica (HDR) filters and Southern blot analysis. The nucleotide sequence analysis revealed a novel genomic structure in which the vector sequence containing Dhfr was sandwiched by long inverted sequences of the CHO genome. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2009; 104: 986,994. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source]


Refinement of 2q and 7p loci in a large multiplex NTD family,

BIRTH DEFECTS RESEARCH, Issue 6 2008
Demetra S. Stamm
Abstract BACKGROUND: NTDs are considered complex disorders that arise from an interaction between genetic and environmental factors. NTD family 8776 is a large multigenerational Caucasian family that provides a unique resource for the genetic analysis of NTDs. Previous linkage analysis using a genome-wide SNP screen in family 8776 with multipoint nonparametric mapping methods identified maximum LOD* scores of ,3.0 mapping to 2q33.1,q35 and 7p21.1,pter. METHODS: We ascertained an additional nuclear branch of 8776 and conducted additional linkage analysis, fine mapping, and haplotyping. Expression data from lymphoblast cell lines were used to prioritize candidate genes within the minimum candidate intervals. Genomic copy number changes were evaluated using BAC tiling arrays and subtelomeric fluorescent in situ hybridization probes. RESULTS: Increased evidence for linkage was observed with LOD* scores of ,3.3 for both regions. Haplotype analyses narrowed the minimum candidate intervals to a 20.3 Mb region in 2q33.1,q35 between markers rs1050347 and D2S434, and an 8.3 Mb region in 7p21.1,21.3 between a novel marker 7M0547 and rs28177. Within these candidate regions, 16 genes were screened for mutations; however, no obvious causative NTD mutation was identified. Evaluation of chromosomal aberrations using comparative genomic hybridization arrays, subtelomeric fluorescent in situ hybridization, and copy number variant detection techniques within the 2q and 7p regions did not detect any chromosomal abnormalities. CONCLUSIONS: This large NTD family has identified two genomic regions that may harbor NTD susceptibility genes. Ascertainment of another branch of family 8776 and additional fine mapping permitted a 9.1 Mb reduction of the NTD candidate interval on chromosome 7 and 37.3 Mb on chromosome 2 from previously published data. Identification of one or more NTD susceptibility genes in this family could provide insight into genes that may affect other NTD families. Birth Defects Research (Part A), 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Real-time polymerase chain-reaction detection of pathogens is feasible to supplement the diagnostic sequence for urinary tract infections

BJU INTERNATIONAL, Issue 1 2010
Lutz E. Lehmann
OBJECTIVE To evaluate, in a prospective pilot study, the feasibility of identifying pathogens in urine using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and to compare the results with the conventional urine culture-based procedures. PATIENTS AND METHODS Severe urinary tract infections (UTIs) are frequent in critically ill patients in the intensive-care unit (ICU) and in outpatients, and thus the reliable and fast identification of the bacteria is mandatory, but routine urine culture is time-consuming and the therapeutic regimen is often calculated and not culture-based. The study included 301 prospectively collected urine samples from 189 patients with suspected UTI, based in a university hospital in 2005, and included outpatients and those in the ICU. Urine culture with Cled-, MacConkey- and malt extract agar of all samples was followed by microbiological identification of the pathogens in 98 samples with visible growth. In parallel, all samples were assessed using qualitative real-time PCR-based DNA detection and identification by labelled hybridization probes. RESULTS In all, 15 dipstick culture-negative samples showed positive pathogen DNA identification by PCR. By contrast, 17 PCR-negative samples showed detectable pathogens by culture, of which 10 were not detectable on PCR because the identified pathogens were not represented in the probe panel. The sensitivity and specificity for detecting contaminated samples was 0.90 and 0.87, respectively. Overall, 95% of the mono-infection pathogens and 57% of the multiple-infection pathogens were detected concordantly with both methods. CONCLUSION In this prospective pilot study PCR-based identification of pathogens was feasible for supplementing conventional culture methods for the diagnosis of UTI. The main advantage is the time saved in identifying the pathogens. The limited pathogen detection in multiple-infection-samples by PCR might be explained by competitive PCR amplification conditions. [source]