Flow Sorting of Marine Bacterioplankton after Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization

We describe an approach to sort cells from coastal North Sea bacterioplankton by flow cytometry after in situ hybridization with rRNA-targeted horseradish peroxidase-labeled oligonucleotide probes and catalyzed fluorescent reporter deposition (CARD-FISH). In a sample from spring 2003 >90% of the cells were detected by CARD-FISH with a bacterial probe (EUB338). Approximately 30% of the microbial assemblage was affiliated with the Cytophaga-Flavobacterium lineage of the Bacteroidetes (CFB group) (probe CF319a), and almost 10% was targeted by a probe for the β-proteobacteria (probe BET42a). A protocol was optimized to detach cells hybridized with EUB338, BET42a, and CF319a from membrane filters (recovery rate, 70%) and to sort the cells by flow cytometry. The purity of sorted cells was >95%. 16S rRNA gene clone libraries were constructed from hybridized and sorted cells (S-EUB, S-BET, and S-CF libraries) and from unhybridized and unsorted cells (UNHYB library). Sequences related to the CFB group were significantly more frequent in the S-CF library (66%) than in the UNHYB library (13%). No enrichment of β-proteobacterial sequence types was found in the S-BET library, but novel sequences related to Nitrosospira were found exclusively in this library. These bacteria, together with members of marine clade OM43, represented >90% of the β-proteobacteria in the water sample, as determined by CARD-FISH with specific probes. This illustrates that a combination of CARD-FISH and flow sorting might be a powerful approach to study the diversity and potentially the activity and the genomes of different bacterial populations in aquatic habitats.     

Identification of Nitrite-Reducing Bacteria Using Sequential mRNA Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization and Fluorescence-Assisted Cell Sorting

Sequential mRNA fluorescence in situ hybridization (mRNA FISH) and fluorescence-assisted cell sorting (SmRFF) was used for the identification of nitrite-reducing bacteria in mixed microbial communities. An oligonucleotide probe labeled with horseradish peroxidase (HRP) was used to target mRNA of nirS, the gene that encodes nitrite reductase, the enzyme responsible for the dissimilatory reduction of nitrite to nitric oxide. Clones for nirS expression were constructed and used to provide proof of concept for the SmRFF method. In addition, cells from pure cultures of Pseudomonas stutzeri and denitrifying activated sludge were hybridized with the HRP probe, and tyramide signal amplification was performed, conferring a strongly fluorescent signal to cells containing nirS mRNA. Flow cytometry-assisted cell sorting was used to detect and physically separate two subgroups from a mixed microbial community: non-fluorescent cells and an enrichment of fluorescent, nitrite-reducing cells. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and subsequent sequencing of 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes were used to compare the fragments amplified from the two sorted subgroups. Sequences from bands isolated from DGGE profiles suggested that the dominant, active nitrite reducers were closely related to Acidovorax BSB421. Furthermore, following mRNA FISH detection of nitrite-reducing bacteria, 16S rRNA FISH was used to detect ammonia-oxidizing and nitrite-oxidizing bacteria on the same activated sludge sample. We believe that the molecular approach described can be useful as a tool to help address the longstanding challenge of linking function to identity in natural and engineered habitats.     

Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization in Studying the Human Genome

Physical chromosome mapping by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) is among the major lines of research on the human genome (as well as genomes of numerous other organisms). To localize particular genes or anonymous DNA sequences on individual chromosomes or chromosome regions, FISH was developed in the late 1980s and early 1990s, when the International Human Genome Project and the Russian program Human Genome were launched. Now FISH continues to play a prominent part in studies of the human genome. The review considers the major steps of FISH development in Russia, with special emphasis on the key roles of the Institute of Cytology and Genetics (Novosibirsk) and Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology (Moscow). Physical mapping of human chromosomes 3 and 13 by FISH is described in detail. The acquisition of FISH in Russia contributed to the progress in the related fields such as comparative animal genomics (ZOOFISH) and studies of plant chromosomes.     

Detection and Differentiation of Chlamydiae by Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization

Chlamydiae are important pathogens of humans and animals but diagnosis of chlamydial infections is still hampered by inadequate detection methods. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) using rRNA-targeted oligonucleotide probes is widely used for the investigation of uncultured bacteria in complex microbial communities and has recently also been shown to be a valuable tool for the rapid detection of various bacterial pathogens in clinical specimens. Here we report on the development and evaluation of a hierarchic probe set for the specific detection and differentiation of chlamydiae, particularly C. pneumoniae, C. trachomatis, C. psittaci, and the recently described chlamydia-like bacteria comprising the novel genera Neochlamydia and Parachlamydia. The specificity of the nine newly developed probes was successfully demonstrated by in situ hybridization of experimentally infected amoebae and HeLa 229 cells, including HeLa 229 cells coinfected with C. pneumoniae and C. trachomatis. FISH reliably stained chlamydial inclusions as early as 12 h postinfection. The sensitivity of FISH was further confirmed by combination with direct fluorescence antibody staining. In contrast to previously established detection methods for chlamydiae, FISH was not susceptible to false-positive results and allows the detection of all recognized chlamydiae in one single step.     

Rapid Denaturation Improves Chromosome Morphology and Permits Multiple Hybridizations During Fluorescence in Situ Hybridization

Denaturation of chromosomal DNA for fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) is an essential step in a procedure associated with a number of variables. In our experience, shorter denaturation time in 70% formamide/2 × SSC at 72 C provides sufficient denaturation, where the hydrogen bonds are broken between the purines and pyrimidines of the double helix. This shortened exposure improves retention of morphology of human chromosomes from lymphocytes, aminocytes, fibroblasts and bone marrow, and allows the same metaphases to be denatured repeatedly and rehybridized with different probes. This approach is useful in investigations where sample volume is limited.     

Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization and Spectral Imaging of Coral-Associated Bacterial Communities

Microbial communities play important roles in the functioning of coral reef communities. However, extensive autofluorescence of coral tissues and endosymbionts limits the application of standard fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) techniques for the identification of the coral-associated bacterial communities. This study overcomes these limitations by combining FISH and spectral imaging.     

Simultaneous Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization of mRNA and rRNA in Environmental Bacteria

We developed for Bacteria in environmental samples a sensitive and reliable mRNA fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) protocol that allows for simultaneous cell identification by rRNA FISH. Samples were carbethoxylated with diethylpyrocarbonate to inactivate intracellular RNases and pretreated with lysozyme and/or proteinase K at different concentrations. Optimizing the permeabilization of each type of sample proved to be a critical step in avoiding false-negative or false-positive results. The quality of probes as well as a stringent hybridization temperature were determined with expression clones. To increase the sensitivity of mRNA FISH, long ribonucleotide probes were labeled at a high density with cis-platinum-linked digoxigenin (DIG). The hybrid was immunocytochemically detected with an anti-DIG antibody labeled with horseradish peroxidase (HRP). Subsequently, the hybridization signal was amplified by catalyzed reporter deposition with fluorochrome-labeled tyramides. p-Iodophenylboronic acid and high concentrations of NaCl substantially enhanced the deposition of tyramides and thus increased the sensitivity of our approach. After inactivation of the antibody-delivered HRP, rRNA FISH was performed by following routine protocols. To show the broad applicability of our approach, mRNA of a key enzyme of aerobic methane oxidation, particulate methane monooxygenase (subunit A), was hybridized with different types of samples: pure cultures, symbionts of a hydrothermal vent bivalve, and even sediment, one of the most difficult sample types with which to perform successful FISH. By simultaneous mRNA FISH and rRNA FISH, single cells are identified and shown to express a particular gene. Our protocol is transferable to many different types of samples with the need for only minor modifications of fixation and permeabilization procedures.     

荧光原位杂交技术在医学微生物学中的应用

以16S rRNA 为靶序列的寡核苷酸探针荧光原位杂交技术已广泛应用于分析复杂环境中的微生物群落构成,包括监测和鉴定病原微生物以及未被培养微生物．通过对临床样品中微生物细胞的检测能提供微生物在人体中的种类、数量和空间分布等信息．其结果快速准确,较之传统的病原微生物诊断方法具有明显的优越性,在临床应用中有广泛的前景．     

Simple Method for Fluorescence DNA In Situ Hybridization to Squashed Chromosomes

DNA in situ hybridization (DNA ISH) is a commonly used method for mapping sequences to specific chromosome regions. This approach is particularly effective at mapping highly repetitive sequences to heterochromatic regions, where computational approaches face prohibitive challenges. Here we describe a streamlined protocol for DNA ISH that circumvents formamide washes that are standard steps in other DNA ISH protocols. Our protocol is optimized for hybridization with short single strand DNA probes that carry fluorescent dyes, which effectively mark repetitive DNA sequences within heterochromatic chromosomal regions across a number of different insect tissue types. However, applications may be extended to use with larger probes and visualization of single copy (non-repetitive) DNA sequences. We demonstrate this method by mapping several different repetitive sequences to squashed chromosomes from Drosophila melanogaster neural cells and Nasonia vitripennis spermatocytes. We show hybridization patterns for both small, commercially synthesized probes and for a larger probe for comparison. This procedure uses simple laboratory supplies and reagents, and is ideal for investigators who have little experience with performing DNA ISH.     

In Situ Detection of Freshwater Fungi in an Alpine Stream by New Taxon-Specific Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization Probes

New rRNA-targeting oligonucleotide probes permitted the fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) identification of freshwater fungi in an Austrian second-order alpine stream. Based on computer-assisted comparative sequence analysis, nine taxon-specific probes were designed and evaluated by whole-fungus hybridizations. Oligonucleotide probe MY1574, specific for a wide range of Eumycota, and the genus (Tetracladium)-specific probe TCLAD1395, as well as the species-specific probes ALacumi1698 (Alatospora acuminata), TRIang322 (Tricladium angulatum), and Alongi340 (Anguillospora longissima), are targeted against 18S rRNA, whereas probes TmarchB10, TmarchC1_1, TmarchC1_2, and AlongiB16 are targeted against the 28S rRNA of Tetracladium marchalianum and Anguillospora longissima, respectively. After 2 weeks and 3 months of exposure of polyethylene slides in the stream, attached germinating conidia and growing hyphae of freshwater fungi were accessible for FISH. Growing hyphae and germinating conidia on leaves and in membrane cages were also visualized by the new FISH probes.     

FISH在人类未受精卵染色体异常分析中的应用

分子细胞遗传学的主要技术代表———荧光原位杂交 (FISH)是用荧光标记的依靠探针杂交原理在细胞核中或染色体上显示某一特定核酸序列的位置 ,并可进行相对定量分析 .它广泛应用于遗传病的诊断、产前诊断、肿瘤遗传学、进化遗传学研究和基因定位等领域 ,随着辅助生殖技术的进展 ,将在植入前胚胎遗传学诊断 (PGD)、生殖细胞 (卵母细胞和精子 )染色体异常的研究方面发挥更大的用途 .它是联系分子遗传学和细胞遗传学之间的桥梁 .     

Progresses and Applications of Fluorescence in Situ Hybridization

The techniques of in situ hybridization (ISH) are widely adopted for analyzing the genetic make-up and RNA expression patterns of individual cells. There are four main criterions for evaluating this technique, including detection sensitivity, resolution, capacity and specificity. This review focuses on a number of advances made over the last years in the fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). These advances can be catagorized into several branches as follows: (1) Multicolor-FISH (mFISH), including conventional mFISH, combinatorial FISH, ratio labelling FISH, multicolor chromosome painting and comparative genomic hybridization (CGH); (2) Extended DNA fiber-FISH (EDF-FISH), including quantitative DNA fiber mapping (QDFM), molecular combing (MC) and dynamic molecular combing (DMC); (3)In situ PCR-based FISH; (4) Bacterial (or yeast) artificial chromosome-FISH (BAC-FISH or YAC-FISH); (5) Tyramide signal amplification-FISH (TSA-FISH); (6) Polypeptide nucleic acid-FISH (PNA-FISH) and (7) padlock-FISH.     

荧光原位杂交技术及其在医学诊断上的应用

荧光原位杂交技术是近年来生物学领域发展起来的将经典的细胞遗传学与分子遗传学结合起来一项新技术。该技术具有广泛的应用潜力,在细胞生物学、分子生物学、医学等众多领域快速发展。本文介绍了荧光原位杂交技术的基本原理和操作方法,并对该技术目前的发展状况以其在医学诊断上的应用进行了阐述。     

Fluorescence in Situ Hybridization (FISH): DNA Probe Production and Hybridization Criteria

We describe methods for the production of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) probes and the utilization of these probes for the detection of complementary DNA sequences with accuracy and sensitivity for application in both basic research and clinical diagnosis. Due to the frequent use of FISH in many laboratories, it is important to apply the most convenient and reproducible approach. This review describes some of the most recent techniques, and includes versatile, effective and simple methods of probe production and fluorescence in situ hybridization. We also describe methods for the production of region-specific and chromosome-specific DNA probes and hybridization techniques for the visualization of these probes.     

MiL-FISH: Multilabeled Oligonucleotides for Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization Improve Visualization of Bacterial Cells

Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) has become a vital tool for environmental and medical microbiology and is commonly used for the identification, localization, and isolation of defined microbial taxa. However, fluorescence signal strength is often a limiting factor for targeting all members in a microbial community. Here, we present the application of a multilabeled FISH approach (MiL-FISH) that (i) enables the simultaneous targeting of up to seven microbial groups using combinatorial labeling of a single oligonucleotide probe, (ii) is applicable for the isolation of unfixed environmental microorganisms via fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS), and (iii) improves signal and imaging quality of tissue sections in acrylic resin for precise localization of individual microbial cells. We show the ability of MiL-FISH to distinguish between seven microbial groups using a mock community of marine organisms and its applicability for the localization of bacteria associated with animal tissue and their isolation from host tissues using FACS. To further increase the number of potential target organisms, a streamlined combinatorial labeling and spectral imaging-FISH (CLASI-FISH) concept with MiL-FISH probes is presented here. Through the combination of increased probe signal, the possibility of targeting hard-to-detect taxa and isolating these from an environmental sample, the identification and precise localization of microbiota in host tissues, and the simultaneous multilabeling of up to seven microbial groups, we show here that MiL-FISH is a multifaceted alternative to standard monolabeled FISH that can be used for a wide range of biological and medical applications.     

Protocol for Rapid Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization of Bacteria in Cryosections of Microarthropods

A protocol was developed to detect bacteria inhabiting microarthropods by means of small-subunit rRNA-targeted fluorescence in situ hybridization and microscopy. The protocol is based on cryosections of whole specimens. In contrast to more commonly applied paraffin-embedding techniques, the protocol is quicker and reduces the number of manipulations which might damage the microscopic material. The method allowed the study of the bacterial colonization of Folsomia candida (Collembola) and the detection of bacteria in both the gut and tissue.     

Automated Enumeration of Groups of Marine Picoplankton after Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization

We describe here an automated system for the counting of multiple samples of double-stained microbial cells on sections of membrane filters. The application integrates an epifluorescence microscope equipped with motorized z-axis drive, shutters, and filter wheels with a scanning stage, a digital camera, and image analysis software. The relative abundances of specific microbial taxa are quantified in samples of marine picoplankton, as detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and catalyzed reporter deposition. Pairs of microscopic images are automatically acquired from numerous positions at two wavelengths, and microbial cells with both general DNA and FISH staining are counted after object edge detection and signal-to-background ratio thresholding. Microscopic fields that are inappropriate for cell counting are automatically excluded prior to measurements. Two nested walk paths guide the device across a series of triangular preparations until a user-defined number of total cells has been analyzed per sample. A backup autofocusing routine at incident light allows automated refocusing between individual samples and can reestablish the focal plane after fatal focusing errors at epifluorescence illumination. The system was calibrated to produce relative abundances of FISH-stained cells in North Sea samples that were comparable to results obtained by manual evaluation. Up to 28 preparations could be analyzed within 4 h without operator interference. The device was subsequently applied for the counting of different microbial populations in incubation series of North Sea waters. Automated digital microscopy greatly facilitates the processing of numerous FISH-stained samples and might thus open new perspectives for bacterioplankton population ecology.     

Hybrid Identification in Clivia(Amaryllidaceae) using Chromosome Banding and Genomic In Situ Hybridization

Giemsa C-banding and genomic in situ hybridization (GISH) wereused to identify parental genomes in hybrids of Clivia(Amaryllidaceae).Of the three groups reputed to be hybrids, onlyC. cyrtanthiflorawas shown to be of hybrid origin. The ‘German hybrids’and ‘Belgian hybrids’ were both shown to be karyotypicallyand genomically similar to C. miniata, and are either selectionsor intraspecific hybrids of that species. Successful genomedifferentiation in F₁hybrids by GISH required high stringencyand high ratios of blocking DNA to probe. The spatial dispositionof different genomes with C-band or GISH markers in the hybridswas investigated in two dimensions on the spread. In five artificiallyproduced hybrids, either C-banding or GISH was used to locatethe position of parental genomes in mitotic metaphase cells.In all cases there was a significant tendency for centromeresof the different parental genomes to occupy two distinct concentricdomains on the metaphase plate. The presence or absence of centromericheterochromatin was not correlated with genome disposition.Results show that chromosome analyses can be a useful way ofidentifying Clivia hybrids in their vegetative phase. Copyright2001 Annals of Botany Company Clivia, genomic in situ hybridization, cultivar origin, parental genome separation