实时荧光定量PCR的研究进展及应用

实时定量PCR(real-time PCR)的应用范围非常广泛,包括mRNA表达的研究、DNA拷贝数的检测、单核苷酸多态性(SNPs)的测定等。由于传统的PCR技术不能准确定量,使其在实际应用方面受到很大限制,因此,对PCR产物进行准确定量,尤其是病毒性病原的动态监控,成为迫切需要。     

Chased PCR: A modified inverse PCR technique to characterize flanking regions of AT-rich DNA fragments

The chased polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique described here is a convenient method enabling the characterization of flanking regions of a known A/T-rich DNA fragment in two different successive steps. The first step includes a modified inverse PCR with inverted tail-to-tail primers, each with 35 overhanging nucleotides for the insertion into a carrier plasmid. The second step consists of a technique similar to a site-directed mutagenesis. The chased PCR technique is simple, quick, versatile and efficient; it improves the inverse PCR technique and may be applied to any ligation-linker method. Consequently, the techniques for PCR-based gene isolation are more suitable for the isolation of missing sequences of A/T-rich or complex DNA.     

Investigation of sensitivity,specificity and accuracy of Tetra primer ARMS PCR method in comparison with conventional ARMS PCR,based on sequencing technique outcomes in IVS-II-I genotyping of beta thalassemia patients

Purpose

Beta thalassemia is one of the most important hematic diseases all around the world and solving the problems caused by this abnormality is strongly dependent on precise detection and reliable screening of high-risk couples. The aim of our study was the investigation of sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of Tetra primer ARMS PCR method comparing with conventional ARMS PCR, based on sequencing technique outcomes for genotyping of IVS-II-I mutation in beta thalassemia patients.

Methods

Fifty seven samples including two homozygote, 49 heterozygote and 6 normal specimens were analyzed by Tetra primer ARMS PCR and conventional ARMS PCR methods. DNA was extracted by the standard method of salting out for leukocyte genomic DNA extraction of blood specimens and a high pure PCR template preparation kit was used for DNA purification of CVS samples. The results obtained by Tetra primer ARMS PCR and conventional ARMS PCR methods were compared with gold standard technique, i.e. sequencing.

Results

All three parameters including specificity, sensitivity and accuracy were 100% for Tetra primer ARMS PCR method, while they were 100%, 92.45% and 92.7% for conventional ARMS PCR technique respectively. Comparing with Tetra primer ARMS PCR which represented 100% agreement with sequencing method, conventional ARMS PCR technique only showed 47.1% agreement, because of 4 discordant results.

Conclusion

Tetra primer ARMS PCR method is an almost reliable, sensitive and accurate technique and it is suggested that it can be used as a complementary method for diagnostic cases instead of conventional ARMS PCR method. This suggestion originated with perfect rate of agreement between outcomes of sequencing method, as a gold standard method of detecting the mutations, and Tetra primer ARMS PCR technique comparing with conventional ARMS PCR method.     

PCR 芯片及其应用研究进展

PCR芯片实质上就是固定有与研究对象有关的许多已知基因的引物阵列并可用于PCR检测的固相载体,其制作时最关键的是目的基因的引物设计。与基于杂交的芯片技术不同,PCR芯片技术是一种高通量的,准确、灵敏的定量检测基因表达的技术,它将待测基因的引物固定于固相载体上,通过简单的、经过优化的定量PCR体系和荧光定量PCR仪,实现待检样品中已知基因的扩增,用于定量检测待检样品中已知基因的表达情况。PCR芯片由于其操作简单、结果准确、数据产出快而多等特点,已应用于疾病发病机制、药物作用机理和细菌分型等研究领域,并将在生命科学研究领域得到更为广泛的应用。     

弓形虫（Toxoplasma gondii）的PCR检测方法在笼养猕猴群中的应用

目的建立快速、灵敏、特异及检测结果易判断的PCR方法,并应用于大规模猕猴种群的弓形虫常规检测中。同时比较巢式PCR和单一PCR的一致性。方法根据弓形虫保守基因p30（SAG1）设计了内、外两对进行巢式PCR扩增以及B1基因设计一对引物进行单一PCR扩增,将DNA样本进行10倍倍比稀释,以检测巢式PCR反应的灵敏度;并对医学生物学研究所自繁猕猴共150只进行了弓形虫检测。结果巢式PCR检测法检测限度可达10^-3ng/uL,而且方法特异。两种PCR法检测结果基本一致,其中巢式PCR检测阳性率（10％）稍高于单一PCR检测阳性率（8．67％）。结论巢式PCR和一次PCR方法都可应用于猕猴弓形虫的常规检测中,并提示巢式PCR比单一PCR更敏感、检出率更高。     

Development of a broad-range 16S rDNA real-time PCR for the diagnosis of septic arthritis in children

The broad-range PCR has been successfully developed to search for fastidious, slow-growing or uncultured bacteria, and is mostly used when an empirical antibiotic treatment has already been initiated. The technique generally involves standard PCR targeting the gene coding for 16S ribosomal RNA, and includes a post-PCR visualisation step on agarose gel which is a potential source of cross-over contamination. In addition, interpretation of the presence of amplified products on gels can be difficult. We then developed a new SYBR Green-based, universal real-time PCR assay targeting the gene coding for 16S ribosomal RNA, coupled with sequencing of amplified products. The real-time PCR assay was evaluated on 94 articular fluid samples collected from children hospitalised for suspicion of septic arthritis, as compared to the results obtained with bacterial cultures and conventional broad-range PCR. DNA extraction was performed with the automated MagNa Pure system. We could detect DNA from various bacterial pathogens including fastidious bacteria (Kingella kingae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Streptococcus pyogenes, Salmonella spp, Staphylococcus aureus) from 23% of cases of septic arthritis giving negative culture results. The real-time technique was easier to interpret and allowed to detect four more cases than conventional PCR. PCR based molecular techniques appear to be essential to perform in case of suspicion of septic arthritis, provided the increase of the diagnosed bacterial etiologies. Real-time PCR technique is a sensitive and reliable technique, which can replace conventional PCR for clinical specimens with negative bacterial culture.     

PCR MP (PCR melting profile) technique--possibilities of application in epidemiological studies

The performance and convenience of a PCR melting profile (PCR MP) technique based on using low denaturation temperatures during ligation mediated PCR (LM PCR) of bacterial DNA is shown. We found that PCR MP technique is a rapid method that offers good discriminatory power, excellent reproducibility and may be applied for epidemiological studies. Results from strain genotyping illustrate that PCR MP is useful for the study of intraspecific genetic relatedness of strains and is as effective in discriminating closely related strains as the PFGE method, which is currently considered to be the gold standard for epidemiological studies. The usefulness of the PCR MP for molecular typing was shown for clinical strains of Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecium VRE and Stapylococcus aureus.     

Polymerase chain reaction of nanoparticle-bound primers

Using one or two primers respectively bound to the surface of Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) or magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs), polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based on nanoparticles was systemically studied, agarose gel electrophoresis and atomic force microscopy (AFM) were respectively used to detect and observe the PCR product. The results obtained indicated that with either one or two primers respectively bound to the nanoparticle surface, PCR can proceed successfully under optimized condition and is subject to certain rules, consequently a symmetric PCR technique and an asymmetric PCR technique based on nanoparticles have been developed. A kind of nanostructured aggregates can be constructed by a symmetric PCR using two nanoparticle-bound primers.     

Value of PCR technique in detection of Helicobacter pylori in paraffin-embedded material

Methods which permit effective detection of Helicobacter prlori are based on endoscopic sampling of gastric mucosa followed by a direct or indirect demonstration of Helicobacter pylori bacilli, e.g. searching for specific proteins or gene fragments. PCR technique represents one of techniques employed for diagnosing the biopsies. The present study was aimed at examining how effective is the detection of Helicobacter pylori in paraffin-embedded material by PCR technique using primers for the Ure C gene fragment. The material for studies involved gastric biopsies, routinely fixed in formalin and embedded in paraffin. In order to perform PCR, DNA was isolated and purified, subjected to amplification with the use of starters for the Ure C gene fragment. The performed experiments have confirmed suitability of PCR technique for detection of Helicobacter pylori.     

四引物扩增受阻突变体系PCR技术及其在动植物遗传育种研究中的应用

四引物扩增受阻突变体系PCR(Tetra-primer amplification refractory mutation system PCR,Tetra-primer ARMS PCR)技术是一种在普通PCR基础上发展起来的单核苷酸多态性(SNP)分型技术。该项技术综合了扩增受阻突变体系(Amplification refractory mutation system,ARMS)和四引物PCR(tetra-primer PCR)技术的优点,是对等位基因特异性PCR法的改良。它具有操作简便、分型快速、费用低廉等特点,在国内外生命科学领域尤其是遗传育种领域的应用越来越广泛。本文介绍了四引物扩增受阻突变体系PCR的技术原理及优势、结果检测手段和反应体系改进方法,并在此基础上对该技术在遗传育种研究中的应用进行综述。     

Endonuclease-mediated long PCR and its application to restriction mapping

The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is the most widely used technique for the study of DNA. Applications for PCR have been extended significantly by the development of "long" PCR, a technique that makes it possible to amplify DNA fragments up to 40 kb in length. This article describes two novel applications of the long PCR technique, one which simplifies restriction mapping and another which enhances amplification specificity and yield. The same primers used to perform the long PCR amplification can be used as probes to perform restriction mapping of the DNA fragment amplified. Restriction digestion performed prior to long PCR amplification can be used to selectively suppress the amplification of members of families of closely related DNA sequences, thereby making it possible to selectively amplify one of a group of highly homologous sequences. These two complimentary techniques, both involving use of the long PCR paired with restriction digestion, have potential application in any laboratory in which PCR is performed.     

Molecular monitoring of fungal communities in air samples by denaturing high‐performance liquid chromatography (D‐HPLC)

Aims: To describe a new molecular technique for the assessment of fungal diversity in the air. Methods and Results: Air samples were collected every week in a henhouse in France during a 15‐week period. After air sampling, the collecting membrane was diluted, and the liquid was used for subsequent cultivation and molecular analysis: PCR‐temperature temporal gradient electrophoresis (TTGE), which has already been used for the identification of fungal species in air samples and PCR‐denaturing high‐performance liquid chromatography (D‐HPLC), a new technique for the analysis of complex microbial populations. D‐HPLC profiles were reproducible from run‐to‐run, and several fungal organisms could be identified at the species level by sequencing. Conclusions: PCR‐D‐HPLC enabled the identification of fungal species (both Ascomycota and Basidiomycota) that may be encountered in air. The new technique allowed the detection of more fungal species than did the PCR‐TTGE technique. However, some fungal species were detected only by PCR‐TTGE, suggesting that PCR‐D‐HPLC and PCR‐TTGE are complementary. Significance and Impact of the Study: PCR‐D‐HPLC represents a considerable saving in time over currently available procedures for detection and identification of fungal organisms in air. However, the fungal diversity detected by PCR‐D‐HPLC or by PCR‐TTGE was lower than that revealed by culture.     

近交系小鼠双色荧光正相杂交芯片技术体系的建立和优化

目的探讨采用单核苷酸多态性（SNP）检测方法-双色荧光正相杂交芯片技术对近交系小鼠遗传质量监测及相关影响因素。方法运用基于芯片的双色荧光正相杂交检测SNP技术,进行芯片杂交动力学研究,考察信号值（Cy3,Cy5）和ratio值（Cy5/Cy3）与PCR产物点样浓度、PCR产物长度和荧光标记探针长度之间的关系,研究PCR产物点样浓度、PCR产物长度和荧光标记探针长度对SNP分型的影响。结果采用正反标记实验后,Ratio值随着PCR产物点样浓度的增加呈稳定趋势;PCR双链产物长度对信号值影响比较大,点样时其长度不宜太长,最好不超过450 bp;随荧光标记探针长度的增加,基因分型能力明显下降,长度为15 bp最佳,长度超过20 bp时,已基本没有区分能力。结论PCR产物点样浓度、PCR产物长度和荧光标记探针长度是双色荧光正相杂交SNP分型系统的重要影响因素,采取适当的PCR产物点样浓度、PCR产物长度和荧光标记探针长度,并采用正反标记实验,可以取得稳定、准确的基因分型效果。为进一步进行近交系小鼠遗传质量监测的研究奠定基础。     

动物种群遗传多态性研究中的PCR技术

基因组DNA的变异是种群遗传多态性研究的基础。PCR技术可以在反应管内经济快速地扩增特定DNA序列,在动物种群遗传多态性研究中的应用主要包括三个方面：(1)种群遗传多态位点的检测;(2)基因定位或利用已经定位的单拷贝基因设计染色体位点特异的分子标记;(3)与DNA测序技术相结合,高效经济地获取特定基因座位的全部遗传变异。     

Following ionic activity by electrochemistry during the polymerase chain reaction

The most commonly used technique for gene detection is the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). PCR is associated with alterations in ionic activity because inorganic pyrophosphate (PPi) and inorganic phosphate (Pi) ions are produced during nucleotide polymerization. To maintain electro-neutrality, magnesium, potassium, and ammonium ions are bound to DNA. Deoxynucleotides are also bound to DNA during PCR. Some authors have described DNA itself as an electrically conducting polymer formed by base stapling with the formation of extensive Pi systems. In the current study, alterations in electrical conductivity determined experimentally during PCR are reported, and a model explaining the observed changes is described. During recent years, several different techniques for quantifying PCR products have been developed. The most frequently used technique is comparison of the densitometric intensities of ethidium bromide-stained PCR products separated by electrophoresis on gels. Here an alternative technique for quantifying PCR products by measuring alterations in electrical conductivity during PCR is presented.     

Evaluation of Ssp I polymerase chain reaction assay in the detection of Wuchereria bancrofti infection in field-collected Culex quinquefasciatus and its application in the transmission studies of lymphatic filariasis

Abstract: Ssp I polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay, developed for Wuchereria bancrofti, was evaluated for its sensitivity in detecting infection in the vector, Culex quinquefasciatus, in the field. The evaluation of the assay was carried out using pools of vector mosquitoes collected from areas under filariasis survey and control trial projects, in comparison with the standard dissection and microscopy technique. In the filariasis survey area the infection rate as determined by the dissection and microscopy technique was 0.89% whereas it was 1.7% by PCR assay. In the Bacillus sphaericus trial area the infection rates as assessed by the conventional technique were 6.6 and 4.5% in the treated and check areas, respectively, whereas those obtained by the PCR assay were 4.7 to 2.2%. Although the infection rates determined by the PCR assay are slightly higher or lower than the rates obtained by the conventional technique, the difference was not statistically significant (P=0.451 for filariasis survey area, and P=0.203 and 0.161 for B. sphaericus trial area). When the pool size of Cx. quinquefasciatus was increased to 50 the sensitivity of the PCR was affected. The changes in infection rates as influenced by the antifilarial chemotherapy were similar when determined by PCR assay and the standard method. The major advantage of the PCR assay over the conventional technique is that thousands of mosquitoes can be processed within a short duration and this attribute has potential application in rapid assessment of disease prevalence and monitoring of the transmission dynamics.     

Rapid analysis and quantitation of PCR products by high-performance liquid chromatography

HPLC utilizing a high efficiency anion-exchange column provides a rapid and easily automated technique for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of subnanogram to microgram amounts of DNA fragments generated by the PCR. The accuracy, precision and linearity of this method exceed those attainable with electrophoretic techniques. In addition, because of the nondestructive nature of HPLC, the desired PCR amplification product can be purified for subsequent utilization. Thus, liquid chromatography extends the utility of the PCR technique to those applications requiring precise quantitation.     

人结核分枝杆菌特异性核酸探针制备及结核病PCR检测技术的初步临床应用

采用人结核分枝杆菌(Mycobacterium tuberculosis TB)染色体DNA为模板,选择位于插入片段IS6110中884～865和568～588碱基对处的两个片段为引物,扩增出317bp的特异性片段．将其克隆进pUCl9载体。酶切图谱分析和DNA序列测定证实为目的片段。该片段经DIG标记,分别与11种分枝杆菌DNA进行Southern杂交,结果证明只与人型复合分枝杆菌发生杂交反应。利用该对引物建立的PcR检测拄术对74份结核病痰液标本进行检测,并与临床细菌快速培养结果相比较,发现48份临床阳性均为PcR阳性,在26份临床阴性标本中亦发现11份PCR检测阳性。将标本PCR产物与克隆探针进行杂交,显示两者结果完全一致。说明PCR检测体系结果可靠,其灵敏度明显高于目前临床所采用的方法,可作为一种常规技术用于结核病的临床检测。     

Development of a versatile cassette for directional genome walking using cassette ligation-mediated PCR and its application in the cloning of complete lipolytic genes from Bacillus species

Since the invention of the PCR technology, adaptation techniques to clone DNA fragments flanking the known sequence continue to be developed. We describe a perfectly annealed cassette available in almost unlimited quantities with variable sticky-and blunt-end restriction enzyme recognition sites for efficient restriction and ligation with the restricted target genomic DNA. The cassette provides a 200-bp sequence, which is used to design a variety of cassette-specific primers. The dephosphorylation prevents cassette self-ligation and creates a nick at the cassette: target genome DNA ligation site suppressing unspecific PCR amplifications. We introduce the single-strand amplification PCR (SSA-PCR) technique where a lone known locus-specific primer is firstly used to enrich the targeted template DNA strand resulting in significant PCR product specificity during the second round conventional nested PCR. The distance between the known locus-specific primer and the nearest location of the restriction enzyme used determined the length of the obtained PCR product. We used this technique to walk downstream into the isochorismatase and upstream into the hypothetical conserved genes flanking the mature extracellular lipase gene from Bacillus licheniformis. We further demonstrated the potential of the technique as a cost-effective method during PCR-based prospecting for novel genes by designing "universal" degenerate primers that detected homologues of Family VII bacterial lipolytic genes in Bacillus species. The cassette ligation-mediated PCR was used to clone complete nucleotide sequences encoding functional lipolytic genes from B. licheniformis and Bacillus pumilus.     

Isolation of DNA fragments from a human chromosomal subregion by Alu PCR differential hybridization

The recent advent of Alu element-mediated PCR (Alu PCR) allows the rapid isolation of human-specific fragments from mixed DNA sources. This technique greatly facilitates the isolation of DNA fragments from specific regions of the human genome. We report a novel technique utilizing Alu PCR products as differential hybridization probes to isolate human DNA fragments from a chromosomal subregion. We used the Alu PCR products from a pair of somatic cell hybrids in which the human DNA content differs only in the 5q11.2-q13.3 region as differential hybridization probes. One hybrid (GM10114) retains an intact chromosome 5, while the other (HHW1064) contains a chromosome 5 deleted for the q11.2-q13.3 region. Phage from a flow-sorted chromosome 5 library were hybridized with the Alu PCR synthesis product from the chromosome 5 hybrid. Positively hybridizing phage were then screened with the Alu PCR product from the deletion 5 hybrid. Phage that hybridized to the Alu PCR product of the chromosome 5 hybrid but did not hybridize to the Alu PCR product of the deletion 5 hybrid were further characterized. We isolated five phage from 5q11.2-q13.3 using this differential hybridization procedure. Only one of these phage corresponded to a detectable difference between the ethidium bromide-stained Alu PCR products of the two somatic cell hybrids. This technique should be applicable to any somatic cell hybrid-deletion hybrid pair.