Multiplex polymerase chain reaction/membrane hybridization assay for detection of genetically modified organisms

To improve detection efficiency and result accuracy, four screening primer pairs, four identifying primer pairs, one common primer pair and corresponding probes were designed for the development of multiplex polymerase chain reaction/membrane hybridization assay (MPCR-MHA) for detection of the foreign genes insert in genetically modified organisms (GMOs). After detecting condition and parameter were optimized and determined, MPCR reactions were developed for amplifying several target genes simultaneously in one tube. Primers were labeled with biotin at the 5'-end; biotinylated MPCR products were detected by hybridization to the oligonucleotide probes immobilized on a membrane with subsequent colorimetric detection to confirm hybridization. The testing of screening primers can judge whether the sample contains GMOs, and that of identifying primers can further judge what kinds of trait genes are contained in the sample. We detected nine soybean samples, six maize samples, seven potato samples and two rice samples by the MPCR-MHA method; at the same time we also detected them with single PCR-MHA method. The results between two methods have good consistency.     

多重PCR快速确证外源基因在转基因小麦后代的传递

根据转入小麦0世代中的高分子谷蛋白亚基1Dx5基因和报告基因uidA、作为选择标记的除草剂抗性基因bar的序列,设计合成三对引物。以整合uidA+bar的质粒pAHC25和整合1Dx5的质粒p1Dx5为模板寻找uidA与1Dx5及或bar多重扩增的最佳模板浓度及最适退火温度。MPCR模板量是单对引物扩增时的两倍,引物浓度同常规PCR为0.3μM,uidA与bar的适宜退火温度范围为57.1 - 62.3℃;uidA与1Dx5为60.0℃-60.6℃;uidA、bar、1Dx5的最适合退火温度范围为57.0℃-58.4℃。MPCR对大小相差50bp及以下的多重扩增片段可通过10%的非变性聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳分离。在此基础上对14株T1代转基因小麦基因组DNA进行多重PCR扩增,筛选出基因未分离的小麦后代,并与常规PCR比较,结果一致,其中11株同时传递1Dx5和bar基因、1株同时传递uidA、bar和1Dx5基因,3株未检测到外源基因。表明MPCR在快速确证外源基因在转基因植株后代的传递中作用显著。研究在常规PCR反应体系上,对模板浓度和多重引物退火温度进行微调,且把MPCR技术与PAGE技术结合起来,提高了研究结果的准确性,获得了较好的扩增和检测效果,简化了MPCR优化程序,使MPCR的优势更明显,为该技术的广泛应用提供了借鉴。     

Development of real-time PCR assay for differential detection and quantification for multiple Babesia microti-genotypes

We have developed a real-time PCR assay that can rapidly and differentially detect and quantify four genotypes of small subunit ribosomal RNA gene (SSUrDNA) of Babesia microti (Kobe-, Otsu-, Nagano- and US-types). In this assay, four genotype-specific pairs of primers targeted on internal transcribed spacer (ITS) 1 or 2 sequences were used and amplicons by each pair of primers were quantitatively detected by fluorescent SYBR Green I. The four genotype-specific pairs of primers displayed the high specificity for homologous genotype DNA. The standard curves of cycle threshold (Ct) values versus amount of target DNA per reaction (log) for all four genotypes were linear and the correlation coefficient (Rsq) values for the curves were from 0.970 to 0.997. The standard curves were almost identical even in the presence of heterologous genotype DNA. This assay could detect 10-30 fg purified DNA (equivalent to the amount of 1-5 parasite DNA) of each genotype B. microti. This assay could also detect each genotype B. microti infection in blood with 3×10(-6)%-1×10(-5)% parasitemia. This assay was applicable to field rodent and tick samples to reveal mixed infection in several samples, for which a single genotype of B. microti had been detected by direct sequencing analyses in our previous studies. This assay also seemed to be applicable to clinical human samples, showing Kobe-type positive results for the first Japanese babesiosis patient and the asymptomatic donor, both infected with Kobe-type B. microti.     

穿山甲标本和甲片的DNA提取及PCR扩增

为验证经处理后的穿山甲(Manis spp.)标本和甲片是否可以用于种间分子鉴定标记的开发及个体识别工作,本文在样品的预处理、消化、提取后纯化等方面对传统提取方法进行了改进,分别从穿山甲剥制标本、干皮标本及甲片中提取总DNA;然后用Cyt b基因扩增通用引物、12S rRNA基因全序列扩增引物、RAPD引物及微卫星引物进行了PCR扩增,并对部分扩增结果进行了序列测定.结果表明,除剥制标本的脚底皮张组织外,其他样品基本都可以提取出DNA.以此为模板的PCR扩增中,2种线粒体基因引物扩增出明显目的条带,RAPD引物扩增出种间特异条带,测序结果可用于种间特异性引物及SCAR引物的开发;微卫星引物在甲片样品中扩增稳定,可用于个体识别工作.     

Application of a multiplex PCR for the detection of protozoan pathogens of the eastern oyster Crassostrea virginica in field samples

Populations of eastern oysters Crassostrea virginica along the east coast of North America have repeatedly experienced epizootic mass mortality due to infections by protozoan parasites, and molecular diagnostic methodologies are fast becoming more widely available for the diagnosis of protozoan diseases of oysters. In this study we applied a modified version of an existing multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for detection of the eastern oyster parasites Haplosporidium nelsoni, H. costale and Perkinsus marinus from field-collected samples. We incorporated primers for DNA quality control based on the large subunit ribosomal RNA (LSU rRNA) gene of C. virginica. The multiplex PCR (MPCR) simultaneously amplified genomic DNA of C. virginica, and cloned DNA of H. nelsoni, P. marinus and H. costale. In field trial applications, we compared the performance of the MPCR to that of the conventional diagnostic techniques of histopathological tissue examination and the Ray/Mackin fluid thioglycollate medium (RMFT) assay. A total of 530 oysters were sampled from 18 sites at 12 locations along the east coast of the United States from the Gulf of Mexico to southern New England. The modified MPCR detected 21% oysters with H. nelsoni, 2% oysters with H. costale, and 40% oysters with P. marinus infections. In comparison, histopathological examination detected H. nelsoni and H. costale infections in 6 and 0.8% oysters, respectively, and the RMFT assay detected P. marinus infection in 31% oysters. The MPCR is a more sensitive diagnostic assay for detection of H. nelsoni, H. costale, and P. marinus, and incorporation of an oyster quality control product limits false negative results.     

莲品种DNA指纹图谱的构建

为了克服单纯依据形态特性鉴定品种的局限性, 我们开展了莲品种DNA指纹图谱构建研究, 旨在对其品种的快速准确鉴定及专利权保护等起一定作用。本研究以圆明园保存的72个莲品种为实验材料, 用来自不同地点的1,409份野生莲(Nelumbo nucifera)和58份美洲黄莲(N. lutea)群体样本作遗传背景参照。从104对核微卫星引物(nSSR)中筛选出15对, 从17对叶绿体微卫星(cpSSR)引物中筛选出2对, 共17对引物作为72个莲品种DNA指纹鉴定的条码。15对nSSR引物共检测到94个等位基因(平均6.27个), 其中11个属于美洲黄莲, 65个属于野生莲, 18个不能区分; 多态信息含量(PIC)介于0.3899-0.8023之间 (平均0.5748)。2对cpSSR引物共检测到13个单倍型, 其中9个属于野生莲, 4个属于美洲黄莲。全部17对引物标记结果显示, 共有19个品种含有美洲黄莲遗传组分, 其中8个母系来源于美洲黄莲; 有36个品种(涉及12对引物)具有至少1个特有基因型; 最少8对引物组合可完全区分开68个品种。有2组共4个品种组内全部17对引物均不能区分。本研究通过核心引物组合法使68个莲品种获得特异性DNA指纹。推荐13对nSSR和2对cpSSR共15对引物作为莲品种鉴定的核心条码, 并建议将形态特征与DNA指纹相结合作为莲品种的鉴定标准。     

中国麻风树种质资源SSR遗传多样性的研究初报

麻风树（Jatropha curcas）是世界上最有潜力的能源植物之一。本研究针对来自全国6省区的219份麻风树种质资源,应用SSR分子标记对其进行了初步的遗传多样性分析。根据公共数据库中的所有序列设计出了20对SSR及4对eSSR引物,这些引物均能很好地扩增麻风树DNA片段。在上述24个SSR标记中,有8个（33.33%）探测到麻风树群体的DNA多态性。这24个SSR标记共扩增出36个位点,平均每个标记扩增1.5个位点,其中12个（33.33%）位点显现出多态性。这表明中国麻风树是一个具有中等SSR多态性水平的物种,其多态百分率为33.3%。     

IDENTIFICATION OF NEW TARGET SEQUENCES FOR PCR DETECTION OF VIBRIO PARAHAEMOLYTICUS BY GENOME COMPARISON

A genome comparison method was used to identify specific target sequences for the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detection of Vibrio parahaemolyticus, and the CDS value of this bacterium was compared with that of 139 other bacterial genomes. It was found that 20 CDS of V. parahaemolyticus were relatively specific according to their E value in BLAST (a new tool for comparing protein and nucleotide sequences), and four of them were selected for the design of PCR primers. There were positive amplification products of these four pairs of primers from nine V. parahaemolyticus strains, whereas there were no amplification products from nine other Vibrionaceae strains and four non -Vibrionaceae strains. An evaluation of detection sensitivities revealed that these four pairs of primers can be used in a PCR assay for the detection of V. parahaemolyticus.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

An automatic BLAST method was developed in this study, by which species-specific sequences can be screened out rapidly. In this way, new and specific genes of Vibrio parahaemolyticus were identified to be used as target sequences for PCR detection. In terms of acceptable specificity and sensitivity, the four pairs of primers were selected by screening, which can be applied in PCR assays and other molecular methods. These kinds of methods might become commercial detection products in the new future. In addition, this method for searching specific DNA sequences can also be used for the mining specific sequences in other genus and species, such as Salmonella , Staphylococcus , etc.     

瓜类褪绿黄化病毒快速检测技术的引物筛选与体系优化

【目的】瓜类褪绿黄化病毒(cucurbit chlorotic yellows virus, CCYV)是近年来发生的、由烟粉虱Bemisia tabaci半持久性传播的一种植物病毒,给瓜类作物带来严重经济损失。PCR扩增是检测该病毒的常用技术,但目前已报道引物对靶标生物的检测存在扩增结果不稳定、重复性不够的问题。本研究旨在通过筛选多对引物并优化PCR条件获得适合于稳定检测的引物及扩增体系。【方法】以携带有CCYV的根癌农杆菌Agrobacterium tumefaciens GV3101菌株菌液及其侵染获得的CCYV阳性黄瓜叶片cDNA为检测对象,从14对PCR引物中筛选出可用于稳定检测CCYV的引物,同时进行退火温度的优化;以携带有CCYV的根癌农杆菌侵染的阳性黄瓜叶片cDNA为模板,对筛选出来的4对引物及退火温度进行PCR扩增的稳定性和灵敏度检测;利用4对优选PCR引物对13份采自田间的烟粉虱成虫及寄主植物叶片的感毒状况进行检测和验证。【结果】从已报道的14对引物中筛选出4对引物可同时对携带CCYV的根癌农杆菌GV3101菌液及其侵染的CCYV阳性黄瓜叶片cDNA进行稳定扩增,并获得最优的扩增程序。灵敏度检测结果显示,优选的4对引物可检测到CCYV的最低黄瓜叶片cDNA浓度为0.25 ng/μL。利用优选的4对引物通过PCR对13份采自田间的烟粉虱成虫及其寄主植物叶片的CCYV检测发现,测试样本的CCYV阳性率为69.23%。【结论】优选的4对引物及其对应的优化扩增程序可用于对携带有CCYV的根癌农杆菌及其侵染的植物叶片以及田间样本是否感染CCYV的检测。     

Search for retroviral related DNA polymorphisms using RAPD PCR in schizophrenia

Random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) is widely used to detect polymorphisms in many organisms. Individual (or strain) specific amplified bands are generated with single or pairs of primers in PCR reactions and can serve as genetic markers. We have used this method to generate a large number of reproducible bands with single primers, random and retroviral related, on 92 human DNA samples. Theoretically, RAPD PCR presents a logical approach for assessing variability among individuals. We used ten retroviral related primers (12, 20 and 22 bp) and eight random primers (10 bp) to assess individual differences in the context of testing the retroviral hypothesis for schizophrenia. Three pairs of discordant monozygotic twins, four pairs of discordant full sibs and 53 schizophrenic individuals with 25 of their unrelated matched controls were analyzed. Ten of these primers resulted in a total of approx. 850 amplified bands (65-110 bands per primer). Almost all of these bands were identical among each individual analyzed. However, the results are inconclusive with respect to the retroviral hypothesis for schizophrenia. The general lack of RAPD polymorphism in this study may argue for mechanisms other than rearrangements such as inversions, associated with the evolution of the human genome.     

Analysis of deletion mutations of the dystrophin gene by the multiplex polymerase chain reaction method in the diagnosis of Duchenne muscular dystrophy]

The 33 patients suffering from the Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), 7 healthy donors and a DMD risk family were studied by means of polymerase multiplex chain reaction (MPCR) with 6 oligoprimer pairs for 6 different exons of dystrophin gene. The deletions varying in sizes from 1 to 6 exons were detected in 12 out of 33 DMD patients studied (36.3%). The prenatal diagnosis of DMD was carried out by chorionic villus biopsy on the 1st trimester of pregnancy. Contrary to earlier findings, in elder brother with sever DMD manifestation, no visible deletion was detected in the DNA sample from the male foetus and thus the diagnosis of DMD in foetus was rejected. The perspectives of MPCR in pre and postnatal diagnosis of DMD are discussed.     

Quick PCR based diagnosis of typhoid using specific genetic markers

A quick multiplex PCR based detection method was developed for early diagnosis of typhoid using specific genetic markers of S. typhi. Primers of tyv gene, flag gene, viaB gene and ratA gene confirmed the specificity and sensitivity of the PCR. The serum samples of the suspected typhoid patients were taken directly for PCR without culturing and isolating genomic DNA. Overall diagnosis required 2 h which is the least time ever reported for a PCR based methods. The sensitivity of the method is up to 5 fg genomic DNA. The genetic markers are specific and the four pairs of primers give selective amplification and differentiate S. typhi from closely related S. typhimurium.     

Areliable sex determination assay for bovine preimplantation embryos using the polymerase chain reaction

We have developed a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based method for accurate sex determination of preimplantation bovine embryos. The method utilizes three different sets of primers in the PCR. The first pair of primers recognizes the bovine-specific satellite sequence that is amplified in both females and males. In addition, two pairs of primers recognize bovine Y chromosome-specific sequences that are amplified in males only. Duplicate embryo extracts were used in the PCR; the first sample was run in the presence of bovine-specific as well as one set of the Y chromosome-specific primers; the second sample was run in the presence of the other male-specific primers. The method has been specifically designed for screening bovine embryos. Based upon examining blood cell DNA from adult males and females, the assay is extremely accurate, as no single incorrect result has occurred yet. Missing samples were easily detected by the absence of the bovine-specific signal. The method has been used for the transfer of bovine embryos on which sex determinations have been performed.     

从粪便样品中检测动物冠状病毒的分子技术研究

目的 感染冠状病毒的动物向环境排毒主要是通过粪便,建立直接从粪便样品对动物冠状病毒进行检测的分子技术具有重要的公共卫生学意义。方法 通过计算机模拟和实验方法对已报道的2对针对冠状病毒pol基因的通用引物的通用性进行了验证。不经传统的病毒分离．直接从环境样品中提取病毒RNA,通过一步法RT-PCR进行检测,并通过分子杂交和Nested PCR扩增结合TaqMan探针实时荧光检测的PCR技术．提高对冠状病毒检测的灵敏度和准确度,并对猪、禽冠状病毒感染的临床样品进行分析检测。结果 2对引物可以覆盖所有已知的冠状病毒,包括SARS,RT-PCR产物通过测序可以确定冠状病毒种类;实时荧光定量NestedPCR有很高的灵敏度,可以灵敏地检出所有供试的阳性样品,而荧光增量实时监测可以排除凝胶电泳检查的假阳性。结论 该研究为从环境中普查和鉴定冠状病毒提供了可靠的技术方法。     

扬子鳄鞣制皮革和鳞片的DNA提取方法

运用一种改进的提取方法 ,作者从鞣制皮革中成功地提取了总DNA ,同时还对尾尖皮、鳞片、盐腌生皮等皮质进行了DNA提取 ;用 12SrRNA基因扩增的通用引物、扬子鳄鉴别引物、微卫星引物及RAPD引物进行PCR扩增 ,并对部分扩增结果进行测序 ,以检验提取效果。结果证明 ,几种皮质标本都可提取出DNA ,其中尾尖皮和鳞片的提取效果较好 ,用四种引物都可扩增出明显亮带 ;盐腌生皮和鞣制皮提取结果也很好 ,并且用12SrRNA通用引物、扬子鳄鉴别引物扩增的亮带较明显 ,可进行扬子鳄皮质用品等的分子鉴定及部分序列的扩增和测序研究     

PCR primers that amplify fungal rRNA genes from environmental samples

Two PCR primer pairs were designed to amplify rRNA genes (rDNA) from all four major phyla of fungi: Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, Chytridomycota, and Zygomycota. PCRs performed with these primers showed that both pairs amplify DNA from organisms representing the major taxonomic groups of fungi but not from nonfungal sources. To test the ability of the primers to amplify fungal rDNA from environment samples, clone libraries from two avocado grove soils were constructed and analyzed. These soils possess different abilities to inhibit avocado root rot caused by Phythophthora cinnamomi. Analysis of the two rDNA clone libraries revealed differences in the two fungal communities. It also revealed a markedly different depiction of the soil fungal community than that generated by a culture-based analysis, confirming the value of rDNA-based approaches for identifying organisms that may not readily grow on agar media. Additional evidence of the usefulness of the primers was obtained by identifying fungi associated with avocado leaves. In both the soil and leaf analyses, no nonfungal rDNA sequences were identified, illustrating the selectivity of these PCR primers. This work demonstrates the ability of two newly developed PCR primer sets to amplify fungal rDNA from soil and plant tissue, thereby providing unique tools to examine this vast and mostly undescribed community of organisms.     

Differentiation of capripoxvirus species and strains by polymerase chain reaction

A fast and simple method for capripoxvirus species identification has been developed. The method is based on multiplex polymerase chain reaction (MPCR) with species-specific primers and does not require nucleotide sequencing or restriction analysis of PCR products. To differentiate vaccine strains used in Russia and countries of the former Soviet Union from epizootic isolates of sheeppox virus, a method based on restriction analysis of the ankyrin-repeat protein gene fragment amplified by PCR has been developed. Being highly specific, both methods may be used for routine diagnosis of capripoxvirus-associated diseases.     

Increasing ecological inference from high throughput sequencing of fungi in the environment through a tagging approach

High throughput sequencing methods are widely used in analyses of microbial diversity, but are generally applied to small numbers of samples, which precludes characterization of patterns of microbial diversity across space and time. We have designed a primer-tagging approach that allows pooling and subsequent sorting of numerous samples, which is directed to amplification of a region spanning the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacers and partial large subunit from fungi in environmental samples. To test the method for phylogenetic biases, we constructed a controlled mixture of four taxa representing the Chytridiomycota, Zygomycota, Ascomycota and Basidiomycota. Following cloning and colony restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis, we found no significant difference in representation in 19 of the 23 tested primers. We also generated a clone library from two soil DNA extracts using two primers for each extract and compared 456 clone sequences. Community diversity statistics and contingency table tests applied to counts of operational taxonomic units revealed that the two DNA extracts differed significantly, while the pairs of tagged primers from each extract were indistinguishable. Similar results were obtained using UniFrac phylogenetic comparisons. Together, these results suggest that the pig-tagged primers can be used to increase ecological inference in high throughput sequencing projects on fungi.     

Differentiation of capripoxvirus species and strains by polymerase chain reaction

A fast and simple method for capripoxvirus species identification has been developed. The method is based on multiplex polymerase chain reaction (MPCR) with species-specific primers and does not require nucleotide sequencing or restriction analysis of PCR products. To differentiate vaccine stains used in Russia and countries of the former Soviet Union from epizootic isolates of sheep pox virus, a method based on restriction analysis of the ankyrin-repeat protein gene fragment amplified by PCR has been developed. Being highly specific, both methods may be used for routine diagnosis of capripoxvirus-associated diseases.     

Molecular characterisation of Sargassum polycystum and S. siliquosum (Phaeophyta) by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) primers

Genomic DNA was extracted from 13 samples of Sargassum polycystum and S. siliquosum collected from various localities around Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore by using four different extraction methods. The yields and the suitability of the DNA to be used as template for the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was compared. DNA samples were subjected to PCR analysis by using random primers. Only DNA samples that were extracted using the CTAB method were successfully amplified by random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD)-PCR. Five of 31 random primers (OPA02, OPA03, OPA04, OPA13 and OPM10) tested amplified sequences of DNA from the DNA samples. Reproducible, amplified products were obtained using these primers and showed some potential to be useful in discriminating individual samples within the genus, in determining relationships between species within a genus and in developing individual fingerprints for individual samples.