Detection of Human Parvovirus B19 Nonstrutural Protein DNA by Nested-Polymerase Chain Reaction in Gravida Serum and Pregnant Tissues

A new nested-polymerase chain reaction （nested-PCR） assay was developed to detect human parvovirus B19 DNA corresponding to the nonstructural protein in clinical specimens in a routine diagnostic laboratory. The sensitivity of this highly specific assay was up to 0. 005 fg of B19 DNA. Parvovirus B19 was identified in sera of 20 pregnant women with abnormal pregnant outcome. Among these 20 cases, intrauterine parvovirus infection did exist in 7 pregnant women because parvovirus B19 DNA was detected in the pregnant tissues of them such as placenta tissues, chorionic villi, amniotic fluid, fetal spleen, liver and abdominal fluids.

Comparison of direct fecal smear microscopy,culture,and polymerase chain reaction for the detection of Blastocystis sp.in human stool samples

Objective:To compare the sensitivity and specificity of direct fecal smear microscopy,culture,and polymerase chain reaction in the detection of Blastocystis sp.in human stool.Methods:Human stool samples were collected from a community in San Isidro,Rodriguez,Rizal,Philippines.These samples were subjected to direct fecal smear microscopy,culture and polymerase chain reaction to detect the presence of Blastocystis sp.Results:Of the 110 stool samples collected,28(25%)were detected positive for the presence of Blastocystis sp.by two or more tests.Culture method detected the highest number of Blastocystis-positive stool samples(n=36),followed by PCR of DNA extracted from culture(n=26),PCR of DNA extracted from stool(n=10),and direct fecal smear(n=9).Compared to culture,the sensitivity of the other detection methods were 66.7%for PCR from culture and 19.4%for both PCR from stool and direct fecal smear.Specificity of the methods was high,with PCR from culture and direct fecal smear having97.3%,while PCR from stool at 95.9%.Conclusions:In this study,in vitro culture is the best method for detecting Blastocystis sp.in human stool samples.

Droplet digital polymerase chain reaction assay for methylated ring finger protein 180 in gastric cancer

BACKGROUND Gastric cancer(GC)is one of the most prevalent malignant tumors that endangers human health.Early diagnosis is essential for improving the prognosis and survival rate of GC patients.Ring finger protein 180(RNF180)is involved in the regulation of cell differentiation,proliferation,apoptosis,and tumorigenesis,and aberrant hypermethylation of CpG islands in the promoter is strongly associated with the occurrence and development of GC.Thus,methylated RNF180 can be used as a potential biomarker for GC diagnosis.AIM To use droplet digital polymerase chain reaction(ddPCR)to quantify the methylation level of the RN180 gene.A reproducible ddPCR assay to detect methylated RNF180 from trace DNA was designed and optimized.METHODS The primer and probe were designed and selected,the conversion time of bisulfite was optimized,the ddPCR system was adjusted by primer concentration,amplification temperature and amplification cycles,and the detection limit of ddPCR was determined.RESULTS The best conversion time for blood DNA was 2 h 10 min,and that for plasma DNA was 2 h 10 min and 2 h 30 min.The results of ddPCR were better when the amplification temperature was 56°C and the number of amplification cycles was 50.Primer concentrations showed little effect on the assay outcome.Therefore,the primer concentration could be adjusted according to the reaction system and DNA input.The assay required at least 0.1 ng of input DNA.CONCLUSION In summary,a ddPCR assay was established to detect methylated RNF180,which is expected to be a new diagnostic biomarker for GC.

Detection and amplification of Helicobacter pylori urease gene A in gastric biopsies by using nested polymerase (?)hain reaction

A nested polymerase chain reaction(N-PCR)for the spegific detection of Helicobacterpylori(H.pylori)was developed with two primer pairs(nested primers)derived from ureasegene A of H.pylori.The N-PCR was used to detect 21 different samples of H.pylori including20 clinical isolates and 1 reference strain NCTC 14126,but it was negative for other bacterialspecies,showing the N-PCR assay to be 100% specific.Tenfold serial dilution experiments re-vealed the detection of as little as 0.1 fg of H.pylori DNA by N-PCR.To evaluate the PCR as-say for clinical samples,gastric biopsies were tested with N-PCR,and the results were comparedwith those of culture,urease test and histologic examination(reference standard,RS).In 30biopsy specimens,H.pylori DNA sequences were detected by PCR in all of 20(100%)positivetissue and none of the 10 negative tissues.PCR is a specific and sensitive method that can detectthe presence of H.pylori without the need for culture and would have significant importance di-agnostically and epidemiologically.

Development and Clinical Application of a Single-tube Nested PCR Method to Amplify the DNA Polymerase Ⅰ Gene of Treponema Pallidum

Objective: To develop a sensitive, specific and simple method for detection of extremely low numbers of T. pallidum in clinical specimens, as a significant addition to the serologic tests for syphilis diagnosis. Methods: Double-tube nested PCR(DN-PCR) and single-tube nested PCR(SN-PCR) assays were performed to amplify specific fragments of the DNA poly-merase I gene(polA) of T. pallidum. Sensitivity and specificity of the two PCR assays were tested. Eighty-six whole blood specimens from persons with suspected syphilis were detected by the two nested PCR methods. The TPPA test was used as a comparison for detecting syphilis in sera from corresponding patients. Results: Only specific amplicons could be obtained during amplification of the T. pallidum polA gene and the detection limit was approximately 1 organism when analyzed on gel by the two PCR methods. Of 86 clinical specimens, 62 were positive by TPPA. Of these, 54 and 51 were positive by the DN-PCR and SN-PCR, respectively, which does not represent a statistically significant difference between the two PCR tests. Of 24 TPPA-negative specimens, 5 were positive by both DN-PCR assay and SN-PCR assay. Conclusion: The SN- polA PCR method is extremely sensitive, specific and easy to perform for detecting low numbers of T. pallidum in clinical blood specimens as a complementary to serology for syphilis diagnosis.

Novel methylation specific real-time PCR test for the diagnosis of Klinefelter syndrome

The aim of this study was to design a molecular assay for the diagnosis of Klinefelter syndrome （KS）, based on the detection of supernumerary X-chromosomes （X-chs）. DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples of twenty-six 47,XXY males; two 46,XY/47,XXY males; twenty-two 46,XY males; and 15 females; and deaminated. Methylation-specific quantitative polymerase chain reaction （MS-qPCR） was performed using primers for unmethylated and methylated copies of the X-ch inactive-specific transcript （XIST-U and XIST-M） gene. X-ch disomy was determined on the basis of XIST methylation status. Degree of mosaicism in the 46,XY/47,XXY males was compared with karyotype and fluorescent in situ hybridization （FISH） results. Data analysis was performed using the Roche LightCycler software V. 3.5.3, including determination of crossing points （CPs） by fit-point analysis and melting curve analysis. Xoch disomy was detected in all female controls and KS patients; male controls expressed XIST-M only. CPs ranged from 29.5 to 32.5 （standard deviation （s.d.） 0.8） for XIST-U and from 29 to 31 （s.d. 0.6） for XIST-M. Limit of detection of mosaicism was 1%. Based on XlST-U/XIST-M ratios for the two 47,XXY/46,XY patients, the calculated degree of mosaicism （1.8% and 17.8%） was comparable to FISH results （2.3% and 15%, respectively）. Turnaround time from DNA deamination to final data analysis was under 9 h. We conclude that MS-qPCR is a sensitive, specific and rapid test for the detection of X-ch disomy, with applicability for the screening and diagnosis of KS, even in the setting of low grade 47,XXY/46,XY mosaicism.

猪萨佩罗病毒聚合酶链式反应检测方法的建立及应用

猪萨佩罗病毒(Porcine sapelovirus,PSV)是引发猪腹泻的重要病毒之一。为开发一种能快速、准确检测PSV的聚合酶链式反应检测方法,针对PSV的保守区3D基因设计了一对特异性引物,优化了聚合酶链式反应退火温度,分析聚合酶链式反应检测方法特异性和灵敏度,并应用于猪场样品检测。结果表明:建立的聚合酶链式反应检测方法可特异性扩增出PSV目的片段,对其他非靶标猪腹泻病毒则无条带产生,检测低限为5拷贝/μL;在浙江地区采集的88个健康猪粪便样本中检测PSV阳性率为7.95%。该PSV聚合酶链式反应检测方法特异性强、灵敏度高,可应用于PSV前期诊断和防控。

广西道地药材肉桂及阴香的DNA分子鉴定研究

建立一种能够准确鉴别肉桂及阴香的特异性聚合酶链式反应方法,以保障肉桂用药的安全性和有效性。通过对比分析肉桂及阴香的psbA-trnH序列差异找到特异性单核苷酸多态性位点,设计特异性引物,通过优化退火温度、循环次数,评估不同聚合酶种类和不同基因扩增仪等扩增条件对不同来源的肉桂及阴香进行特异性扩增,根据特异性扩增条带进行鉴别。结果表明退火温度为54℃,循环次数为35次时,肉桂经肉桂特异性引物扩增后在100~200 bp处出现特异性条带,阴香无条带;退火温度为56℃,循环次数为40次时,阴香经阴香引物扩增后在200~300 bp处出现特异性条带,肉桂无条带。该研究所建立的特异性PCR方法可以快速准确鉴别出肉桂及阴香,为控制肉桂的质量安全提供参考。

进口锦鲤暴发病病原的nested-PCR鉴定

为了查明锦鲤暴发性疾病的病因 ,将患病锦鲤的脑、肝、脾和肾等组织悬液接种到CO、CK和EPC等鱼类细胞系中培养 ,均未发现细胞病变 ;从病灶中取样进行病原菌的分离和培养 ,证明锦鲤有副溶血弧菌和嗜水气单胞菌的感染。制备锦鲤疱疹病毒 (KHV)的 2对引物KHV9/ 5F和KHV9/ 5R ,KHV1和KHV2 ,用嵌套式聚合酶链式反应 (nested -PCR)在脑和脾脏组织的抽提物中扩增出长度为 4 12bp的特异性的DNA片段。将该片段的nested -PCR扩增产物纯化后 ,克隆、测序。用NCBI -Blast软件将测序结果在Genebank中进行搜寻、比较 ,结果发现与注册号为AF4 1180 3的KHV基因序列的一部分片段有 99%的同源性。因此初步判断这次锦鲤暴发性疾病是由KHV引起的 。

马乳酒样乳杆菌马乳酒样亚种real-time PCR检测方法的建立与应用

本研究建立了一种特异性实时聚合酶链式反应(real-time polymerase chain reaction,real-time PCR)检测方法,根据模式菌株马乳酒样乳杆菌马乳酒样亚种ZW3的16S rDNA序列和全基因组序列设计筛选特异性引物,采用SYBR Green I荧光染料建立real-time PCR方法,并对方法的特异性、灵敏度、重复性和混合体系等进行检测。结果表明,本研究所建立的方法特异性强、灵敏度高、重复性好,建立real-time PCR的标准曲线,其决定系数R2为0.965,具有良好的线性关系,且在马乳酒样乳杆菌马乳酒样亚种及混合体系中可以特异性检出。综上,本研究建立的real-time PCR法可以快速、准确地检测马乳酒样乳杆菌马乳酒样亚种,为马乳酒样乳杆菌的特异性定性定量检测提供了一种新的方法。

Nested PCR检测微量隐孢子虫卵囊

根据隐孢子虫 18S r DNA序列 ,设计出隐孢子虫属和鼠隐孢子虫种的特异性引物 ,进行 PCR和 Nested PCR反应 ,先后分别扩增出 1条 5 4 0 bp和 1条 2 5 0 bp的条带。研究表明 ,Nested PCR具有高度的特异性和敏感性。应用Nested PCR可检测 1～ 10个鼠隐孢子虫卵囊 ,其敏感性是饱和蔗糖漂浮法的 10 5倍以上。

Nested polymerase chain reaction in detection of Plasmodium vivax sporozoites in mosquitoes

Objective To detect malaria DNA in mosquitoes.Methods A nested polymerase chain reaction (nested PCR) procedure which amplifies a 121 bp DNA of a SSUrRNA gene specific to Plasmodium vivax was used.Results In laboratory-infected mosquitoes, nested PCR could detect as few as 3 sporozoites or 1 infected mosquito mixed in a group of 99 normal ones. Furthermore, no specific 121?bp band was seen with DNA templates from other malaria parasites or negative mosquitoes.Conclusion Sensitivity and specificity obtained indicated an advantage of the nested PCR over DNA probes or direct PCR for the detection of Plasmodium vivax sporozoites in mosquitoes with low-grade parasitic infections.

解脲脲原体套式（Nested）PCR检测研究

本文报告解脲脲原体（ＵＵ）的套式（ＮＥＳＴＥＤ）ＰＣＲ检测方法。经方法学考核表明，本法的特异性、灵敏度以及试剂的稳定性和对临检标本的顺应性均较好。９３份各种生殖道炎症患者之宫颈拭子标本套式ＰＣＲ检出２１份阳性（阳性率２２．６％），而市售ＰＣＲ试剂盒仅检出１份阳性（阳性率１．１％）。前者阳性检出率明显高于后者（Ｐ＜０．０１）。

乌梢蛇配方颗粒与常见三种伪品的多重PCR鉴别研究

目的:建立乌梢蛇、王锦蛇、百花锦蛇、灰鼠蛇药材及水提物四重位点特异性聚合酶链反应(PCR)鉴别方法,为配方颗粒的掺伪鉴别提供依据。方法:以线粒体细胞色素C氧化酶1号(CO1)基因为靶基因,设计特异性引物,优化引物最适退火温度、循环次数、聚合酶种类,并用该方法进行混合样品的检测。结果:乌梢蛇、王锦蛇、百花锦蛇、灰鼠蛇聚合酶为Multiplex PCR 5×Master Mix,退火温度为60℃,循环次数为35次时分别扩增出133、180、247、197 bp的特异性条带,空白对照无条带。该方法能同时、准确地鉴定出混合样品的蛇源成分。结论:本方法可同时、准确、快速地鉴定乌梢蛇、王锦蛇、百花锦蛇、灰鼠蛇样品,并适合标准汤剂和配方颗粒样品鉴别。

Aberrant gene methylation in the peritoneal fluid is a risk factor predicting peritoneal recurrence in gastric cancer

AIM:To investigate whether gene methylation in the peritoneal fluid (PF) predicts peritoneal recurrence in gastric cancer patients.METHODS: The gene methylation of CHFR (checkpoint with forkhead and ring finger domains), p16, RUNX3 (runt-related transcription factor 3), E-cadherin, hMLH1 (mutL homolog 1), ABCG2 (ATP-binding cassette, sub-family G, member 2) and BNIP3 (BCL2/adenovirus E1B 19 kDa interacting protein 3) were analyzed in 80 specimens of PF by quantitative methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Eighty patients were divided into 3 groups; Group A (n=35):the depth of cancer invasion was less than the muscularis propria; Group B (n=31): the depth of cancer invasion was beyond the muscularis propria. Both group A and B were diagnosed as no cancer cells in peritoneal cytology and histology; Group C (n=14): disseminated nodule was histologically diagnosed or cancer cells were cytologically defi ned in the peritoneal cavity.RESULTS: The positive rates of methylation in CHFR, E-cadherin and BNIP3 were significantly different among the 3 groups and increased in order of group A, B and C (0%,0% and 21% in CHFR, P<0.05; 20%, 45% and 50% in E-cadherin, P<0.05;26%,35% and 71% in BNIP3, P<0.05). In addition, the multigene methylation rate among CHFR, E-cadherin and BNIP3 was correlated with group A, B and C (9%,19% and 57%, P<0.001). Moreover, the prognosis was analyzed in group B, excluding 3 patients who underwent a non-curative resection. Two of the 5 patients with multigene methylation showed peritoneal recurrence after surgery, while those without or with a single gene methylation did not experience recurrence (P<0.05).CONCLUSION: This study suggested that gene methylation in the PF could detect occult neoplastic cells in the peritoneum and might be a risk factor for peritoneal metastasis.

p16 gene methylation in colorectal cancers associated with Duke's staging

AIM: To explore the association of methylation of the CpG island in the promotor of the p16 tumor suppressor gene with the clinicopathological characteristics of the colorectal cancers. METHODS: Methylation-specific PCR (MSP) was used to detect p16 methylation of 62 sporadic colorectal cancer specimens. RESULTS: p16 methylation was detected in 42% of the tumors.Dukes'staging was associated with p16 methylation status.p16 methylation occurred more frequently in Dukes'C and D patients (75.9%) than in Dukes'A and B patients (12.1%). CONCLUSION: p16 methylation plays a role in the carcinogenesis of a subset of colorectal cancer, and it might be linked to poor prognosis.

Diagnosis of the accurate genotype of HKαα carriers in patients with thalassemia using multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification combined with nested polymerase chain reaction

Background:Patients carrying the HongKongαα(HKαα)allele and-α3.7/αααanti-4.2 could be misdiagnosed as-α3.7/ααby the current conventional thalassemia detection methods,leading to inaccurate genetic counseling and an incorrect prenatal diagnosis.This study was aimed to accurately analyze the genotypes of HKααcarriers and-α3.7/αααanti-4.2.Methods::Samples were collected in our hospital from July 2017 to October 2019.Twenty-four common types of Chinese thalassemia were screened by gap-polymerase chain reaction(Gap-PCR)and reverse dot blot(RDB).Anti-4.2 multiplex-PCR was used to confirm carriers of theαααanti-4.2 duplication with-α3.7 deletion.Two-round nested PCR and multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification(MLPA)were applied to accurately identify and confirm their genotypes.For data analysis,we used descriptive statistics and Fisher’s exact tests.Results::Two thousand five hundred and forty-four cases were identified as thalassemia in 5488 peripheral blood samples.The results showed thatα,β,andαβcompound thalassemia were identified in 1190(46.78%),1286(50.55%),and 68(2.67%)cases,respectively.A total of 227 samples from thalassemia patients were identified as-α3.7/ααby Gap-PCR,and the genotypes of two samples were uncertain.There was a difference between Gap-PCR and combined groups(Gap-PCR combined with nested PCR and MLPA)in detecting HKαα(P<0.05).Among the 229 patients,20 patients were identified as HKααcarriers and one was identified as-α3.7/ααα anti-4.2 by two-round nested PCR and MLPA,including 15 patients with HKαα/αα,three with HKαα/αα and β-thalassemia coinheritance,one with HKαα/-SEA,one with HKαα/-α4.2 andβ-thalassemia coinheritance,and one with-α3.7/αααanti-4.2 and β-thalassemia coinheritance.Conclusions::αααanti-4.2 and HKααgenotypes of patients carrying-α3.7 need to be detected to reduce the misdiagnosis rate of patients carrying HKααand-α3.7/αααanti-4.2 alleles.More accurate genetic counseling can be provided in the clinic using nested PCR combined with MLPA.

Study on RIZ1 gene promoter methylation status in human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

AIM： To investigate the promoter region methylation status of retinoblastoma protein-interacting zinc finger gene 1 （RIZ1） in the human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma （ESCC） cell lines and tissues and verify the relationship between methylation of RIZ1 and oncogen- esis, tumor progression and metastasis etc of ESCC. METHODS： Methylation-specific polymerase chain reac- tion （MSP） was used to investigate the promoter region methylation status of RIZ1 in 6 ESCC cell lines. One cell line where RIZ1 promoter region methylation was de- tected was selected for the next study, where the cell line was treated with 5-aza-CdR. Real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to investigate its influence on the transcription of RIZ1. Experiments using frozenpathological specimens from 47 ESCC patients were performed using the same MSP methodology. RESULTS： Promoter methylation of RIZ1 gene was detected in TEl3, CaEs17 and EC109 cell lines and the cell line TEl3 was chosen for further study. The expression of RIZl mRNA in TE-13 was up-regulated after treatment with 5-aza-CdR. The rate of methyla- tion in carcinomas tissues was significantly higher than those in matched neighboring normal and distal ending normal tissue, and the deviation of data was statisti- cally significant （2,2 = 24.136, P 〈 0.01）. Analysis of the gender, age familial history, tumour deviation, tumour saturation, lymph gland displacement and clinical stag- ing of 47 samples from ESCC patients showed that the fluctuation of data was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION： Promoter methylation may play an im- portant role in the epigenetic silencing of RIZ1 gene expression in human ESCC. RIZ1 is considered to be a potential tumor suppressor gene and may be a biologi- cal parameter for testing early stage human ESCC.

Aberrant promoter methylation of p16 in colorectal adenocarcinoma in North Indian patients

AIM:To investigate p16 gene methylation and its expression in 30 patients with sporadic colorectal adenocarcinoma in a North Indian population. METHODS:Methylation specific polymerase chain reaction was used to detect p16 gene methylation and immunohistochemistry was used to study the p16 expression in 30 sporadic colorectal tumors as well as adjoining and normal tissue specimens.RESULTS:Aberrant promoter methylation of p16 gene was detected in 12(40%)tumor specimens,whereas no promoter methylation was observed in adjoining and normal tissue.Immunohistochemistry showed expression of p16 protein in 26(86.6%)colorectal tumors whereas complete loss of expression was seen in 4(13.3%)and reduced expression was observed in 12(40%)tumors. In the adjoining mucosa,expression of p16 was in 11 (36.6%)whereas no clear positivity for p16 protein was seen in normal tissue.There was a significant difference in the expression of p16 protein in tumor tissue and adjoining mucosa(P<0.001).The methylation of the p16 gene had a significant effect on the expression of p16 protein(P=0.021).There was a significant association of methylation of p16 gene with the tumor size (P=0.015)and of the loss/reduced expression of p16 protein with the proximal site of the tumor(P=0.047). Promoter methylation and expression of p16 had no relation with the survival of the patients(P>0.05). CONCLUSION:Our study demonstrated that promoter hypermethylation of the p16 gene results in loss/reduced expression of p16 protein and this loss/reduced expression may contribute to tumor enlargement.

MGMT is down-regulated independently of promoter DNA methylation in rats with all-trans retinoic acidinduced spina bifida aperta

O6-methylguanine DNA methyltransferase(MGMT), a DNA repair enzyme, has been reported in some congenital malformations, but it is less frequently reported in neural tube defects. This study investigated MGMT mRNA expression and methylation levels in the early embryo and in different embryonic stages, as well as the relationship between MGMT and neural tube defects. Spina bifida aperta was induced in rats by a single intragastric administration of all-trans retinoic acid on embryonic day(E) 10, whereas normal control rats received the same amount of olive oil on the same embryonic day. DNA damage was assessed by detecting γ-H2 A.X in spina bifida aperta rats. Real time-polymerase chain reaction was used to examine mRNA expression of MGMT in normal control and spina bifida aperta rats. In normal controls, the MGMT mRNA expression decreased with increasing embryonic days, and was remarkably reduced from E11 to E14, reaching a minimum at E18. In the spina bifida aperta model, γ-H2 A.X protein expression was increased, and mRNA expression of MGMT was markedly decreased on E14, E16, and E18. Bisulfite sequencing polymerase chain reaction for MGMT promoter methylation demonstrated that almost all CpG sites in the MGMT promoter remained unmethylated in both spina bifida aperta rats and normal controls, and there was no significant difference in methylation level between the two groups on either E14 or E18. Our results show that DNA damage occurs in spina bifida aperta rats. The mRNA expression of MGMT is downregulated, and this downregulation is independent of promoter DNA methylation.