Diagnostic deoxyribonucleic acid probes for infectious diseases

Abstract

Virtually all microorganisms contain some unique nucleotide sequences which can be the target of deoxyribonucleic acid probes. Probes have been used successfully to identify a wide variety of pathogens from the simple ribonucleic acid-containing polioviruses to the complex filarial worms Brugia malayi. Probe technology offers the clinical laboratory the potential both to extend the types of pathogens that can be readily identified and to reduce significantly the time associated with the identification of fastidious microorganisms. Over a dozen commercially prepared deoxyribonucleic acid probe tests are now available. This article explores the development of deoxyribonucleic acid probe tests and reviews the sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values of many of the diagnostic probes developed during the last several years. Prospects for newer, more sensitive detection systems for the products of hybridization reactions are also reviewed.

Chromosomal DNA fingerprinting--a new method of species and strain identification applicable to microbial pathogens

“…In the field of microbial identification, diagnostic probes are commercially available to detect various b a c t er i a1 species including Legionella pneumoph ila , Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, enteropathogenic Escherichia coli, Mycoplasma pneumoniae and some Salmonella serotypes (Tenover, 1988). Another application, of increasing interest to epidemiologists investigating and controlling hospital and community outbreaks, is the use of probes in providing DNA fingerprints for identification.…”

“…It offers the possibility of faster and cheaper identification of fastidious pathogens, including the detection of strains bearing known virulence factors and genes conferring resistance to antibiotics, and allows the direct detection of infectious agents in clinical specimens and in contaminated foods. There is a wealth of information, about these and other applications in microbiology that has been reviewed at length (Highfield and Dougan, 1985;Edberg, 1986;Goldmann, 1987;Miotti, 1987;Tenover, 1988 ;Landegren et al, 1988).…”

Detection of single base changes in nucleic acids

“…It has been suggested to be less than 50 % (Landegren et al, 1988a). Despite this, harmless mutations (polymorphisms or RFLPs) have been detected after screening using a battery of restriction enzymes and used in tracking disease carrying genes in families (Wolfe, 1988;Kan & Dozy, 1978 Restriction enzymes have been effective in studying viral variants (Griffiths & Grundy, 1987;Tenover, 1988) as enough variation occurs between isolates to be sure that differences will be found with a small number of enzymes. However, although a pattern of difference is found between strains this pattern means very little biologically.…”

Monoclonal antibodies directed against lipopolysaccharide of legionella pneumophila serogroup 1

“…Although several serogroups exist, a large proportion of cases is caused by L. pneumophila serogroup 113] that is also isolated most frequently from environmental samples [14]. Rapid identification ofL.…”