DNA Techniques
DNA techniques are throwing unprecedented light on food borne agents such as Salmonella and Clostridium, and explain how an international information-sharing scheme, co-founded by the UK, is enabling scientists to more accurately assess the safety of food processing conditions.
DNA microarrays are glass slides on which all the genes in an organism are represented by a pattern of minute dots, each one representing a different gene. The dots change colour when they detect active versions of the genes. Until recently, scientists had to examine the dots on each slide by eye to decide whether the gene is active, which is a process which could take months. Now, thanks to special software developed by BlueGnome in the UK, the analysis is automated and can be carried out within a short time of 20 minutes. Jay Hinton and his team are now using the technique to expose the full armoury of foodborne disease agents such as Salmonella.
Another DNA related technique is known as the Repetitive-element genomic fingerprinting. Rep-PCR is quite a rapid DNA fingerprinting technique to discriminate bacterial isolates at the intraspecific level and potentially up to the strain level. Rep-PCR has been shown to be a useful technique in the sub typing of Bacillus species. 16S rDNA sequencing was performed for all isolates. The identification of Bacillus cereus was based on the use of species-specific gyrB-targeting primers. For every identification, the number of different batches in which the species was found is given in parentheses next to the species. A representative isolate is an isolate which represents a specific banding pattern.
References:
DNA techniques are throwing unprecedented light on food borne agents such as Salmonella and Clostridium, and explain how an international information-sharing scheme, co-founded by the UK, is enabling scientists to more accurately assess the safety of food processing conditions.
DNA microarrays are glass slides on which all the genes in an organism are represented by a pattern of minute dots, each one representing a different gene. The dots change colour when they detect active versions of the genes. Until recently, scientists had to examine the dots on each slide by eye to decide whether the gene is active, which is a process which could take months. Now, thanks to special software developed by BlueGnome in the UK, the analysis is automated and can be carried out within a short time of 20 minutes. Jay Hinton and his team are now using the technique to expose the full armoury of foodborne disease agents such as Salmonella.
Another DNA related technique is known as the Repetitive-element genomic fingerprinting. Rep-PCR is quite a rapid DNA fingerprinting technique to discriminate bacterial isolates at the intraspecific level and potentially up to the strain level. Rep-PCR has been shown to be a useful technique in the sub typing of Bacillus species. 16S rDNA sequencing was performed for all isolates. The identification of Bacillus cereus was based on the use of species-specific gyrB-targeting primers. For every identification, the number of different batches in which the species was found is given in parentheses next to the species. A representative isolate is an isolate which represents a specific banding pattern.
References:
posted by meixi05 @ 3:32 AM
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