PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

Clarissa Consolandi

Publications and source records attributed to Clarissa Consolandi.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

Detection of HLA polymorphisms by ligase detection reaction and a universal array format: a pilot study for low resolution genotyping.

We present our results in the identification of polymorphic sites within the second exon of the human leukocyte antigen A (HLA-A) region using the DNA microarray technology. Allele specific detection was performed by polymerase chain reaction followed by ligase detection reaction (LDR) in combination with a universal array, a powerful method for high throughput DNA sequence analysis. By this approach we confirmed 32 human samples previously characterized by direct DNA sequencing, thus demonstrating the interest of this approach.

DNA Ligases↗

Bacterial discrimination by means of a universal array approach mediated by LDR (ligase detection reaction).

BACKGROUND: PCR amplification of bacterial 16S rRNA genes provides the most comprehensive and flexible means of sampling bacterial communities. Sequence analysis of these cloned fragments can provide a qualitative and quantitative insight of the microbial population under scrutiny although this approach is not suited to large-scale screenings. Other methods, such as denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis, heteroduplex or terminal restriction fragment analysis are rapid and therefore amenable to field-scale experiments. A very recent addition to these analytical tools is represented by microarray technology. RESULTS: Here we present our results using a Universal DNA Microarray approach as an analytical tool for bacterial discrimination. The proposed procedure is based on the properties of the DNA ligation reaction and requires the design of two probes specific for each target sequence. One oligo carries a fluorescent label and the other a unique sequence (cZipCode or complementary ZipCode) which identifies a ligation product. Ligated fragments, obtained in presence of a proper template (a PCR amplified fragment of the 16s rRNA gene) contain either the fluorescent label or the unique sequence and therefore are addressed to the location on the microarray where the ZipCode sequence has been spotted. Such an array is therefore "Universal" being unrelated to a specific molecular analysis. Here we present the design of probes specific for some groups of bacteria and their application to bacterial diagnostics. CONCLUSIONS: The combined use of selective probes, ligation reaction and the Universal Array approach yielded an analytical procedure with a good power of discrimination among bacteria.

Bacteria↗

Investigation of the multiple anchors approach in oligonucleotide microarray preparation using linear and stem-loop structured probes.

Enzyme-mediated reactions are a useful tool in mutation detection when using a microarray format. Discriminating probes attached to the surface of a DNA chip have to be accessible to target DNA and to the enzyme (ligase or polymerase) that catalyses the formation of a new phosphodiester bond. This requires an appropriate chemical platform. Recently, an oligonucleotide hairpin architecture incorporating multiple phosphorothioate moieties along the loop has been proposed as an effective approach to solid-phase minisequencing. We have explored in depth several variables (stem length, number of phosphorothioates, stem-loop architecture versus linear structure) involved in this strategy by using a solid-phase ligation reaction. Microarrays were fabricated either from aminosilyl-modified glass or from aminated polymeric surfaces made of poly-lysine. Both platforms were bromoacetylated and reacted with thiophosphorylated oligonucleotides. The resulting microarrays were tested using either a synthetic template or a PCR-amplified 16S rRNA genomic region as the target sequence. Our results confirm the robustness of the proposed chemistry. We extend its range of application to solid-phase ligation, demonstrating the effectiveness of multiple anchors and suggest that linear oligonucleotides incorporating multiple phosphorothioates are equivalent to their hairpin-structured counterparts.

Base Sequence↗

Two efficient polymeric chemical platforms for oligonucleotide microarray preparation.

In this report we describe two robust procedures for oligonucleotide microarray preparation based on polymeric coatings. The proposed chemical approaches include: 1) a glass functionalisation step with appropriate silanes (gamma-aminopropyltriethoxysilane-APTES or 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane-GOPS), 2) a coating step using polymers (poly-L-Lysine or poly(acrylic acid-co-acrylamide) copolymer) covalently bound to the modified glass and 3) a surface activation step to allow for the attachment of amino-modified oligonucleotides. Results obtained using these chemistries in oligo microarray preparation show: 1) an overall high loading capacity and availability to hybridisation against targets, 2) a good uniformity, 3) resistance to consecutive probing/ stripping cycles, 4) stability to thermal cycles, 5) effectiveness in hybridisation-mediated mutation detection procedures and 6) the possibility to perform enzymatic reactions, such as ligation.

Acrylamides↗