SIU

BIOTECHNOLOGY - MICR 421


Ch. 9. Molecular Diagnostics

I. Immunological Diagnostics

II. Monoclonal Antibodies

III. DNA Diagnostics and Forensic Analysis


Molecular Diagnostics

-Cancer

-Infections caused by viruses, bacteria, fungi, parasites

-Diseases caused by inheritance of mutant alleles

Allele: different form of a gene or genetic locus

e.g. sickle cell anemia, mutation in b-globin gene

 

 

Two main approaches for developing diagnostic assays

1.) Immunoassay.

Detection of antigens (cellular components: proteins, carbohydrates, metabolites) or antibodies associated with diseases (or physiological states, e.g. pregnancy)

Exploits the specificity of binding of an antibody to an antigen

2.) DNA hybridization and PCR.

Detection of DNA specific to a pathogen or a mutation that causes an inherited disease

Exploits the specificity of binding of complementary DNAs or seecivicity of restriction enzymes

Advantages

Sensitive: Uses small samples

Rapid: Results within a few hours vs. several days for growth and identification of infectious agents

Some pathogens can't be cultured or grow very slowly



Simple: Often sold in kit form with premixed and standardized reagents

Can be performed in clinics or out in the field (e.g. at home, villages, battlefield) rather than specialized laboatories

Easy to automate

Specific: Can be designed to detect a single infectious strain or genetic defect

Safe: Culture of pathogens not required



Immune Response

Mammals and other higher organisms recognize foreign agents and substances as nonself

Attempts to neutralize or destroy and eliminate them from the body

 

Immune system has two branches

1. Cell mediated immunity (carried out by cytotoxic T cells)

2. Humoral immunity (carried out by antibody secreting B cells)

Most immunological diagnostic procedures use antibodies

 

Terminology

Antibody: protein produce by a B cell; binds to antigens and targets them for destruction and elimination
from the body

Antigen: foreign agent or substances that stimulate antibody production (Fig. 9.2)

Epitope: region of an antigen where a specific antibody binds (Fig. 9.2)

Some epitopes are more antigenic than others; stimulate a stronger immune response

Polyclonal antibodies: Produced by immune system in response to presence of an antigen

A mixture of antibodies that bind to the various epitopes of an antigen

Monoclonal antibody: antibody that recognizes a single epitope



Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA)

See Fig. 9.1

For detection of an antigen in a sample (e.g. blood, urine, saliva, tissue)

Color formation = target antigen present in sample

Colorless = target antigen not present

Similar idea to the immunoassay procedure we discussed in Chapter 4 for screening DNA libraries


Polyclonal vs. Monoclonal Antibodies for Testing

Polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies may be used as diagnostics, but:

 Attribute  Monoclonals  Polyclonals
 Consistant from batch to batch  yes  no, variable
 Reproducible test results  yes  no, variable
 Background signals  low  higher
 Ease of production  laborious  easier
 Cost  high  lower
 Yield  low  higher

Monoclonals usually preferred when human health is involved.

Fewer false positive or false negative test results


Production of Monoclonal Antibodies

Fig. 9.4

Produced by cultured cells rather than by an animal

B cells cannot be grown in cell culture for antibody production, however

Hybridomas: fusion of B cells with immortal myeloma cells (cancerous B cells) can be cultured for production of monoclonal antibodies

Hybridomas producing a single antibody specific for an epitope (monoclonal antibody) must be isolated

HAT medium is used to select for growth of hybridomas

Hybridomas are isolated and screened to identify the one that produces a useful monoclonal antibody

Diagnostic monoclonal antibodies have been produced for detection of a variety of antigens (Fig. 9.5)


DNA-Based Diagnostics

Exploits specificity of:

1. Binding of labeled DNA probes to a complementary target DNA sequence (Fig. 9.6)

Ex.

Gene unique a pathogen

Gene with a genetic defect (mutation)

Methods for detection of label

-Radioactivity

-Fluorescence

-Colored product

-Light (Chemiluminescence)

2. Binding of PCR primers to target sequence

3. Sequence of DNA recognized by restriction enzymes


Detection of Labeled Probes

I. Direct detection of probe label

1. Radioactivity

32P or 35S labeled probes

Detect by autoradiography

2. Fluorescence

Probe is labeled with a molecule that fluoresces

Detect by illuminating with light that causes molecule to fluoresce

 

II. Indirect detection. DNA label is bound by an enzyme with a detectable activity

Enzyme may be attached to an antibody or to biotin

1. Chemiluminescence

Enzyme converts a substrate to a product that emits light

Detect by autoradiography

 

2. Color

Enzyme converts a substrate to a colored product

Detect visually or by absorption of light (spectrophotometry)



Use and Indirect Detection of a Biotinylated DNA Probe

Fig. 9.7

Probe is labeled with biotin

Enzyme also attached to biotin


Use of DNA Probes for Detection of Genetic Defects

PCR/OLA -Polymerase Chain Reaction/Oligonucleotide Ligation Assay (Fig. 9.18)

For detection of point mutations

PCR amplifies the region where the mutation occurs to increase sensitivity

OLA determines if the mutation is present



Restriction enzymes may also be used to fragment DNA into sizes for diagnosis

Ex. Detection of carriers of sickle cell anemia (heterozygotes) (Fig. 9.17)

Mutant allele eliminates one restriction site for Cvn I in the b-globin gene


Detection of more than one mutantion in a gene

PCR amplifies DNA in all regions where known mutations occur

Primers label the products with biotin

DNA probes that are perfectly complementary to the mutant sequences are bound to a membrane

PCR products are hybridized to the probe DNA on the membrane

If mutation is present, hybridization occurs and is detected colorometrically using alkaline phosphtase conjugated to streptavidin


Other Applications of DNA Detection

See Fig. 9.12

DNA fingerprinting for forensic analysis or determining paternity of a child

Determines if two samples containing DNA are from same source

Ex.. Crime suspect's DNA and DNA from crime scene

1. Digest DNA samples with a restriction enzyme

2. Analyze by electrophoresis to separate DNA fragments by size

3. Transfer fragments to a membrane and hybridize to labeled DNA probes (Southern blot)

4. Compare the patterns (DNA fingerprints) produced by the suspect and evidence

Based on variation in length of DNA fragments due to presence of repetitive sequences

Ex. GATA may be repeated 5 times in the victim, 8 times in the suspect and 5 times in blood on the suspect's shirt.

The suspect probably made the victim bleed.



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Last updated: October 20, 2005 /jdh

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