A microfluidic platform for high-sensitivity, real-time drug screening on C. elegans and parasitic nematodes

AbstractP-glycoproteins (P-gps) are proteins that function as efflux pumps, removing lipophilic xenobiotic compounds from cells. There is evidence that P-gps play a role in the resistance of parasitic nematodes to anthelmintic drugs such as benzimidazoles and macrocyclic lactones. As anthelmintic resistance becomes more common, it is important to identify candidate resistance genes with the aim of understanding the molecular basis of resistance, and of developing assays to detect these resistance-associated changes. We identified several sequences from the genome of the parasite Haemonchus contortus with convincing homology to the known P-gp coding genes of the model nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Nine of these sequences were successfully amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and shown to be most similar to the C. elegans sequences for pgp-1, pgp-2, pgp-3, pgp-4, pgp-9, pgp-10, pgp-11, pgp-12 and pgp-14. These partial P-gp sequences from H. contortus were used to design and optimize a quantitative real-time PCR assay to investigate potential changes in the expression levels of P-gp transcripts associated with drug resistance. No significant changes in P-gp mRNA expression levels were found in a rapidly selected ivermectin-resistant parasite isolate compared to its drug-sensitive parent, but the assay has the potential to be used on other isolates in the future to further investigate resistance-associated changes in P-gp gene expression.

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Microfluidic Platform for Analyzing the Thermotaxis of C. elegans in a Linear Temperature Gradient

Analytical Sciences ◽

10.2116/analsci.33.1435 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 33 (12) ◽

pp. 1435-1440 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Sunhee YOON ◽

Hailing PIAO ◽

Tae-Joon JEON ◽

Sun Min KIM

Keyword(s):

Temperature Gradient ◽

Linear Temperature ◽

Microfluidic Platform ◽

C Elegans ◽

Linear Temperature Gradient

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A novel method for visualizing and tracking endogenous mRNA in a specific cell population in pathological neovascularization

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-81367-5 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Md Imam Uddin ◽

Tyler C. Kilburn ◽

Sara Z. Jamal ◽

Craig L. Duvall ◽

John S. Penn

Keyword(s):

Real Time ◽

Disease Burden ◽

Ex Vivo ◽

Expression Patterns ◽

Fluorescence Emission ◽

High Sensitivity ◽

Living Systems ◽

Specific Cell ◽

Potential Marker

AbstractDiabetic retinopathy, retinopathy of prematurity and retinal vein occlusion are potentially blinding conditions largely due to their respective neovascular components. The development of real-time in vivo molecular imaging methods, to assess levels of retinal neovascularization (NV), would greatly benefit patients afflicted with these conditions. mRNA hybridization techniques offer a potential method to image retinal NV. The success of these techniques hinges on the selection of a target mRNA whose tissue levels and spatial expression patterns correlate closely with disease burden. Using a model of oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR), we previously observed dramatic increases in retinal endoglin that localized to neovascular structures (NV), directly correlating with levels of neovascular pathology. Based on these findings, we have investigated Endoglin mRNA as a potential marker for imaging retinal NV in OIR mice. Also of critical importance, is the application of innovative technologies capable of detecting mRNAs in living systems with high sensitivity and specificity. To detect and visualize endoglin mRNA in OIR mice, we have designed and synthesized a novel imaging probe composed of short-hairpin anti-sense (AS) endoglin RNA coupled to a fluorophore and black hole quencher (AS-Eng shRNA). This assembly allows highly sensitive fluorescence emission upon hybridization of the AS-Eng shRNA to cellular endoglin mRNA. The AS-Eng shRNA is further conjugated to a diacyl-lipid (AS-Eng shRNA–lipid referred to as probe). The lipid moiety binds to serum albumin facilitating enhanced systemic circulation of the probe. OIR mice received intraperitoneal injections of AS-Eng shRNA–lipid. Ex vivo imaging of their retinas revealed specific endoglin mRNA dependent fluorescence superimposed on neovascular structures. Room air mice receiving AS-Eng shRNA–lipid and OIR mice receiving a non-sense control probe showed little fluorescence activity. In addition, we found that cells in neovascular lesions labelled with endoglin mRNA dependent fluorescence, co-labelled with the macrophage/microglia-associated marker IBA1. Others have shown that cells expressing macrophage/microglia markers associate with retinal neovascular structures in proportion to disease burden. Hence we propose that our probe may be used to image and to estimate the levels of retinal neovascular disease in real-time in living systems.

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Metal Oxide Nanorods-Based Sensor Array for Selective Detection of Biomarker Gases

Sensors ◽

10.3390/s21051922 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (5) ◽

pp. 1922

Author(s):

Gwang Su Kim ◽

Yumin Park ◽

Joonchul Shin ◽

Young Geun Song ◽

Chong-Yun Kang

Keyword(s):

Real Time ◽

Sensor Array ◽

High Sensitivity ◽

Gas Analysis ◽

Diagnostic Methods ◽

Real Time Monitoring ◽

Non Invasive ◽

Sensitivity And Selectivity ◽

Breath Gas Analysis ◽

Angle Method

The breath gas analysis through gas phase chemical analysis draws attention in terms of non-invasive and real time monitoring. The array-type sensors are one of the diagnostic methods with high sensitivity and selectivity towards the target gases. Herein, we presented a 2 × 4 sensor array with a micro-heater and ceramic chip. The device is designed in a small size for portability, including the internal eight-channel sensor array. In2O3 NRs and WO3 NRs manufactured through the E-beam evaporator’s glancing angle method were used as sensing materials. Pt, Pd, and Au metal catalysts were decorated for each channel to enhance functionality. The sensor array was measured for the exhaled gas biomarkers CH3COCH3, NO2, and H2S to confirm the respiratory diagnostic performance. Through this operation, the theoretical detection limit was calculated as 1.48 ppb for CH3COCH3, 1.9 ppt for NO2, and 2.47 ppb for H2S. This excellent detection performance indicates that our sensor array detected the CH3COCH3, NO2, and H2S as biomarkers, applying to the breath gas analysis. Our results showed the high potential of the gas sensor array as a non-invasive diagnostic tool that enables real-time monitoring.

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Single-copy detection of somatic variants from solid and liquid biopsy

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-85545-3 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Ana-Luisa Silva ◽

Paulina Klaudyna Powalowska ◽

Magdalena Stolarek ◽

Eleanor Ruth Gray ◽

Rebecca Natalie Palmer ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Real Time ◽

Single Molecule ◽

Real Time Pcr ◽

Clinical Decision Making ◽

High Sensitivity ◽

Clinical Decision ◽

Single Copy ◽

Turnaround Time ◽

Copy Detection ◽

Allele Specific

AbstractAccurate detection of somatic variants, against a background of wild-type molecules, is essential for clinical decision making in oncology. Existing approaches, such as allele-specific real-time PCR, are typically limited to a single target gene and lack sensitivity. Alternatively, next-generation sequencing methods suffer from slow turnaround time, high costs, and are complex to implement, typically limiting them to single-site use. Here, we report a method, which we term Allele-Specific PYrophosphorolysis Reaction (ASPYRE), for high sensitivity detection of panels of somatic variants. ASPYRE has a simple workflow and is compatible with standard molecular biology reagents and real-time PCR instruments. We show that ASPYRE has single molecule sensitivity and is tolerant of DNA extracted from plasma and formalin fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) samples. We also demonstrate two multiplex panels, including one for detection of 47 EGFR variants. ASPYRE presents an effective and accessible method that simplifies highly sensitive and multiplexed detection of somatic variants.

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