Publicaties

Intramammary infection (IMI), also known as mastitis, is the most frequently occurring and economically the most important infectious disease in dairy cattle. This study provides a validation of the analytical specificity and sensitivity of a real-time PCR-based assay that identifies 11 major pathogen species or species groups responsible for IMI, and a gene coding for staphylococcal beta-lactamase production (penicillin resistance). Altogether, ...

Debode, J., Van Poucke, K., Franca, S. C., Maes, M., Hate, M., and Heungens, K. 2011. Detection of multiple Verticillium species in soil using density flotation and real-time polymerase chain reaction. Plant Dis. 95:1571-1580. Wet sieving of soil samples, followed by plating on semi-selective medium and microscopic analysis, is the most commonly used technique to quantify microsclerotia-forming Verticillium species in soil. However, the method ...

This chapter provides an overview of the real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methodology and its applications. PCR is a technique based on the exponential amplification of DNA by the thermostable Thermus aquaticus (Taq) polymerase. The method uses a pair of synthetic oligonucleotide primers, each hybridizing to one strand of a double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) target, with the pair spanning a region that will be exponentially amplified. The ...

Although connexin production is mainly regulated at the protein level, altered connexin gene expression has been identified as the underlying mechanism of several pathologies. When studying the latter, appropriate methods to quantify connexin mRNA levels are required. The present chapter describes a well-established reverse transcription quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction procedure optimized for analysis of hepatic connexins. The ...

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of Nugent score, wet mount microscopy, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test developed in Russia for bacterial vaginosis (BV) diagnosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred Caucasian women were enrolled in this study. Three vaginal samples were taken from each participant: 1 for PCR analysis, 1 for Nugent score evaluation, and 1 for wet mount microscopy. The smears for ...

DNA-based methodology for the identification and detection of specific bacteria in dental plaque offers advantages over culturing techniques. One drawback of current molecular techniques like real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-QPCR) is that they are not able to distinguish between live or dead bacteria. To overcome this problem an assay was assessed to discriminate between viable or dead bacteria using DNA intercalating ...

BACKGROUND: Accumulating evidence suggests that DNA methylation markers could serve as sensitive and specific cancer biomarkers. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether a panel of methylated genes would have the potential to identify primary bladder cancer (BCa) in voided urine samples. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: A pharmacologic unmasking reexpression analysis in BCa cell lines was initially undertaken to unveil candidate methylated genes, ...

The introduction of tissue engineering has allowed scientists to push the boundaries and treat seriously damaged ocular surface epithelia. They have managed to do this through the development of biological substitutes that restore, maintain or improve tissue function. To ensure the generation of a therapeutically safe and effective graft, knowledge on the transcriptional profile of native and cultured ocular surface epithelia is of undeniable ...