A novel detection of a single Plasmodium falciparum in infected blood.
Detection of Plasmodium falciparum malaria by a specific DNA probe is a highly promising means for epidemiological surveillance of human malaria. However, none of presently available DNA probe methods could detect as little as a few parasites in infected blood. By amplification of a specific 206 base pairs P. falciparum DNA sequence using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), as little as 0.01 picogram DNA or one-half of a parasite was sufficient for a specific detection. A PCR procedure for detection of P. falciparum in infected blood without prior DNA extraction was also developed which was sensitive for a single parasite. The procedure was simple and should be applicable for a large scale epidemiological study involving a very low parasitemia situation.
Tirasophon
W
W
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Ponglikitmongkol
M
M
Wilairat
P
P
Boonsaeng
V
V
Panyim
S
S
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004587:Electrophoresis, Agar Gel; D006801:Humans; D008288:Malaria / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods
D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes; D004247:DNA