title: Ribosomal RNA-based diagnosis of Plasmodium falciparum malaria.
abstract: We have identified useful target sites for the diagnosis of malaria infections by oligonucleotide hybridization on the small subunit RNA of Plasmodium falciparum. Acetic acid works as effectively as formaldehyde or methyl mercuric hydroxide in procedures designed to apply RNA to filters. We have confirmed the findings of others that the stability of ribosomal RNA suffices for its use as a target for diagnosis. We have achieved a detection level of at least 0.00046% parasitemia and suggest that detection of a single parasite is well within reach of this technology.
authors.affiliation: Malaria Department, Biomedical Research Institute, Rockville, MD.
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Lal
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Changkasiri
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Hollingdale
authors.forename: T F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: McCutchan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008288:Malaria / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009691:Nucleic Acid Denaturation; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000235:genetics*; D012335:RNA, Ribosomal / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D012335:RNA, Ribosomal