Shortcomings of some currently available DNA probes for malaria detection.
A non-radioactive DNA probe based-method for detecting malaria will greatly aid epidemiological studies. Using putative Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax-specific 18S ribosomal RNA directed oligonucleotides, different enzymatic and chemiluminescent detection methods were attempted without success. The sensitivity of the corresponding 32P-labelled probes was found to be inadequate. A published procedure based on chemiluminescent detection of repetitive DNA sequences of P. falciparum was found to be adequately sensitive but lacking in specificity.
Ramasamy
R
R
Division of Life Sciences, Institute of Fundamental Studies, Kandy, Sri Lanka.
Ranasinghe
C
C
D001483:Base Sequence; D015342:DNA Probes; D006801:Humans; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000175:diagnosis*; D016780:Malaria, Vivax / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016053:RNA, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics; D012337:RNA, Ribosomal, 18S / Q000235:genetics; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D015342:DNA Probes; D016053:RNA, Protozoan; D012337:RNA, Ribosomal, 18S