title: PCR-based detection of gene transfer vectors: application to gene doping surveillance.
abstract: Athletes who illicitly use drugs to enhance their athletic performance are at risk of being banned from sports competitions. Consequently, some athletes may seek new doping methods that they expect to be capable of circumventing detection. With advances in gene transfer vector design and therapeutic gene transfer, and demonstrations of safety and therapeutic benefit in humans, there is an increased probability of the pursuit of gene doping by athletes. In anticipation of the potential for gene doping, assays have been established to directly detect complementary DNA of genes that are top candidates for use in doping, as well as vector control elements. The development of molecular assays that are capable of exposing gene doping in sports can serve as a deterrent and may also identify athletes who have illicitly used gene transfer for performance enhancement. PCR-based methods to detect foreign DNA with high reliability, sensitivity, and specificity include TaqMan real-time PCR, nested PCR, and internal threshold control PCR.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, University of Florida, College of Medicine, 1600 SW Archer Road, Gainesville, FL, 32610-0266, USA.
authors.forename: Irene C
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Perez
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Le Guiner
authors.forename: Weiyi
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ni
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lyles
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Moullier
authors.forename: Richard O
authors.initials: RO
authors.lastname: Snyder
mesh_terms: D004300:Doping in Sports / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D005822:Genetic Vectors / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D058573:Performance-Enhancing Substances / Q000032:analysis*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D058573:Performance-Enhancing Substances