title: PNA openers and their applications for bacterial DNA diagnostics.
abstract: The unique ability of triplex-forming PNAs to invade the double helix has made it possible to develop a highly specific and sensitive approach for bacterial detection. The method uses short, about 20-bp-long, signature sequences presented as a single copy in the bacterial genome. Bacterial cells are fixed on slides and the PD-loop structure is assembled on the signature site with the help of PNA openers, which includes the circular probe. The sensitivity of the method is achieved via Rolling Circle Amplification (RCA) of the circular probe. The obtained amplicon is detected using short ssDNA decorator probes carrying fluorophores and via standard fluorescent microscopy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, USA.
authors.forename: Irina V
authors.initials: IV
authors.lastname: Smolina
authors.forename: Maxim D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Frank-Kamenetskii
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001483:Base Sequence; D015342:DNA Probes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D016680:Genome, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods*; D021141:Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D020135:Peptide Nucleic Acids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015342:DNA Probes; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D020135:Peptide Nucleic Acids