A novel asymmetric-loop molecular beacon-based two-phase hybridization assay for accurate and high-throughput detection of multiple drug resistance-conferring point mutations in Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Med Sci Monit. 2012 Apr;18(4):HY5-8. doi: 10.12659/msm.882602.

Abstract

The accurate and high-throughput detection of drug resistance-related multiple point mutations remains a challenge. Although the combination of molecular beacons with bio-immobilization technology, such as microarray, is promising, its application is difficult due to the ineffective immobilization of molecular beacons on the chip surface. Here, we propose a novel asymmetric-loop molecular beacon in which the loop consists of 2 parts. One is complementary to a target, while the other is complementary to an oligonucleotide probe immobilized on the chip surface. With this novel probe, a two-phase hybridization assay can be used for simultaneously detecting multiple point mutations. This assay will have advantages, such as easy probe availability, multiplex detection, low background, and high-efficiency hybridization, and may provide a new avenue for the immobilization of molecular beacons and high-throughput detection of point mutations.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Base Sequence
  • Biotinylation
  • Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial / genetics*
  • High-Throughput Screening Assays / methods*
  • Molecular Probes / chemistry*
  • Molecular Probes / genetics
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis / genetics*
  • Nucleic Acid Conformation
  • Nucleic Acid Hybridization / methods*
  • Oligonucleotide Probes / chemistry*
  • Oligonucleotide Probes / genetics
  • Point Mutation / genetics*

Substances

  • Molecular Probes
  • Oligonucleotide Probes