Microarrays Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Microarrays, including details on experiments, designs, statistics, analysis, software.

Virulence signatures: microarray-based approaches to discovery and analysis.

Pannucci J, Cai H, Pardington PE, Williams E, Okinaka RT, Kuske CR, Cary RB

Bioscience Division, M888, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87545, USA.

Rapid, accurate, and sensitive detection of biothreat agents requires a broad-spectrum assay capable of discriminating between closely related microbial or viral pathogens. Moreover, in cases where a biological agent release has been identified, forensic analysis demands detailed genetic signature data for accurate strain identification and attribution. To date, nucleic acid sequences have provided the most robust and phylogentically illuminating signature information. Nucleic acid signature sequences are not often linked to genomic or extrachromosomal determinants of virulence, a link that would further facilitate discrimination between pathogens and closely related species. Inextricably coupling genetic determinants of virulence with highly informative nucleic acid signatures would provide a robust means of identifying human, livestock, and agricultural pathogens. By means of example, we present here an overview of two general applications of microarray-based methods for: (1) the identification of candidate virulence factors; and (2) the analysis of genetic polymorphisms that are coupled to Bacillus anthracis virulence factors using an accurate, low cost solid-phase mini-sequencing assay. We show that microarray-based analysis of gene expression can identify potential virulence associated genes for use as candidate signature targets, and, further, that microarray-based single nucleotide polymorphism assays provide a robust platform for the detection and identification of signature sequences in a manner independent of the genetic background in which the signature is embedded. We discuss the strategy as a general approach or pipeline for the discovery of virulence-linked nucleic acid signatures for biothreat agents.

Published 3 November 2004 in Biosens Bioelectron, 20(4): 706-18.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2004-2008 Microarrays Research Today. All Rights Reserved.