Defining the unknown: molecular methods for finding new microbes

Journal of Clinical Laboratory Analysis
E A Wagar

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to describe specific applications of molecular diagnostics that are currently identifying suspected or unidentified microbial pathogens. The techniques reviewed include (i) the use of specific primers and PCR to identify new microbes, (ii) PCR amplification of conserved 16S rRNA sequence with subsequent identification of specific internal sequence from the candidate bacterial pathogen, and (iii) an exciting new modification of PCR called RDA or "reverse PCR" that can identify unique infectious agents in diseased tissue. The field will continue to expand rapidly and, it is hoped, contribute to a better understanding of the microbial environment with which humans coexist. Also, molecular techniques will eventually be applied in the demonstration of pathogenesis by the various newly identified microbial pathogens.

References

Jul 30, 1992·The New England Journal of Medicine·D A RelmanS Falkow
Dec 3, 1992·The New England Journal of Medicine·J E KoehlerJ W Tappero
Mar 1, 1992·Clinical Infectious Diseases : an Official Publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America·D LuceyK S Greisen
Dec 6, 1990·The New England Journal of Medicine·D A RelmanL S Tompkins
Jul 1, 1988·Reviews of Infectious Diseases·S Falkow
Jul 1, 1993·The New England Journal of Medicine·K M ZangwillJ D Wenger

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Citations

Oct 26, 1999·Pediatrics International : Official Journal of the Japan Pediatric Society·M ShibataT Morishima
Oct 24, 2001·Scandinavian Journal of Infectious Diseases·J R Greig Kwan JTC
Mar 14, 2001·Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis·A E Director-MyskaW F Blakely

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