Prenatal diagnosis using deletion studies in Duchenne muscular dystrophy

Accurate carrier testing and prenatal diagnosis in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) families is facilitated when an Xp21 deletion is found to be segregating within a family. We discuss the results of the DNA testing in two families, one in which DNA from affected males was available for study and the other in which no DNA from an affected male was available. Factors complicating the counselling of DMD deletion families are outlined.     

Dystrophin protein and rflp analyis for fetal diagnosis and carrier confirmation of duchenne muscular dystrophy

A pregnant woman with indeterminate Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) carrier status, but with DMD diagnosed in her deceased brother (unavailable for study), presented for prenatal diagnosis, intending to continue the pregnancy only if proven unaffected with DMD with near absolute certainty. Creatine kinase (CK) assays to clarify carrier status were inconclusive. Male sex in the fetus was identified, but DNA restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis was not yet available to this centre to investigate the possible transmission of the DMD gene, and the pregnancy was terminated. Tissue histology and dystrophin protein analysis demonstrated the absence of DMD. In a situation with proven maternal carrier status, future fetal inheritance of the opposite maternal X chromosome would indicate the presence of DMD. However, maternal carrier status remained in doubt through a second pregnancy, even with RFLP studies, and was finally established when dystrophin analysis confirmed the presence of DMD in the second fetus. Histologic findings are presented, contrasting features in the two fetuses. The value of dystrophin analysis for establishing the diagnosis of fetal DMD, in this case proving maternal carrier status in a difficult situation, and for demonstrating DMD gene:RFLP haplotype relationships is illustrated.     

Prenatal diagnosis of cystic fibrosis using linked DNA probes

This paper presents data collected in Europe on 107 prenatal diagnoses of cystic fibrosis (CF) using linked DNA markers. To date, 38 children have been born without CF, as predicted, demonstrating the present rapid move from research to clinical genetic service.     

垃圾填埋场中真细菌群落16S rRNA基因的分析

回灌式垃圾填埋场渗滤液中真细菌群落的多样性同样通过不依赖于微生物培养的分析而获得。利用特异性的引物对,选择性地扩增渗滤液DNA中的真细菌16S rRNA基因片断(16S rDNA),并用于构建16S rDNA克隆文库。文库内真细菌16S rDNA的遗传多样性通过限制片断长度多态性分析(RFLP,限制性内切酶Hin PII和Msp I)而获得。初步的结果表明,随机选出的200个真细菌克隆子被分为147个不同的RFLP型(组),当中丰度最高的两个型均仅含有9个克隆子,两者共占所有被分析克隆子的不到10%;克隆子数≥2的型共有21个(包括以上2个丰度最高的型),它们共代表74个克隆子,占所有被分析克隆子的37%;而剩下的126个型均只含有1个克隆子,它们共占整个基因文库的63%。由此可见,李坑垃圾渗滤液中的真细菌具有非常复杂的群落结构。     

First trimester prenatal diagnosis of haemophilia A: Two years' experience

We evaluated the feasibility, reliability, and acceptability of prenatal diagnosis of haemophilia A by DNA analysis of chorionic villi. Twenty-two women at risk to transmit the abnormal gene were referred for prenatal diagnosis, two of them twice. Two of the 22 women appeared to be non-carriers by DNA analysis. In one of these women, the results were known only after chorionic villus sampling had been carried out. Thirteen of the twenty carriers were heterozygous for an intragenic (Bell or Xbal) marker; six women were only heterozygous for the extragenic DXS52 (Stl4) locus. One of the women was homozygous for all the presently known DNA markers within or closely linked with the factor VIII locus. Twelve of the 22 fetuses at risk were male, ten were female. Seven of the 12 male fetuses were shown to be affected and were subsequently aborted. Four male fetuses appeared to be not affected. In one case, the diagnosis was made by use of an extragenic marker. The woman rejected fetal blood sampling to confirm the diagnosis. After birth, a normal factor VIII level was found in three of the four cases. The fourth pregnancy is still continuing. In one of the 12 male fetuses, no diagnosis at the gene level was possible. DNA analysis is expected to provide maximum certainty as to the phenotype of the fetus for approximately 60 per cent of the women; for another 37 per cent a rate of misdiagnosis of 4–5 per cent applies. In only 3 per cent of the cases will no diagnosis at the gene level be possible as yet. The new possibility of a prenatal diagnosis in the first trimester of pregnancy enabled some of these women to have a family of their own and was appreciated in particular by the women who underwent fetoscopy in an earlier pregnancy.     

Bacterial diversity in activated sludge from a consecutively aerated submerged membrane bioreactor treating domestic wastewater

The bacterial diversity of activated sludge from submerged membrane bioreactor (SMBR) was investigated. A 16S rDNA clone library was generated, and 150 clones were screened using restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). Of the screened clones, almost full-length 16S rDNA sequences of 64 clones were sequenced. Phylogenetic tree was constructed with a database containing clone sequences from this study and bacterial rDNA sequences from NCBI for identification purposes. The 90.6% of the clones were a?l...     

不同C/N值下亚硝酸盐氧化菌和异养菌混合体系的微生物多样性

采用PCR-RFLP技术研究了不同C/N比下亚硝酸盐氧化菌及异养菌混合体系的微牛物多样性,并探讨了微生物菌群结构与其功能(硝化件能)的关系.C/N=0时,混合体系主要由自养菌和寡营养菌(85.1%)组成,包括亚硝酸盐氧化菌(NOB)、拟杆菌门、α-变形菌纲、浮霉菌门和绿色非硫细菌中的一些菌株.C/N=0.44时,混合体系中的自养菌减少,异养菌(主要是γ-变形菌纲的成员)大量出现.C/N=8.82时,γ-变形菌纲的菌株尤其是反硝化菌Pseudomonas sp.占主导(93.8%),与此同时,随着C/N升高,该混合体系的硝化性能也由专一的亚硝酸盐氧化过程转变为同时硝化反硝化过程.微生物菌群结构的转变较好地解释了其硝化性能的改变.本研究揭示了微生物菌群结构与其功能的内在联系,同时表明PCR-RFLP技术与化学分析相结合是研究微生物菌群结构与功能的有力工具.图3表2参13     

Effect of excessive cadmium chloride on the plasmids of E. coli HB 101 in vivo

１ＩｎｔｒｏｄｕｃｔｉｏｎＣａｄｍｉｕｍｉｓｏｎｅｏｆｉｍｐｏｒｔａｎｔｅｎｖｉｒｏｎｍｅｎｔａｌｐｏｌｕｔａｎｔｓ．Ｉｔｉｓｖｅｒｙｔｏｘｉｃｔｏｂｉｏｌｏｇｙ（Ｂａｒｂｅｒ，１９９４；Ｃｏｌａｒｄ，１９９０；Ｇｏｙｅｒ，１９９５；Ｎａｓｓｉｒｉ，...     

PCR-RFLP技术在环境地球化学研究中的应用及展望

PCR—RFLP技术为环境地球化学提供了一种新的研究方法和实验设计的新的思维方式。该方法具有所需样品量低、快速简便及特征性强等优点 ,可广泛应用于物质的生物地球化学循环、环境过程的生物作用、生物多样性及有机物源判断等方面的研究。利用PCR—RFLP技术 ,以环境中存在的 16SrRNA为对象 ,对环境生物的研究已广泛开展并取得了许多成果。展望未来研究成果 ,将会在海洋及湖泊沉积物等自然环境中发现更多的、新的微生物种类 ;将进一步阐明生物作用和物质循环的机理和过程 ;进一步阐明自然环境中生物大分子的变化机理及其环境效应并找到判断沉积物有机物源的新方法