Games Gadgets n Technology
Sunday, November 04, 2007
Molecular detectives
Scientists have developed technology that could speed-up the detection of the virus that causes cervical cancer by using just a single molecule; method could also be used to detect other viruses such as HIV and avian flu
Researchers in the US have developed a technology that detects a single molecule of the virus associated with cervical cancer in women. The development, they say, could help in the early detection of diseases.
The advancement is a significant improvement over the current test for the human papillomavirus (HPV), said Edward Yeung, a professor of chemistry at Iowa State University, and leader of the research team that developed the new test.
About the pathogen...
Papillomaviruses are a diverse group of DNA-based viruses that infect the skin and mucous membranes of humans and a variety of animals.
Over 100 different human papillomavirus (HPV) types have been identified so far.
Some HPV types may cause skin warts while others may cause an infection resulting in precancerous lesions. All HPVs are transmitted by skin-to-skin contact.
A group of about 30-40 HPVs is typically transmitted through sexual contact. However, some HPV types, which may infect the genitals, do not to cause any noticeable signs of infection.
Notably, HPV infection is a necessary factor in the development of nearly all cases of cervical cancer.
Researchers believe that the human papillomavirus is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections the world over.
When one molecule is better than fifty The current test, the Nobel Prize-winning polymerase chain reaction technique, requires 10 to 50 virus molecules for detection.
“We are always interested in detecting smaller and smaller amounts of material at lower and lower concentrations,” Yeung said. “Detecting lower levels means earlier diagnosis.”
The discovery by Yeung, Jiangwei Li, an Iowa State doctoral student; and Ji-Young Lee, a former Iowa State doctoral student; was published in the Nov 1 issue of the journal Analytical Chemistry.
Their work was funded by a five-year, $9,50,000 grant from US’ National Institutes of Health.
The project advanced rapidly just as the human papillomavirus made headlines in scientific circles: In June of 2006, the US Food and Drug Administration approved a vaccine – for females up to the age of 26 – that was developed to prevent cervical cancer, precancerous lesions and genital warts caused by four types of the virus.
Yeung said single molecule detection of the virus could help earlier detection of disease and could help prevent serious consequences.
The new detection technology improves current technology by eliminating a step to amplify DNA samples for testing.
Although the current test is efficient and well understood, the amplification can cause small contaminants to create test errors.
Yeung’s single molecule technique involves creating chemical reagents that recognise and fluorescently tag the genetic sequence of the human papillomavirus.
Test samples pass through a laser beam that lights the tags. Cameras capture the images for computer analysis.
The research team tested the technique using
samples from normal Pap smears. They also spiked some of those samples with the virus to make sure the tests picked up known amounts of the virus.
Although this test concentrated on detecting the human papillomavirus, Yeung said it should detect HIV, avian flu and other viruses as well.
Will the tech make it to medical labs?
Yeung said he won’t be directly involved in taking the detection technology to market. But he said companies have expressed some interest in licensing and developing the technology.
As that project moves on, Yeung will continue looking for ways to detect chemical targets at the smallest limits. He said the next challenge is to figure out how to detect single molecules of proteins.
Researchers in the US have developed a technology that detects a single molecule of the virus associated with cervical cancer in women. The development, they say, could help in the early detection of diseases.
The advancement is a significant improvement over the current test for the human papillomavirus (HPV), said Edward Yeung, a professor of chemistry at Iowa State University, and leader of the research team that developed the new test.
About the pathogen...
Papillomaviruses are a diverse group of DNA-based viruses that infect the skin and mucous membranes of humans and a variety of animals.
Over 100 different human papillomavirus (HPV) types have been identified so far.
 |
| Research scientist, Edward Yeung, uses laser beams to light up tags that indicate molecules of human papillomavirus are present in a cell |
A group of about 30-40 HPVs is typically transmitted through sexual contact. However, some HPV types, which may infect the genitals, do not to cause any noticeable signs of infection.
Notably, HPV infection is a necessary factor in the development of nearly all cases of cervical cancer.
Researchers believe that the human papillomavirus is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections the world over.
When one molecule is better than fifty The current test, the Nobel Prize-winning polymerase chain reaction technique, requires 10 to 50 virus molecules for detection.
“We are always interested in detecting smaller and smaller amounts of material at lower and lower concentrations,” Yeung said. “Detecting lower levels means earlier diagnosis.”
The discovery by Yeung, Jiangwei Li, an Iowa State doctoral student; and Ji-Young Lee, a former Iowa State doctoral student; was published in the Nov 1 issue of the journal Analytical Chemistry.
Their work was funded by a five-year, $9,50,000 grant from US’ National Institutes of Health.
The project advanced rapidly just as the human papillomavirus made headlines in scientific circles: In June of 2006, the US Food and Drug Administration approved a vaccine – for females up to the age of 26 – that was developed to prevent cervical cancer, precancerous lesions and genital warts caused by four types of the virus.
Yeung said single molecule detection of the virus could help earlier detection of disease and could help prevent serious consequences.
The new detection technology improves current technology by eliminating a step to amplify DNA samples for testing.
Although the current test is efficient and well understood, the amplification can cause small contaminants to create test errors.
Yeung’s single molecule technique involves creating chemical reagents that recognise and fluorescently tag the genetic sequence of the human papillomavirus.
Test samples pass through a laser beam that lights the tags. Cameras capture the images for computer analysis.
The research team tested the technique using
samples from normal Pap smears. They also spiked some of those samples with the virus to make sure the tests picked up known amounts of the virus.
Although this test concentrated on detecting the human papillomavirus, Yeung said it should detect HIV, avian flu and other viruses as well.
Will the tech make it to medical labs?
Yeung said he won’t be directly involved in taking the detection technology to market. But he said companies have expressed some interest in licensing and developing the technology.
As that project moves on, Yeung will continue looking for ways to detect chemical targets at the smallest limits. He said the next challenge is to figure out how to detect single molecules of proteins.
posted by strangebeauty at 9:00 PM
1 Comments:
Hi,
Thanks for visiting my blog. May I invite you to my blogger's corner campaign?
Post a Comment
<< Home