Performance of the tetra-primer PCR technique compared to PCR-RFLP in the search for rs12979860 (C/T) and rs8099917 (T/G) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the IFNL4 gene / Desempenho da técnica tetra-primer PCR em relação a PCR-RFLP na pesquisa de polimorfismos de nucleotídeos únicos (SNPs) rs12979860 (C/T) e rs8099917 (T/G) no gene IFNL4

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs, rs12979860 e rs8099917) in the Interferon Lambda 4 gene (IFNL4, formerly IFNL3and/or IL28B) has been associated with failure in the innate immune response, sustained virological response in hepatitis C, and HTLV-1-associated myelopathy (HAM) development. To search for these polymorphisms several methodologies can be employed, such as sequencing, real-time or quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis in PCR products (PCR-RFLP), and tetra-primer PCR. The present study compared the performance of the tetra-primer PCR in relation to the PCR-RFLP, both optimized in the Research HTLV Laboratory of the Center of Immunology of Instituto Adolfo Lutz in São Paulo. One hundred DNA samples obtained from patients of STD/Aids Reference Centre in São Paulo, previously analyzed for IL28B SNPs by PCR-RFLP were selected for analysis, after confirming that they represent all IL28B SNPs patterns described in the literature. The results obtained showed concordance between the PCR-RFLP and the tetra-primer PCR SNPs results, and because of the low cost, easy to perform, and minor employment of biological specimen and reagents, the tetra-primer PCR is of choice to be used in routine. (AU)

Polimorfismos de nucleotídeos únicos (single nucleotide polymorphisms, SNPs rs12979860 e rs8099917) no gene que codifica o Interferon Lambda 4 (IFNL4, antigamente IFNL3 e/ou IL28B) têm sido associados às falhas na resposta imune inata e resposta virológica sustentada na hepatite C, e a mielopatia associada ao HTLV-1 (HTLV-1-associated myelopathy, HAM). A pesquisa destes polimorfismos pode empregar diversas metodologias: sequenciamento, reação em cadeia da polimerase em tempo real ou quantitativa (quantitative polymerase chain reaction, qPCR), análise de fragmentos de restrição enzimática em produtos de PCR (restriction fragment length polymorphism in PCR products, PCR-RFLP) e a tetra-primer PCR. Este estudo comparou o desempenho da tetra-primer PCR em relação a PCR-RFLP, ambas otimizadas no Laboratório de Pesquisa em HTLV do Centro de Imunologia do Instituto Adolfo Lutz de São Paulo. Foram selecionadas 100 amostras de DNA obtidas de pacientes do Centro de Referência e Treinamento em DST/Aids de São Paulo cujos SNPs na IL28B foram anteriormente determinados por PCR-RFLP e representaram todos os perfis descritos em literatura. Os resultados obtidos mostraram concordância entre elas, e pelo fato da tetra-primer PCR ter menor custo, ser de fácil execução, empregar menos tempo, insumos e material biológico, é a técnica de escolha para uso em rotina. (AU)

Analysis of virulence genes and the chromosomal 16S rRNA gene polymorphism of Yersinia enterocolitic in Jiangsu Province,2015 / 中华传染病杂志

Objective To reveal the virulence genes and the polymorphisms of chromosomal 16S rRNA gene of Yersinia enterocolitic strains isolated from different districts in Jiangsu Province,2015. Methods Five virulence genes(ail,virF,yadA,ystA and ystB)of Yersinia enterocolitic strains isolated from different districts in Jiangsu Province were detected by using polymerase chain reaction(PCR),and phylogenetic analysis of chromosomal 16S rRNA gene was performed by amplification and sequencing. Results In this study,73 Yersinia enterocolitic strains were collected in Jiangsu Province in 2015.Among them,56(76.7%)strains carried virulence genes,and ail-virF-yadA -ystA -ystB+were the dominate types in diarrhea patients and other hosts.All strains can be clustering into 4 groups according to the phylogenetic analysis of chromosomal 16S rRNA gene.Conclusions The non-pathogenic Yersinia enterocolitic(ystB+)is the dominant strain in Jiangsu province,and the pathogenic strains are also found in this region.The result of phylogenetic analysis of chromosomal 16S rRNA gene and the profiles of virulence genes are highly consistent.

Application of Specific Fragment Length Polymorphism of Algae rDNA in Identification of Drowning Cases / 法医学杂志

OBJECTIVES@#To identify the drop-off location of victims in drowning cases, and confirm whether it is a fatal drowning or the victim is thrown into the water after death by detecting part of 5.8S sequence and second internal transcribed spacer （ITS2） （5.8S+ITS2） of diatom rDNA in water and organs.@*METHODS@#Two cases identified by diatom examination, which received by Nanjing Municipal Public Security Bureau Forensic Center, were taken as the research objects. The difference of the population structure of algae in water and human tissue was analysed by length polymorphism of 5.8S+ITS2 marker.@*RESULTS@#In case 1, similar species of diatom were detected from victim's lung and liver tissues and the water sample. Two kinds of DNA fragments with length of 330 bp and 376 bp were detected from victim's lung tissue and the water sample using 5.8S+ITS2 marker, which could confirm the victim was drowning before death. In case 2, there was no diatom found in victim's lung and liver tissues. Only one kind of DNA fragment with length of 331 bp and low relative fluorescence unit （RFU） was obtained from victim's lung tissue using 5.8S+ITS2 marker, thus the victim was thrown into the water after death.@*CONCLUSIONS@#The experimental results of the two cases in present study are consistent with the actual facts and the result of the diatom microscopic examination. The difference of population structure of specific microorganism in water and human tissue can be detected by 5.8S+ITS2 marker, which can help to identify the drop-off location of victims in drowning cases, and confirm whether it is a fatal drowning or the victim is thrown into the water after death.

Análise molecular do EXON 10 do gene receptor de TSH em pacientes com tumores da tireóide / Molecular analysis of EXON 10 of TSH receptor gene in patients with thyroid tumors

Introdução: O câncer da tireoide é a quinta neoplasia mais frequente entre as mulheres. A incidência dessa doença vem aumentando substancialmente nos últimos anos. Objetivos: O objetivo do estudo foi determinar a frequência do polimorfismo D727E no gene tshr e associar aos diferentes fenótipos clínicos de tumores de tireoide. Método: 48 pacientes portadores de tumores da tireoide foram operados em hospital de referência de Belém (Pará, Brasil). O grupo-controle foi composto de 131 indivíduos livres de doenças da tireóide. Resultados: Foram encontrados 26 pacientes com tumores malignos e 22 benignos. A frequência alélica do polimorfismo D727E foi de 17,7% em pacientes com tumor de tireoide e 8% no grupo-controle (p<0,03). O polimorfismo D727E mostrou-se em heterozigose em seis pacientes dos 23 com carcinoma papilar e em um com carcinoma folicular. Um paciente com carcinoma folicular e um com carcinoma indiferenciado não apresentaram o polimorfismo. Sete pacientes dos 15 com bócio colóide apresentaram D727E (seis em heterozigose e um em homozigose). Dois dos seis pacientes com adenoma folicular apresentaram o polimorfismo. Discussão: A análise da distribuição da idade de pacientes com câncer mostrou que houve diferença entre os pacientes com diagnóstico de câncer (48,7±14,7 anos) em relação a pacientes com doença benigna (37,8±11,7 anos). A idade de início dos sintomas, que melhor separa os grupos, foi 46 anos. As variáveis gênero feminino, antecedente familiar e idade >41 anos foram associadas à presença do polimorfismo D727E (p = 0,026), o que não foi observado nos pacientes que não apresentavam o polimorfismo. A ocorrência simultânea dos fatores: gênero feminino, antecedente familiar e idade > 46 anos foi relacionada com maior frequência em pacientes com patologia maligna da tireóide (p=0,0047). Conclusões: Estudos adicionais com um maior tamanho amostral são necessários para investigar com mais força estatística a relevância do polimorfismo D727E na gênese do câncer de tireoide e do bócio nodular coloide.

Introduction: Cancer of the thyroid gland is the fifth most common malignancy among women. The disease’s incidence has been increasing over the years. Objectives: The aim of this study, was to determine the frequency of polymorphism D727E tshr gene and its association with different clinical phenotypes of thyroid cancer. Results: 48 patients with thyroid surgical diseases were operated in the city of Belém (Pará, Brazil). The control group was composed by 131 individuals free thyroid diseases. We observed 26 patients with thyroid malignant disease and 22 benign. The allele frequency of polymorphism D727E was 17.7% in patients with thyroid tumor and 8% in the control group (p <0.03). Among malignant thyroid tumors, D727E mutation was found in heterozygosis in 6 of the 23 patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma and in one of two patients with follicular carcinoma. Among the considered benign thyroid tumors: 7 out of 15 patients with nodular goiter colloid showed the mutation (6 heterozygous and 1 homozygous). Two of 6 patients with follicular adenoma showed polymorphism D727E. Discussion: The analysis of the age distribution of patients with thyroid cancer showed that there were differences between patients with cancer diagnosis (48.7 ± 14.7 years), compared to patients with benign disease (37.8 ± 11.7 years). The age of onset of the symptoms that best separates the groups was 46 years. The variables gender (female), family history and age > 41 years were associated with the presence of D727E polymorphism (p = 0.026), which was not observed in patients without this polymorphism. The simultaneous occurrence of gender (female), family history and age > 46 years was associated with increased frequency in patients with malignant thyroid pathology (p = 0.0047). Conclusions: Additional studies with a larger sample size are needed to investigate harder statistical relevance of polymorphism D727E in the genesis of thyroid cancer as well as nodular goiter.