Hepatitis B virus (HBV) carrying the A1762T/G1764A double mutation in the basal core promoter (BCP) region is associated with HBe antigen seroconversion and increased risk of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Quantification of the mutant viruses may help in predicting the risk of HCC. However, the viral genome tends to have nucleotide polymorphism, which makes it difficult to ...

A real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay with fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) hybridisation probes combined with melting curve analysis was developed to detect Schistosoma japonicum in experimentally infected snails and in faecal samples of infected mice. This procedure is based on melting curve analysis of a hybrid between an amplicon from the S. japonicum internal trans...

Currently, in real-time PCR, one often has to choose between using a sequence-specific probe and a nonspecific double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) binding dye for the detection of amplified DNA products. The sequence-specific probe has the advantage that it only detects the targeted product, while the nonspecific dye has the advantage that melting curve analysis can be performed after completed amplifi...

Falciparum malaria is a fatal infection without immediate diagnosability or treatment. There are shortages of clinicians and examiners skilled in the treatment of malaria in non-endemic countries, including Japan. This study was performed to evaluate a novel rapid molecular diagnostic system consisting of loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) combined with DNA filter paper (FTA card) an...

A real-time fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) PCR supplemented with melting curve analysis for the rapid molecular detection of Dirofilaria immitis in mosquito vectors and dog blood samples was developed. This real-time FRET PCR was based on the fluorescence melting curve analysis of a hybrid between an amplicon generated from the D. immitis ribosomal RNA gene sequence and specific ...

Standard melting point analyses only partially describe the thermal properties of eusocial beeswaxes. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) revealed that thermal phase changes in wax are initiated at substantially lower temperatures than visually observed melting points. Instead of a sharp, single endothermic peak at the published melting point of 64 degrees C, DSC analysis of Apis mellifera ...

BACKGROUND JAK2 V617F, a somatic point mutation that leads to constitutive JAK2 phosphorylation and kinase activation, has been incorporated into the WHO classification and diagnostic criteria of myeloid neoplasms. Although various approaches such as restriction fragment length polymorphism, amplification refractory mutation system and real-time PCR have been developed for its detection, a gene...

background and objectives:hbv and htlv-i are life threatening infectious agents in patients who receive blood and blood products. although serological methods have been proved to be useful, detection of these viruses has remained a challengingissue due to the many obstacles. by the advent of nucleic acid testing methods, especially in multiplex format, more precise detection is possible.the obj...