PCR Article Review
Reference Personal
Title: Application of real-time reverse transcription
polymerase chain reaction to the detection of April 21, 2013
the matrix, H5 and H7 genes of avian influenza Molecular Bio Lab
viruses in field samples from South Korea PCR Article Review
Authors: Hye-Ryoung Kim, Jae-Ku Oem,
You-Chan Bae, Min-Su Kang, Hee-Soo Lee,
Yong-Kuk Kwon
Source: BioMed Central
Date: January 2013
In this report, scientists experimented with the application of Polymerase Chain Reactions to detecting genes of the Avian Influenza (AI) virus. If specific genes for AI could be detected, the response time to a case could be shortened drastically and potential outbreaks of AI could be prevented entirely. Although the hypothesis is promising, misidentification was common due to new emergent isolates due to mutation and geographical factors. To keep the primer sets used in PCR valid, constant updates are needed to track the evolution of the virus. Using different variations to the original PCR process, the scientists were able to find a more efficient way to identify different genes of AI. Although the process requires constant maintenance, the scientists were sure that it could be a huge step in the rapid detection and response to the Avian Influenza.
After much experimentation, scientists were able to pose a serious question. If the process of PCR could proliferate DNA at an accelerated rate, then could it ultimately be used to aid in the detection of potentially deadly viruses? Although it sounds simple, the scientists had many questions and problems they had to face in order to reach their desired results. With a diverse and rapidly changing virus, the designing of many different primer and probe sets was necessary to identify each different isolate. Additionally, the constant re-evaluation of these primers is crucial to an ongoing understanding of the virus.
The experiments the...