PCR Applications in Pathology

The polymerase chain reaction has revolutionised molecular biology by allowing the amplification and characterisation of minute amounts of nucleic acids. As well as being of use to basic scientists, this technique is of immense importance to pathologists who routinely need to detect and characterise small amounts of infectious micro-organisms, or to identify mutations within small amounts of human DNA. This essential handbook clearly and concisely outlines the applications of PCR in the area of infectious and inherited diseases so that methods can be readily used by non-molecular biologists who need them. This book is intended for practising clinical biochemists, clinical chemists, pathologists, and others working in diagnostic laboratories.Table of Contentmrinciples and applications of the polymerase chain reaction; Quantitative PCR for DNA and RNA; Detection and characterization of human papillomavirus infections in clinical specimens by the polymerase chain reaction; PCR in situ hybridization in viral detection; Detection and characterization of mycobacterial infections by polymerase chain reaction; PCR in the detection of parasitic protozoa, in particular Toxoplasma gondii; The application of PCR to the pre-natal and carrier diagnosis of monogenic disorders; SSCP analysis and DNA sequencing for genetic characterization of a multiallelic disorder familial hypercholesterolaemia; PCR in the detection of mutations in cancerous tissue; The PCR-based detection of gene rearrangements; Reverse transcription/quantitative PCR to detect changes in gene expression in disease.