Label-Free, Flow-Imaging Methods for Determination of Cell Concentration and Viability.

PURPOSE: To investigate the potential of two flow imaging microscopy (FIM) techniques (Micro-Flow Imaging (MFI) and FlowCAM) to determine total cell concentration and cell viability. METHODS: B-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) cells of 2 different donors were exposed to ambient conditions. Samples were taken at different days and measured with MFI, FlowCAM, hemocytometry and automated cell counting. Dead and live cells from a fresh B-ALL cell suspension were fractionated by flow cytometry in order to derive software filters based on morphological parameters of separate cell populations with MFI and FlowCAM. The filter sets were used to assess cell viability in the measured samples. RESULTS: All techniques gave fairly similar cell concentration values over the whole incubation period. MFI showed to be superior with respect to precision, whereas FlowCAM provided particle images with a higher resolution. Moreover, both FIM methods were able to provide similar results for cell viability as the conventional methods (hemocytometry and automated cell counting). CONCLUSION: FIM-based methods may be advantageous over conventional cell methods for determining total cell concentration and cell viability, as FIM measures much larger sample volumes, does not require labeling, is less laborious and provides images of individual cells.

Synthesis and thermodynamics of oligonucleotides containing chirally pure R(P) methylphosphonate linkages.

Methylphosphonate (MP) oligodeoxynucleotides (MPOs) are metabolically stable analogs of conventional DNA containing a methyl group in place of one of the non-bonding phosphoryl oxygens. All 16 possible chiral R(P) MP dinucleotides were synthesized and derivatized for automated oligonucleotide synthesis. These dimer synthons can be used to prepare (i) all-MP linked oligonucleotides having defined R(P) chirality at every other position (R(P) chirally enriched MPOs) or (ii) alternating R(P) MP/phosphodiester backbone oligonucleotides, depending on the composition of the 3'-coupling group. Chirally pure dimer synthons were also prepared with 2'-O-methyl sugar modifications. Oligonucleotides prepared with these R(P) chiral methylphosphonate linkage synthons bind RNA with significantly higher affinity than racemic MPOs.

Antisense oligonucleotide containing an internal, non-nucleotide-based linker promote site-specific cleavage of RNA.

We have designed and synthesized a series of novel antisense methylphosphonate oligonucleotide (MPO) cleaving agents that promote site-specific cleavage on a complementary RNA target. These MPOs contain a non- nucleotide-based linking moiety near the middle of the sequence in place of one of the nucleotide bases. The region surrounding the unpaired base on the RNA strand (i.e. the one directly opposite the non-nucleotide-linker) is sensitive to hydrolytic cleavage catalyzed by ethylenediamine hydrochloride. Furthermore, the regions of the RNA comprising hydrogen bonded domains are resistant to cleavage compared with single-stranded RNA alone. Several catalytic moieties capable of supporting acid/base hydrolysis were coupled to the non-nucleotide-based linker via simple aqueous coupling chemistries. When tethered to the MPO in this manner these moieties are shown to catalyze site-specific cleavage on the RNA target without any additional catalyst.

An improved method for the synthesis and deprotection of methylphosphonate oligonucleotides.

The methylphosphonate oligonucleotide synthesis methods described here give the desired products in good yield. Superior amounts of product are achieved by modifying both the DNA synthesis program and the reagent to compensate for the unstable methylphosphonite intermediate. Deprotection conditions have also been altered to maximize the recovery of oligonucleotide from DNA synthesis supports and to minimize the amount of base modification. Mass-spectrometry analysis of our oligonucleotides has verified their purity and confirmed the absence of modified bases. When compared to standard DNA synthesis methods, this procedure uses only about one-third the usual amount of monomer. Using these procedures, it should be possible to synthesize reliably methylphosphonate oligonucleotides at 1- and 15-mumol scales.

Evaluation of a fluorescent DNA hybridization assay for the detection of Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

This study evaluates a four-hour fluorescent DNA hybridization assay using both known bacterial isolates and clinical specimens. A biotinylated oligonucleotide probe from a sequence of the plasmid-encoded gene cppB was used. Hybrids were detected by addition of a streptavidin-alkaline phosphatase conjugate, followed by incubation for 30 min in a fluorescent substrate for alkaline phosphatase. The level of detection of the fluorescent assay was 0.1 pg of cryptic plasmid DNA or 200 cfu of the plasmid-containing strain NG 34/85 of Neisseria gonorrhoeae. A total of 119 reference strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae and other related bacteria were tested for reactivity with the probe. All Neisseria gonorrhoeae strains, including eight plasmid-free strains, hybridized with the probe. Fluorescence ratios were 2.67 for plasmid-free strains and 3.85 for plasmid-containing strains. Of the heterologous microorganisms tested, only one of six strains of Neisseria cinerea gave a fluorescence ratio above the 2.0 cut-off value for positivity with the probe at a cell density of 1 x 10(4) cfu. The probe was also evaluated using clinical specimens from 100 patients attending a clinic for sexually transmitted diseases. The sensitivity of the assay was 100% while the specificity was 97.5%. Positive and negative predictive values were 91.2% and 100%, respectively. The fluorescent DNA hybridization assay for the detection of Neisseria gonorrhoeae described here thus appears to be a highly specific and sensitive assay.

Detection of salmonellas by DNA hybridization with a fluorescent alkaline phosphatase substrate.

This study evaluates a DNA hybridization assay for salmonella with AttoPhos (JBL Scientific, San Luis Obispo, CA), a fluorescent substrate for alkaline phosphatase. The probe used (50 ng/ml) was a biotinylated 600 bp fragment consisting of a tandem repeat of an insertion sequence (IS200) found in most Salmonella spp. evaluated. The hybridization was carried out at 65 degrees C for 2 h without prior prehybridization and hybrids were detected by the addition of a streptavidin-alkaline phosphatase conjugate. Circles (5 mm) were cut from the membrane and placed in a cuvette containing 1 ml of 1 mmol/l AttoPhos. The reaction was evaluated after 30 min at 37 degrees C with a fluorometer with an excitation wavelength of 440 nm and an emission wavelength of 550 nm. The sensitivity of the probe was estimated to be 10,000 copies of target DNA or 5 x 10(-20) mol of DNA. All 74 salmonella strains tested reacted with the probe but none of the 98 heterologous species tested gave positive results. The results of this study indicate that our assay method, which employs a biotinylated tandem repeat of IS200 and AttoPhos, is a specific and highly sensitive quantitative method for the detection of salmonellas.

DNA hybridization assay using ATTOPHOS, a fluorescent substrate for alkaline phosphatase.

A fluorometric procedure for the detection of DNA-DNA hybrids is described. The procedure involved the detection of probe-bound alkaline phosphatase with the fluorescent substrate ATTOPHOS. This substrate is converted to ATTOFLUOR by alkaline phosphatase and fluoresces strongly at 550 nm when excited with a wavelength of 440 nm. DNA hybridization assays were performed both with dilutions of purified target plasmid DNA (pSE9 or PBR322) and whole bacterial cells. Streptavidin-alkaline phosphatase conjugates were added to react with bound probe. Fluorometric assays, as well as colorimetric assays, using 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolylphosphate + nitroblue tetrazolium for alkaline phosphatase activity were performed. The fluorescence of the substrate was measured at time intervals, and the slope of the regression line calculated. A slope four times greater than that of background was considered positive. One hundred femtograms or 2.2 x 10(4) molecules of homologous DNA were detected with the fluorescent assay as compared with 10,000 femtograms or 2.2 x 10(6) molecules of homologous DNA with the colorimetric assay. Similar results were obtained with whole cells. Approximately 1 x 10(3) homologous cells were detected fluorometrically and 1 x 10(5) cells were detected colorimetrically. Based on these results, we conclude that, in our hands, the DNA hybridization assay described here using ATTOPHOS as the substrate for alkaline phosphatase is a very sensitive assay for the detection of DNA-DNA hybrids.

Recruitment in the 1990s--the case of radiographers.

During the 1990s it will be increasingly difficult to recruit from school leavers enough radiographers and other professions allied to medicine. Various strategies have been suggested for meeting the difficulty. Rosemary Klem examines these from an economic perspective and looks at the implications for managers.

Spectrophotometric and liquid-chromatographic studies of thymolphthalein monophosphate. Specifications for high-quality substrate for the measurement of prostatic acid phosphatase activity.

Fourteen lots of thymolphthalein monophosphate (TMP), disodium salt, obtained from 10 commercial suppliers were compared spectrophotometrically at 445 and 595 nm, liquid-chromatographically with monitoring at 254 nm, and enzymically by measurements of activity of prostatic acid phosphatase in human serum. Eight lots were classified as "unacceptable," six as "acceptable." Spectrophotometric testing revealed four lots with excessive thymolphthalein and three lots with grossly deficient amounts of TMP. In general, the chromatographic results paralleled those obtained by spectrophotometry, and both results correlated well with enzymic activity. Changing water content in this hygroscopic salt was a major problem, which resulted in great uncertainty as to the formula weight and therefore as to the moles of TMP actually taken. From these studies, specifications for high-quality TMP were determined. The critical importance of simultaneous enzymic activity measurements in comparisons with other "acceptable" lots in defining an adequate TMP substrate is stressed. Use of these specifications for selecting TMP for acid phosphatase activity measurements should improve intra- and inter-laboratory analytical performance.