Development and validation of an allele-specific PCR assay for genotyping a promoter and exonic single nucleotide polymorphisms of MGMT gene.

DNA repair protein -methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) specifically remove the methyl/alkyl group from the -position of guanine and restore the guanine to its normal form without causing DNA strand breaks. Relationship between MGMT activity and resistance to alkylating therapeutic agents is well established. Non-availability of simple, cost-effective and efficient methods of genotyping may hinder investigations on genotype-phenotype associations.

Pharmacogenetic aspects of drug metabolizing enzymes in busulfan based conditioning prior to allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in children.

Allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is a well established but complex treatment option for malignant and non-malignant disorders in pediatric patients. Most commonly used myeloablative and non-myeloablative conditioning regimens in children comprise alkylating agents, such as busulfan (BU) and cyclophosphamide. Inter-individual variability in the pharmacokinetics of BU can result in altered conditioning of the patient and therefore lead to relapse or rejection due to under exposures, or occurrence of toxicities due to over exposures.

Validation of SYBR Green based quantification assay for the detection of human Torque Teno virus titers from plasma.

Background: Quantification of titers of ubiquitous viruses such as Torque teno virus (TTV) that do not cause clinical symptoms might be helpful in assessing the immune status of an individual. We hereby describe the validation of a SYBR Green-based TTV quantification method for plasma samples.

Methods: Plasmids with TTV specific inserts were used for preparing standards and absolute quantification of TTV was performed using SYBR Green methodology.

Dihydropteroate synthase (DHPS) gene mutation study in HIV-Infected Indian patients with Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia.

Introduction: Pneumocystis jirovecii dihydropteroate synthase (DHPS) gene mutations' (55th and 57th codon) association with prior sulfa prophylaxis failure has been reported from both developed and developing countries. We conducted a prospective study to determine the prevalence of P. jirovecii DHPS mutations from 2006 to 2009 on P.