Phylogeography of Francisella tularensis: global expansion of a highly fit clone.

Francisella tularensis contains several highly pathogenic subspecies, including Francisella tularensis subsp. holarctica, whose distribution is circumpolar in the northern hemisphere. The phylogeography of these subspecies and their subclades was examined using whole-genome single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis, high-density microarray SNP genotyping, and real-time-PCR-based canonical SNP (canSNP) assays.

Developmental validation of a single-tube amplification of the 13 CODIS STR loci, D2S1338, D19S433, and amelogenin: the AmpFlSTR Identifiler PCR Amplification Kit.

Analysis of length polymorphism at short tandem repeat (STR) loci utilizing the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) process has proven to be an ideal assay for human identification purposes. The short length of STR loci coupled with the amplification of target sequence through PCR allows for a robust, sensitive, and specific assay for highly polymorphic markers. A multiplex containing fifteen STR loci plus the gender-determining locus Amelogenin was developed to provide a single amplification/detection of all CODIS (Combined DNA Index System) STR loci (CSF1PO, D3S1358, D5S818, D7S820, D8S1179, D13S317, D16S539, D18S51, D21S11, FGA, TH01, TPOX, and vWA) as well as two internationally-accepted STRs (D2S1338 and D19S433).

Development of the AmpFISTR SEfiler PCR amplification kit: a new multiplex containing the highly discriminating ACTBP2 (SE33) locus.

The AmpFISTR SEfiler kit co-amplifies 11 short tandem repeat loci including SE33 in a single multiplex. After establishing the optimum in primer titration studies, the primer concentrations of all loci in the multiplex were chosen such that the heterozygote peak height ratios of each of the loci were balanced. The combined primer set was then tested to determine the robustness of the multiplex under various conditions.

Variation in urine composition in the human urinary tract: evidence of urothelial function in situ?

Purpose: An increased awareness of the concept that the urothelium has a significant transport function led us to question whether urine composition changes as it passes along the human lower urinary tract.

Materials And Methods: Urine samples from the bladder and renal pelvis were collected from 30 adults who underwent percutaneous nephrolithotomy (27) or ureteral stent insertion before lithotripsy (3). Urine was obtained from the 2 renal pelves (operative and contralateral sides) in 6 patients (24%).

The comparison of plasma deproteinization methods for the detection of low-molecular-weight metabolites by (1)H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

Blood plasma is the major vehicle by which metabolites are transported around the body in mammalian species, and chemical analysis of plasma can provide a wealth of information relating to the biochemical status of an individual and is important for diagnostic purposes. However, plasma is very complex in physicochemical terms because it is composed of a range of organic and inorganic constituents with a wide range of molecular weights and chemical classes and this makes analysis non-trivial. It is now well established that high-resolution (1)H NMR spectroscopy of blood plasma provides useful qualitative and quantitative biochemical information relating to metabolic disorders.