The Use of Molecular Hybridization for Demonstration of Adenoviruses in Human Stools

Abstract

Methods for specific detection of nucleic acids have been available for more than two decades. It is therefore surprising that so few efforts have been made to utilize nucleic acid hybridization techniques for identification and typing of microorganisms. Hybridization is a very sensitive method capable of detecting the presence of less than one viral genome per cell and can furthermore discriminate between very closely related nucleic acids. One advantage with hybridization methods, besides the specificity and the sensitivity, is that very small probes representing only a minor fraction of a viral genome can be used for detection. Moreover, by the use of molecular cloning, specific probes can be obtained in large quantities. One problem yet to be solved concerns the label which is used for detection. Probes radiolabeled with [³²P] have been most widely used so far. One disadvantage with such probes is that they have a comparatively short half-life and moreover, it is unpleasant to work with large quantities of radioactive phosphorus in a routine diagnostic laboratory. Ideally, a completely different type of probe should be developed which is stable and which can be handled without particular safety precautions.