Luisa Fernanda López de Mesa Z.UPB – Medicine

2011

ALS is a progressive, fatal, neurodegenerative disease caused by the degeneration of motor neurons, the nerve cells in the central nervous system that control voluntary muscle movement.

The disorder causes muscle weakness and atrophy throughout the body. Affected individuals may ultimately lose the ability to initiate and control all voluntary movement

Endogenous retroviruses sequences in the genome thought to be derived from ancient viral infections of germ cells in humans, mammals and other vertebrates; as such their proviruses are passed on to the next generation and now remain in the genome.

Human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) are suspected of involvement in some autoimmune diseases, in particular with multiple sclerosis.

Using a technique known as polymerase chain reaction, the researchers searched for messenger RNA (mRNA) transcripts from retroviruses, a chemical signature that retroviruses were active in these patients.

The transcripts also came from different tissues in the brain. While patients with ALS tended to have HERV-K transcripts present in areas surrounding the motor cortex of the brain -- the area affected by the disease -- the other patients' transcripts were spread more diffusely through the brain.

Escherichia coli is perhaps the most  studied prokaryotic organism for humans, it’s bacteria usually found in animal intestines, and therefore in the wastewater.

Salmonella is a genus of bacteria  belonging to the  family Enterobacteriaceae, consists of gram-negative rods, facultative anaerobes, with peritrichous flagellathis bacteria don’t develop capsule and spores.

Jenkins and his ARS colleagues combined techniques previously developed to assess water quality and detect pathogens in laboratory settings: a water filtration technique to concentrate the pathogens; a special medium for growing and measuring the number of pathogenic cells; a biochemical testing process; and PCR technology.

PCR has diverse applications Cloning of DNA fragments, secuence detection without preliminary purification, establishment of polimorphisms, numerous diseases diagnosis, and others.

Variations of the method:- Long PCR- Nested PCR- Asymmetric PCR- RT-PCR- RAPD- In situ PCR- Quantitative PCR- PCR-RFLP- SSCP- Real time PCR- HDA- Multiple PCR

PCR is used as a marker of inflammation. Apart from liver failure, there are few known factors involved in the production of PCR. The measurement of PCR can be used to determine progress of disease or the effectiveness of treatment

MARTINEZ SÁNCHEZ, Lina María. Biología molecular. 6. ed. Medellín: UPB. Fac. de Medicina, 2011. 120-121 pp.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/02/110208144124.htm

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/03/110302121911.htm