The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and a molecular beacon probe were used
for the detection of Adenovirus. A 307 bp DNA fragment from a conserved reg
ion of the hexon gene was amplified. The specific molecular beacon was char
acterized with respect to its efficiency of quenching, and signal to noise
ratio by spectrofluorometric analysis of its hybridization with virus specf
ic complementary single stranded oligonucleotide target. Amplification was
carried out in the presence of the molecular beacon probe, and the amplifie
d target was detected by measurement of fluorescence signal in the post PCR
sample. Separately, a P-32-labeled linear probe (having the same sequence
as that of molecular beacon probe) was liquid-phase hybridized with the pro
duct of PCR performed in the absence of the molecular beacon. The virus spe
cific target was then detected by electrophoresis of the hybridized product
in a nondenaturing polyacrylamide gel and subsequent autoradiographic anal
ysis. The detection limit of adenovirus by PCR in the presence of the molec
ular beacon probe was found to be similar to that obtained by labeled linea
r probe hybridization following PCR. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rig
hts reserved.