NASBA: A detection and amplification system uniquely suited for RNA

Journal Article · Thu Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1995 · Bio/Technology

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1038/nbt0695-563· OSTI ID:136216

Sooknanan, R; Malek, L T ^[1]

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1. Cangen, Ontario (Canada)

The invention of PCR (polymerase chain reaction) has revolutionized our ability to amplify and manipulate a nucleic acid sequence in vitro. The commercial rewards of this revolution have driven the development of other nuclei acid amplification and detection methodologies. This has created an alphabet soup of technologies that use different amplification methods, including NASBA (nucleic acid sequence-based amplification), LCR (ligase chain reaction), SDA (strand displacement amplification), QBR (Q-beta replicase), CPR (cycling probe reaction), and bDNA (branched DNA). Despite the differences in their processes, these amplification systems can be separated into two broad categories based on how they achieve their goal: sequence-based amplification systems, such as PCR, NASBA, and SDA, amplify a target nucleic acid sequence. Signal-based amplification systems, such as LCR, QBR, CPR and bDNA, amplify or alter a signal from a detection reaction that is target-dependent. While the various methods have relative strengths and weaknesses, only NASBA offers the unique ability to homogeneously amplify an RNA analyte in the presence of homologous genomic DNA under isothermal conditions. Since the detection of RNA sequences almost invariably measures biological activity, it is an excellent prognostic indicator of activities as diverse as virus production, gene expression, and cell viability. The isothermal nature of the reaction makes NASBA especially suitable for large-scale manual screening. These features extend NASBA`s application range from research to commercial diagnostic applications. Field test kits are presently under development for human diagnostics as well as the burgeoning fields of food and environmental diagnostic testing. These developments suggest future integration of NASBA into robotic workstations for high-throughput screening as well. 17 refs., 1 tab.

• OSTI ID: 136216
• Journal Information: Bio/Technology, Journal Name: Bio/Technology Journal Issue: 6 Vol. 13; ISSN 0733-222X; ISSN BTCHDA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

55 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
BASIC STUDIES
ANIMAL CELLS
AUTOMATION
BIOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS
DESIGN
DETECTION
DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES
DNA
DNA HYBRIDIZATION
DNA SEQUENCING
GENE AMPLIFICATION
GENE REGULATION
GENES
NUCLEIC ACIDS
POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTION
RNA
TRANSCRIPTION
VIRUSES