Surface-Enhanced Raman Gene Probe for HIV Detection

  The Advanced Monitoring Development Group of ORNL's Life Sciences Division, Biochemistry and Biophysics Section, has reported for the first time the use of surface-enhanced Raman (SERS) active labels for primers used in polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of specific target DNA sequences. This method has the potential for combining the spectral selectivity and high sensivitity of the SERS technique with the inherent molecular specificity offered by DNA sequence hybridization. The effectiveness of the detection scheme is demonstrated using the gag gene sequence of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The work was performed by ORNL's Tuan Vo-Dinh and his research associates, postdoctoral fellow Narayana R. Isola and graduate student David L. Stokes. The SERS gene probe technology, which can make use of multiple probes for simultaneous detection of multiple biological targets, is currently developed for improved DNA mapping using BAC close methods.

Contact: Tuan Vo-Dinh
Phone: (423) 574-6249
E-mail: tvo@ornl.gov