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  1. KEEP
  2. Theses and Dissertations
  3. Barrett, The Honors College Thesis/Creative Project Collection
  4. DEVELOPMENT OF A BIOSENSOR FOR RAPID DIAGNOSIS OF NAVAJO NEUROHEPATOPATHY
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DEVELOPMENT OF A BIOSENSOR FOR RAPID DIAGNOSIS OF NAVAJO NEUROHEPATOPATHY

Full metadata

Description

MPV17-related hepatocerebral mitochondrial DNA depletion syndrome, previously known as Navajo Neurohepatopathy (NNH), is a rare genetic disease affecting Navajo children of the American Southwest. These children can suffer from several severe symptoms like brain damage and liver disease, and a diagnosis leads to death by age 10, on average. The only known effective therapy for NNH is a liver transplant. Currently, the disease is diagnosed through a lengthy and expensive process of gene sequencing, but oftentimes patients with the most severe forms of NNH deteriorate quickly; thus a rapid diagnostic would be beneficial to beginning the transplant process as early as possible. Here, Tentacle Probes, a novel technology to detect genetic mutations, were proposed to rapidly and accurately diagnose NNH. Because of Tentacle Probes' double binding site kinetics, they can detect mutations more accurately than other types of genetic probes. Probes specific to the NNH mutation were designed for use with a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detection platform. Initial synthetic DNA testing of Tentacle Trobes showed capable differentiation between mutated and non-mutated samples. However, experiments to validate those results at Phoenix Children's Hospital before moving to patient samples showed that test viability decreased over time. Efforts to diagnose the issues that led to decreased viability suggested four possible explanations that are as follows (in order of decreasing likelihood): first, undesired products from improper PCR primer design was supported by double bands in DNA gel electrophoresis; second, DNA may have degraded over time or due to repeated cycles of freezing and thawing stock solutions, and this was supported by smeared DNA gel electrophoresis; third, probe degradation, specifically of the fluorescent reporter, is possible; finally, contaminants that inhibit the PCR reaction may have been introduced. A combination of these factors may also have caused the change in assay viability. As a result of these most likely possibilities, new primers were designed and steps suggested to return viability to the assay. Thus, the various limitations and requirements for this Tentacle Probe diagnostic have been identified, and as assay development continues following the promising initial results achieved, we are confident that a rapid method if diagnosing NNH is on its way to help the children afflicted with this devastating disease receive timely access to treatment.

Date Created
2016-05
Contributors
  • Thompson, Emily Rose (Author)
  • Caplan, Michael (Thesis director)
  • Carpentieri, David (Committee member)
  • School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences (Contributor)
  • Harrington Bioengineering Program (Contributor)
  • Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Topical Subject
  • Diagnostics
  • Pediatrics
  • Genetics
Extent
35 pages
Language
eng
Copyright Statement
In Copyright
Primary Member of
Barrett, The Honors College Thesis/Creative Project Collection
Series
Academic Year 2015-2016
Handle
https://hdl.handle.net/2286/R.I.37451
Level of coding
minimal
Cataloging Standards
asu1
System Created
  • 2017-10-30 02:50:58
System Modified
  • 2021-08-11 04:09:57
  •     
  • 1 year 7 months ago
Additional Formats
  • OAI Dublin Core
  • MODS XML

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