Previous Talks

See abstracts from previous talks dating back to 2003.

Talks and Posters


August 31 - September 3, 2009
6th Early Detection Research Network (EDRN) Scientific Workshop
Bethesda, MD

Clinically-Compatible LATE-PCR Method for Detection of Loss of Heterozygosity (LOH) in Human Neoplasias

Overview: LOH involving tumor suppressor genes occur in human cancers and LOH in premalignant cells potentially provides diagnostic biomarkers of future cancer risk.  However, conventional laboratory methods for detection of LOH are too complex and labor-intensive for routine clinical use.  We have devised a clinically-compatible strategy for convenient detection of LOH based on LATE-PCR.  LATE-PCR LOH assays are remarkably easy-to-use, sensitive, and robust.

See Oral Presentation Abstract

October 14-16, 2009
Centers of Excellence in Genomic Science Seventh Annual Grantee Meeting
National Human Genome Research Institute
 National Institutes of Health
HudsonAlpha Institute
Jackson Conference Center
Huntsville, AL

LATE-PCR and Allied Technologies for Analysis of Genetic Heterogeneity in Single Cells & Single DNA Molecules



October 20-25, 2009
Overcoming the Crisis of TB and AIDS
Keystone Symposia Global Health Series
Arusha, Tanzania

Overview: We developed Lights-On/Lights-Off Probes in order to interrogate long stretches of a DNA sequence, such as at the RRDR region of the /rpoB/ gene, using only a single fluorescent color.  The Lights-On Probe is a low temperature molecular beacon probe.  It has a fluorophore and a quencher and it generates a signal when it binds to its target.  A Lights-Off probe has a quencher, but does not have a fluorophore.  The binding site of the Lights-Off Probes is adjacent to that of the Lights-On Probe.  In general terms, when the detection temperature is gradually lowered at the end of amplification the Lights-On Probe binds to its target first and fluoresces and then the Lights-Off probe binds to the target and quenches fluorescence from the adjacently bound Lights-On Probe.  Mutations under the Lights-On probe decrease the temperature at which the signal first appears, while mutations under the Lights-Off probe decrease the temperature at which the signal disappears.  In order to guarantee the reliability of the system, the concentrations of both probes are matched to the concentration of the target sequence and the concentration of the Lights-Off probe is added in two-fold excess over the concentration of the Lights-On probe.

June 17-20, 2009
14th International Symposium for the World Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians
Madrid, Spain

A Highly Multiplexed Single-Tube RT-LATE-PCR Assay for the Detection of H5N1 and Other Subtypes of Influenza Virus in the Lab or in the Field.

Cristina Hartshorn, Arthur H. Reis, Bonnie Ronish, and Lawrence J. Wangh

Our goal over the past two years has been to use LATE-PCR to construct a highly multiplexed single-tube assay that can rapidly distinguish between several high-pathogenic (HPA) and low-pathogenic (LPA) subtypes of Avian Influenza (AI), as well as Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV) if AI is not present.

See Abstract PDF