{"title":"Conferring the Midas Touch on Integrative Taxonomy: A Nanogold-Oligonucleotide Conjugate-Based Quick Species Identification Tool","authors":"Rahul Kumar, Ajay Kumar Sharma","doi":"10.1155/2022/1009066","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"Nanogold or functionalized gold nanoparticles (GNPs) have myriad applications in medical sciences. GNPs are widely used in the area of nanodiagnostics and nanotherapeutics. Applications of GNPs in taxonomic studies have not been studied vis-à-vis its extensive medical applications. GNPs have great potential in the area of integrative taxonomy. We have realized that GNPs can be used to visually detect animal species based on molecular signatures. In this regard, we have synthesized gold nanoparticles (<20 nm) and have developed a method based on interactions between thiolated DNA oligonucleotides and small-sized GNPs, interactions between DNA oligonucleotides and target DNA molecules, and self-aggregating properties of small-sized GNPs under high salt concentrations leading to a visible change in colour. Exploiting these intermolecular and interparticle interactions under aqueous conditions, in the present work, we have demonstrated the application of our procedure by using a DNA oligonucleotide probe designed against a portion of the mitochondrial genome of the codling moth Cydia pomonella. This method is accurate, quick, and easy to use once devised and can be used as an additional tool along with DNA barcoding. This tool can be used for distinguishing cryptic species, identification of morphovariants of known species, diet analysis, and identification of pest species in quarantine facilities without any need of performing repetitive DNA sequencing. We suggest that designing and selecting a highly specific DNA probe is crucial in increasing the specificity of the procedure. Present work may be considered as an effort to introduce nanotechnology as a new discipline to the extensive field of integrative taxonomy with which disciplines like palaeontology, embryology, anatomy, ethology, ecology, biochemistry, and molecular biology are already associated for a long time.","PeriodicalId":43584,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Ecology & Development","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.2000,"publicationDate":"2022-08-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"International Journal of Ecology & Development","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/1009066","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q4","JCRName":"ECOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Nanogold or functionalized gold nanoparticles (GNPs) have myriad applications in medical sciences. GNPs are widely used in the area of nanodiagnostics and nanotherapeutics. Applications of GNPs in taxonomic studies have not been studied vis-à-vis its extensive medical applications. GNPs have great potential in the area of integrative taxonomy. We have realized that GNPs can be used to visually detect animal species based on molecular signatures. In this regard, we have synthesized gold nanoparticles (<20 nm) and have developed a method based on interactions between thiolated DNA oligonucleotides and small-sized GNPs, interactions between DNA oligonucleotides and target DNA molecules, and self-aggregating properties of small-sized GNPs under high salt concentrations leading to a visible change in colour. Exploiting these intermolecular and interparticle interactions under aqueous conditions, in the present work, we have demonstrated the application of our procedure by using a DNA oligonucleotide probe designed against a portion of the mitochondrial genome of the codling moth Cydia pomonella. This method is accurate, quick, and easy to use once devised and can be used as an additional tool along with DNA barcoding. This tool can be used for distinguishing cryptic species, identification of morphovariants of known species, diet analysis, and identification of pest species in quarantine facilities without any need of performing repetitive DNA sequencing. We suggest that designing and selecting a highly specific DNA probe is crucial in increasing the specificity of the procedure. Present work may be considered as an effort to introduce nanotechnology as a new discipline to the extensive field of integrative taxonomy with which disciplines like palaeontology, embryology, anatomy, ethology, ecology, biochemistry, and molecular biology are already associated for a long time.
期刊介绍:
The main aim of the International Journal of Ecology & Development (IJED) is to publish refereed, well-written original research articles, and studies that describe the latest research and developments in ecology and development. It also covers the many potential applications and connections to other areas of Ecological Science, economics and technology such as the use and development of mathematics/statistics in ecology or use and development of economics for ecology & development or inter-disciplinary nature of applications for Ecology & Development. International Journal of Ecology and Development is published three issues in a year in Winter, Summer and Fall.