Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization Applications in Pathogen Detection
Summary
Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) is a culture‐independent molecular technique that employs fluorescently labelled nucleic acid probes to detect and localise specific microbial sequences directly within cells, tissues or environmental samples. By targeting conserved regions of ribosomal RNA or unique genomic loci, FISH enables species‐ or even strain‐level discrimination and quantification of pathogens. Its capacity to visualise pathogens in situ preserves spatial context, revealing host–pathogen interactions, biofilm architecture and the organisation of polymicrobial communities. Recent innovations include multiplex FISH panels for simultaneous detection of several taxa, signal amplification strategies to improve sensitivity towards low‐abundance organisms and integration with automated image analysis and microfluidic platforms for high‐throughput screening. Across clinical diagnostics, food safety and environmental monitoring, FISH has become a valuable tool for rapid pathogen identification, emerging‐pathogen surveillance and evaluation of antimicrobial efficacy. Ongoing challenges include optimizing probe permeability in complex matrices and enhancing signal‐to‐noise ratios in low‐biomass specimens, but advances in probe chemistry and imaging instrumentation continue to extend the technique’s utility.
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Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization Applications in Pathogen Detection publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in fluorescence in situ hybridization applications in pathogen detection across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH): A molecular technique using fluorescently labelled probes to bind specific nucleic acid sequences within intact cells or tissue sections, allowing direct visualisation of microorganisms under a fluorescence microscope.
Probe: A short, single‐stranded nucleic acid fragment labelled with a fluorophore, designed to hybridise selectively to a complementary target sequence.
16S ribosomal RNA (16S rRNA): A component of the prokaryotic ribosome frequently used as a phylogenetic marker due to its combination of conserved and variable regions that enable accurate bacterial identification.
References
- Development of Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization as a Rapid, Accurate Method for Detecting Coliforms in Water Samples. Biosensors (2020).
- Hibridização in situ fluorescente para diagnóstico de Brachyspira hyodysenteriae e B. pilosicoli em suínos. Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira (2017).
- Applications of Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). Bioengineering Studies (2021).
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