Development of a Novel Oligonucleotide Array for Genomic Screening of Chemical Warfare Agent Exposure in Guinea Pigs and Swine

摘要

Oligonucleotide microarrays have become a valuable tool in understanding the mechanism of toxicity of chemical warfare agents. However, several model organisms used in the study of chemical warfare agent toxicity are not widely used as genetic models in molecular and cellular biology. These include guinea pigs and swine, which are used in the study of chemical warfare nerve agents and vesicants, respectively. To address this gap in research tools, we have developed an oligonucleotide microarray that contains representative genes from guinea pig (Caviaporcellus) and swine (Sus scrofa). This oligonucleotide array (genechip) has been designed, produced and tested and is now available as a research tool for investigators seeking to understand the molecular responses to chemical warfare agents to facilitate the development of medical countermeasures against these agents.