Detection and Identification of Viroids by Microarrays

Microarrays are an emerging methodology in viroid detection and identification. The principle is the hybridization of fluorescently labeled sequences (targets) to complementary probe sequences immobilized on a solid surface. The process includes probe development, array fabrication, target preparation, hybridization, washing, scanning, and interpretation of results. Probe design and labeling of the target are the key steps in detection and identification of viroids by microarrays. The main advantage of this methodology is the opportunity to detect many viroids simultaneously. Microarrays may be viroid-specific, or may be used for broad-spectrum screening with the use of genus-level probes, the latter being suitable for detecting newly emerging viroids, or established viroids occurring in new host or geographical regions.