Rapid detection of glycyrrhizin by immunochromatographic assay

An immunochromatographic assay was developed for detecting glycyrrhizin (1). The qualitative assay is based on a competitive immunoassay using anti-1 monoclonal antibody (MAb) and a detector reagent that contains colloidal gold particles coated with anti-1 MAb. The immunochromatographic strip test, which has a detection limit of 250 ng/mL, is useful as a rapid screening method for detecting glycyrrhizin in plants, biological fluids and food samples.     

Evaluation of rapid immunochromatographic assay kit for HBsAg-screening using whole blood

A rapid immunochromatographic assay kit using whole blood to screen hepatitis B surface antigen was developed and evaluated by using sera from 240 patients. The reference diagnosis was based on the results obtained with GENEDIA Anti-HBs Rapid kit which is very similar to the above kit except for the use of serum. The test demonstrated a good correlation with the reference immunochromatographic assay kit, that is, the sensitivity and the specificity of the kit was 100%, respectively. The rapid test kit using whole blood should be more convenient and useful for the diagnosis of hepatitis B virus because the kit does not need machines and time to prepare serum. In addition, this kit is safe from inadvertent infection during sample treatment because the blood is sterilized with hydrogen peroxide, eliminates the procedure required to prepare serum and reduces the possibility of exposure to infectious agents.     

Differential diagnosis of the infection caused by wild-type or CD2v-deleted ASFV strains by quantum dots-based immunochromatographic assay

African swine fever (ASF), a highly contagious and lethal disease, poses a tremendous threat and burden to the swine industry worldwide. Lack of available vaccines or treatments leaves rapid diagnosis as the key tool to control the disease. Quantum dots (QDs) are unique fluorescent semiconductor nanoparticles, highly versatile for biological applications. In this study, we developed a quantum dots-based fluorescent immunochromatographic assay (QDs-FICA) using CD2v as the diagnosis antigen to detect ASFV antibodies. The titre of the test strip was 1 : 5·12 × 10⁵. In addition, the strip was highly specific to anti-ASFV serum and had no cross-reaction with CSFV, PPV, PRRSV, PCV-2, PRV and FMDV. Moreover, a comparative test of 71 clinical samples showed that the coincidence rate was 85·92% between the test strip and the commercial ELISA kit (coated with p30, p62 and p72). The QDs-FICA can be used to detect ASFV antibodies, which is meaningful for the surveillance, control and purification of ASF.     

A sensitive immunochromatographic assay using gold nanoparticles for the semiquantitative detection of prostate-specific antigen in serum

In prostate cancer screening, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) has been utilized as a valuable biomarker. There are routinely used procedures based on enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for PSA detection. The procedures based on ELISA, however, are time consuming, complicated, and costly. We have developed a rapid, very simple, cost effective and sensitive immunochromatographic assay using gold nanoparticles and evaluated its applications for first screening of prostate cancer in serum samples. The sensitive immunochromatographic assay requires only 40 μL of the serum sample. The assay used is rapid and simple, that it totally takes approx 15 min to complete. The method for sensitive immunochromatographic assay has the other advantage of decreasing the antibody concentration that is used for the test line. In this study, we show the advantage to decrease the antibody concentration and the evaluation of our sensitive immunochromatographic assay for the semiquantitative detection of PSA in serum. The results obtained from 163 serum samples using sensitive immunochromatographic assay are compared with the results obtained using the chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay (CLEIA) and normal immunochromatographic assay. The results obtained in the sensitive immunochromatographic assay correlated well with the values obtained in CLEIA. We concluded that our sensitive immunochromatographic assay is applicable to the first screening test for the diagnosis of prostate cancer. Our developed sensitive immunochromatographic assay is a promising candidate for diagnosis or research use, which may become commercially available in the near future.     

Convenient genotyping of six myostatin mutations causing double-muscling in cattle using a multiplex oligonucleotide ligation assay

We herein describe a procedure that allows for simultaneous genotyping of six loss-of-function mutations in the bovine myostatin gene associated with the double-muscling phenotype. The proposed method relies on a multiplex oligonucleotide ligation assay and detection of the fluorescently labelled products using automatic sequencers.     

基于量子点标记的赭曲霉毒素A快速、高灵敏荧光免疫层析检测方法的建立及应用

赭曲霉毒素A（ochratoxin A,OTA）具有肾毒性、致畸性、致癌性和免疫毒性,广泛存在于各种粮食作物及其副产品中,是食品和饲料原料的重要污染物,可在人类及动物体内蓄积,在已知发现的真菌毒素中,重要性和危害性仅次于黄曲霉毒素。本研究通过采用量子点荧光微球（quantum dots,QDs）标记OTA单克隆抗体,并基于免疫层析原理,优化、建立了OTA高灵敏荧光免疫层析检测方法（FICGA）,15min即可实现对农产品中OTA污染的快速定量检测。该方法检测下限（IC₁₀）达到0.04ng/mL,检测区间（IC₂₀-IC₈₀）为0.05-0.59ng/mL,半数抑制率（IC₅₀）为0.18ng/mL。与OTA类似物OTB、OTC交叉反应性为7.3%和11.9%,对其他常见真菌毒素AFB₁、ZEN、FB₁和DON均无交叉反应。在玉米、面粉和大豆样本中的加标回收率可达83.2%-117.8%,与LC-MS/MS同时对天然样本中OTA含量的检测结果表明,两种方法相关性良好。本研究建立的FICGA快速、灵敏,可满足基层单位和现场的快速检测需求,具有很好的应用前景。     

Diagnostic reliability of an immunochromatographic test for Chagas disease screening at a primary health care centre in a rural endemic area

Many patients with Chagas disease live in remote communities that lack both equipment and trained personnel to perform a diagnosis by conventional serology (CS). Thus, reliable tests suitable for use under difficult conditions are required. In this study, we evaluated the ability of personnel with and without laboratory skills to perform immunochromatographic (IC) tests to detect Chagas disease at a primary health care centre (PHCC). We examined whole blood samples from 241 patients and serum samples from 238 patients. Then, we calculated the percentage of overall agreement (POA) between the two groups of operators for the sensitivity (S), specificity (Sp) and positive (PPV) and negative (NPV) predictive values of IC tests compared to CS tests. We also evaluated the level of agreement between ELISAs and indirect haemagglutination (IHA) tests. The readings of the IC test results showed 100% agreement (POA = 1). The IC test on whole blood showed the following values: S = 87.3%; Sp = 98.8%; PPV = 96.9% and NPV = 95.9%. Additionally, the IC test on serum displayed the following results: S = 95.7%; Sp = 100%; PPV = 100% and NPV = 98.2%. Using whole blood, the agreement with ELISA was 96.3% and the agreement with IHA was 94.1%. Using serum, the agreement with ELISA was 97.8% and the agreement with IHA was 96.6%. The IC test performance with serum samples was excellent and demonstrated its usefulness in a PHCC with minimal equipment. If the IC test S value and NPV with whole blood are improved, then this test could also be used in areas lacking laboratories or specialised personnel.     

Identification of New World Leishmania species from Peru by biochemical techniques and multiplex PCR assay

We have characterized diverse strains or species of Leishmania isolated in humans that are currently circulating throughout Peru, by means of isoenzymatic characterization, kDNA analysis by restriction enzymes, and multiplex PCR assay. The cluster analysis gave five groups. Cluster 1 includes L. (L.) donovani together with the isolates LP4 and LP7, forming the donovani complex. Thus, this complex corresponds to the New World visceral form, L. (L.) chagasi. Cluster 2 is formed by the isolates LP1-LP3, LP6, LP10, LP9, and LP11, phylogenetically intermediate between Cluster 1 and Cluster 3, or they can be treated as hybrids. Cluster 3 is divided into two subgroups: one formed by L. (V.) peruviana, together with the isolates LP14 and LP5, and the second one formed by L. (V.) brazilensis and the isolate LP8. These two subgroups form part of the brazilensis complex. The three strains of L. (L.) infantum [L. (L.) infantum I and II and la LSI] make up Cluster 4. In Cluster 5, we include the three Mexican strains (LM1-LM3) forming one subgroup while we would place L. (L.) amazonensis in another subgroup. These two subgroups would comprise the complex mexicana.     

多重PCR快速检测化妆品中三种致病菌的研究

利用多重PCR技术建立快速检测化妆品中三种致病菌的方法。根据已报道的大肠杆菌phoA基因、铜绿假单胞菌外膜蛋白基因oprL和金黄色葡萄球菌特异性序列SmaI选择特异性引物,对人工染菌化妆品进行多重PCR检测。结果显示,三种致病菌的基因组DNA均可与各自引物特异性结合,扩增产物大小分别为622 bp、504 bp和426 bp。该方法用于人工污染的化妆品中,大肠杆菌的检出限浓度为103 CFU/mL,铜绿假单胞菌和金黄色葡萄球菌的检出限浓度为105 CFU/mL。作者建立的多重PCR方法可同时快速、特异地对化妆品中三种致病菌进行检测,在化妆品行业具有较大的应用价值。     

Simultaneous detection of major blackleg and soft rot bacterial pathogens in potato by multiplex polymerase chain reaction

A multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for simultaneous, fast and reliable detection of the main soft rot and blackleg potato pathogens in Europe has been developed. It utilises three pairs of primers and enables detection of three groups of pectinolytic bacteria frequently found in potato, namely: Pectobacterium atrosepticum, Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum together with Pectobacterium wasabiae and Dickeya spp. in a multiplex PCR assay. In studies with axenic cultures of bacteria, the multiplex assay was specific as it gave positive results only with strains of the target species and negative results with 18 non‐target species of bacteria that can possibly coexist with pectinolytic bacteria in a potato ecosystem. The developed assay could detect as little as 0.01 ng µL^–1 of Dickeya sp. genomic DNA, and down to 0.1 ng µL^–1 of P. atrosepticum and P. carotovorum subsp. carotovorum genomic DNA in vitro. In the presence of competitor genomic DNA, isolated from Pseudomonas fluorescens cells, the sensitivity of the multiplex PCR decreased tenfold for P. atrosepticum and Dickeya sp., while no change was observed for P. carotovorum subsp. carotovorum and P. wasabiae. In spiked potato haulm and tuber samples, the threshold level for target bacteria was 10¹ cfu mL^–1 plant extract (10² cfu g^–1 plant tissue), 10² cfu mL^–1 plant extract (10³ cfu g^–1 plant tissue), 10³ cfu mL^–1 plant extract (10⁴ cfu g^–1 plant tissue), for Dickeya spp., P. atrosepticum and P. carotovorum subsp. carotovorum/P. wasabiae, respectively. Most of all, this assay allowed reliable detection and identification of soft rot and blackleg pathogens in naturally infected symptomatic and asymptomatic potato stem and progeny tuber samples collected from potato fields all over Poland.     

Development and evaluation of a multiplex PCR for simultaneous detection of five foodborne pathogens

Aims: To develop a rapid multiplex PCR method for simultaneous detection of five major foodborne pathogens (Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella Enteritidis and Shigella flexneri, respectively). Methods and Results: Amplification by PCR was optimized to obtain high efficiency. Sensitivity and specificity assays were investigated by testing different strains. With a multipathogen enrichment, multiplex PCR assay was able to simultaneously detect all of the five organisms in artificially contaminated pork samples. The developed method was further applied to retail meat samples, of which 80% were found to be positive for one or more of these five organisms. All the samples were confirmed by traditional culture methods for each individual species. Conclusions: This study reported a rapid multiplex PCR assay using five primers sets for detection of multiple pathogens. Higher consistency was obtained between the results of multiplex PCR and traditional culture methods. Significance and Impact of the Study: This work has developed a reliable, useful and cost‐effective multiplex PCR method. The assay performed equally as well as the traditional cultural method and facilitated the sensitive detection both in artificially contaminated and naturally contaminated samples.     

Rapid detection and differentiation of Erysipelothrix spp. by a novel multiplex real‐time PCR assay

Aim: The aim of this study was to develop a multiplex real‐time PCR assay for the identification and discrimination of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae, tonsillarum and Erysipelothrix sp. strain 2 for direct detection of Erysipelothrix spp. from animal specimens. Methods and Results: A primer set and three species‐specific probes with different end labelling were designed from the noncoding region downstream of the 5S rRNA coding region. The sensitivity, specificity and repeatability of the assay were validated by analysing 27 Erysipelothrix spp. reference serotype strains and ten septicemia‐associated non‐Erysipelothrix spp. bacterial isolates. Cross‐reactivity with Erysipelothrix sp. strain 1 was not observed with any of the primer probe combinations. The detection limit was determined to be <10 colony forming units and as low as one genome equivalent per PCR . Further evaluation of the Erysipelothrix spp. multiplex PCR was performed by comparing an enrichment isolation culture method and a conventional differential PCR on 15 samples from pigs experimentally inoculated with Erysipelothrix spp. and 22 samples from pigs with suspected natural infection. Conclusion: The multiplex real‐time PCR assay was found to be simple, rapid, reliable, specific and highly sensitive. Significance and Impact of the Study: The developed real‐time multiplex PCR assay does not require cumbersome and lengthy cultivation steps prior to DNA extraction, obtained comparable results to enrichment isolation, and will be useful in diagnostic laboratories for rapid detection of Erysipelothrix spp.     

Simultaneous detection of Carnobacterium and Leuconostoc in meat products by multiplex PCR

AIMS: To develop a multiplex PCR approach for simultaneous detection of Leuconostoc and Carnobacterium and its validation in meat products. METHODS AND RESULTS: Two multiplex PCR assays were developed using newly designed 16S rDNA-directed primers adapted to the current taxonomic situation of genera Leuconostoc and Carnobacterium that allow: (i) simultaneous detection of both genera, and members of the nonmotile species of genus Carnobacterium and (ii) identification in a single assay of the nonmotile species C. divergens, C. maltaromicum and C. gallinarum. Sensitivity values of 10(3) and 10(4) CFU g(-1) were determined for multiplex PCR detection of Carnobacterium and Leuconostoc, respectively, following artificially inoculated meat trials. In addition, both multiplex PCR assays were validated in 14 naturally contaminated samples covering nine types of meat products. Results obtained by colony identification were confirmed by PCR detection. CONCLUSIONS: The methods described in this study provide a rapid and reliable tool for PCR detection of Carnobacterium and Leuconostoc, in meat products, and for colony identification. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This multiplex PCR approach will help in the analysis of the spoilage microbiota of refrigerated vacuum-packaged meat product in order to determine the appropriate preservation method.     

一步多重PCR同时检测甲型肝炎和脊髓灰质炎病毒研究

建立的一步ＰＣＲ方法即反转录和ＰＣＲ在同一管中进行,同时检测甲型肝炎和脊髓灰质炎病毒病毒ＲＮＡ。实验中对不同的反转录温度以及一步多重ＰＣＲ的特异性和灵敏度进行了探讨。结果表明：４２℃、５０℃反转录时ｐｏｌｉｏ有非特异性条带出现,６０℃反转录特异性较好,而ＨＡＶ在三种不同的反转录温度下均得到牧场划性较好的条带;应用一步ＰＣＲ同时检测两种病毒与检测单一病毒的灵敏度基本一致,但在同等反应条件下后者的反应效率高于前者,特别是在检测ＨＡＶ时。     

基于组合胶体金纳米颗粒的免疫层析试纸条快速可视化检测海产品中副溶血性弧菌

本研究以野生型副溶血性弧菌(Vibrio parahaemolyticus)为免疫原制备单克隆抗体,并以组合胶体金纳米粒子(CP-AuNPs)为抗体标记探针,开发了一种基于双抗体夹心原理的可视化快速检测副溶血性弧菌的免疫层析试纸条方法.该方法被应用于梅子鱼、鲜虾、白蛤等海产品中副溶血性弧菌的检测,具有特异性强、检测时间...     

Simultaneous detection of Aeromonas salmonicida,Flavobacterium psychrophilum,and Yersinia ruckeri,three major fish pathogens,by multiplex PCR

A multiplex PCR assay based on the 16S rRNA genes was developed for the simultaneous detection of three major fish pathogens, Aeromonas salmonicida, Flavobacterium psychrophilum, and Yersinia ruckeri. The assay proved to be specific and as sensitive as each single PCR assay, with detection limits in the range of 6, 0.6, and 27 CFU for A. salmonicida, F. psychrophilum, and Y. ruckeri, respectively. The assay was useful for the detection of the bacteria in artificially infected fish as well as in fish farm outbreaks. Results revealed that this multiplex PCR system permits a specific, sensitive, reproducible, and rapid method for the routine laboratory diagnosis of infections produced by these three bacteria.