Rapid Identification of Four Fusarium spp. Complex by High-Resolution Melting Curve Analysis and their Antifungal Susceptibility Profiles

Fusarium species are globally distributed filamentous ascomycete fungi that are frequently reported as plant pathogens and opportunistic human pathogens, leading to yield loss of crops, mycotoxin contamination of food and feed products as well as damage to human and livestock. Human infections of Fusarium spp. are difficult to treat due to broad antifungal resistance by members of this genus. Their role as disease-causing agents in crops and humans suggests a need for antifungal resistance profiles as well as a simple, rapid, and cost effective identification method. Fusarium strains were isolated from food and clinical samples. High-resolution melting curve (HRM) analysis was performed using specific primers targeting internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region, followed with evaluation of specificity and sensitivity. The antifungal susceptibility of four Fusarium species was studied using the Sensititre YeastOne method. HRM analysis revealed reproducible, unimodal melting profiles specific to each of the four Fusarium strains, while no amplification of the negative controls. The minimum detection limits were 100–120 copies based on a 2 µl volume of template. Clear susceptibility differences were observed against antifungal agents by different Fusarium isolates, with amphotericin B and voriconazole displayed strongest antifungal effects to all the tested strains. We developed a simple, rapid, and low-cost qPCR-HRM method for identification of four Fusarium spp. (F. oxysporum, F. lateritium, F. fujikuroi, and F. solani). The antifungal susceptibility profiles supplied antifungal information of foodborne and clinical Fusarium spp. and provided guidance for clinical treatment of human infections.

     

Rapid Detection and Identification of Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Pathogens in Fish by Using High-Resolution Melting Analysis

Mycobacterial infections in fish are commonly referred to as piscine mycobacteriosis, irrespectively of the specific identity of the causal organism. They usually cause a chronic disease and sometimes may result in high mortalities and severe economic losses. Nearly 20 species of Mycobacterium have been reported to infect fish. Among them, Mycobacterium marinum, M. fortuitum, and M. chelonae are generally considered the major agents responsible for fish mycobacteriosis. As no quick and inexpensive diagnostic test exists, we tested the potential of high-resolution melting analysis (HRMA) to rapidly identify and differentiate several Mycobacterium species involved in fish infections. By analyzing both the melting temperature and melting profile of the 16S-23S rRNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS), we were able to discriminate 12 different species simultaneously. Sensitivity tests conducted on purified M. marinum and M. fortuitum DNA revealed a limit of detection of 10 genome equivalents per reaction. The primers used in this procedure did not lead to any amplification signal with 16 control non-Mycobacterium species, thereby demonstrating their specificity for the genus Mycobacterium.     

凝集素芯片技术检测糖蛋白方法的建立及初步应用

建立了凝集素芯片技术检测糖蛋白的方法,对实验条件进行了优化,应用凝集素芯片初步检测分析了Chang?蒺s liver正常肝细胞总蛋白中的糖蛋白糖链构成．将凝集素ConA、GNA固定于环氧化修饰的玻片表面,用Cy3标记标准糖蛋白RNaseB,利用凝集素识别特异糖链的原理建立凝集素芯片检测糖蛋白的方法．摸索出最佳封闭剂是含1% BSA的磷酸缓冲液,最佳孵育时间及温度为3 h和室温,最佳孵育缓冲液为含1% BSA和0.05% Tween-20的磷酸缓冲液,并用甘露糖抑制实验验证了凝集素芯片结合的特异性．用包含10种凝集素的芯片,成功解析了标准糖蛋白RNaseB、Fetuin的糖链构成,证实了凝集素芯片检测糖蛋白糖链的可行性．最后用凝集素芯片初步检测分析了Chang?蒺s liver正常肝细胞总蛋白中的糖蛋白糖链构成,发现 Chang's liver正常肝细胞总蛋白中的糖蛋白可能有多价 Sia或GlcNAc、terminalα-1,3 mannose、GalNAc、Galβ-1,4GlcNAc这些糖链结构的存在．蛋白质糖基化是一种重要的翻译后修饰,它在微生物感染、细胞分化、肿瘤转移、细胞癌变等生命活动中起着重要作用,因此近年来蛋白质的糖基化研究受到广泛的重视,但由于缺乏一种简便、快速、高通量的检测手段,蛋白质糖基化修饰的研究发展缓慢．凝集素芯片技术的出现实现了对糖蛋白的快速、准确、高通量的检测 分析．     

High-Resolution Melting Curve Analysis for Identification of Pasteurellaceae Species in Experimental Animal Facilities

Pasteurellaceae are among the most prevalent bacterial pathogens isolated from mice housed in experimental animal facilities. Reliable detection and differentiation of Pasteurellaceae are essential for high-quality health monitoring. In this study, we combined a real-time PCR assay amplifying a variable region in the 16S rRNA sequence with high-resolution melting curve analysis (HRM) to identify and differentiate among the commonly isolated species Pasteurella pneumotropica biotypes “Jawetz” and “Heyl”, Actinobacillus muris, and Haemophilus influenzaemurium. We used a set of six reference strains for assay development, with the melting profiles of these strains clearly distinguishable due to DNA sequence variations in the amplicon. For evaluation, we used real-time PCR/HRM to test 25 unknown Pasteurellaceae isolates obtained from an external diagnostic laboratory and found the results to be consistent with those of partial 16S rRNA sequencing. The real-time PCR/HRM method provides a sensitive, rapid, and closed-tube approach for Pasteurellaceae species identification for health monitoring of laboratory mice.     

Rapid Identification of Medically Important Candida Isolates Using High Resolution Melting Analysis

An increasing trend in non albicans infections and various susceptibility patterns to antifungal agents implies a requirement for the quick and reliable identification of a number of medically important Candida species. Real-time PCR followed by high resolution melting analysis (HRMA) was developed, tested on 25 reference Candida collection strains and validated on an additional 143 clinical isolates in this study. All reference strains and clinical isolates inconclusive when using phenotypic methods and/or HRMA were analysed using ITS2 sequencing. Considering reference and clinical strains together, 23 out of 27 Candida species could be clearly distinguished by HRMA, while the remaining 4 species were grouped in 2 pairs, when applying the mean Tm ± 3 SD values, the shape of the derivative melting curve (dMelt curve) and, in some cases, the normalized and temperature—shifted difference plot against C. krusei. HRMA as a simple, rapid and inexpensive tool was shown to be useful in identifying a wide spectrum of clinically important Candida species. It may complement the current clinical diagnostic approach based on commercially available biochemical kits.     

Rapid, Sensitive, and Discriminating Identification of Naegleria spp. by Real-Time PCR and Melting-Curve Analysis

The free-living amoeboflagellate genus Naegleria includes one pathogenic and two potentially pathogenic species (Naegleria fowleri, Naegleria italica, and Naegleria australiensis) plus numerous benign organisms. Monitoring of bathing water, water supplies, and cooling systems for these pathogens requires a timely and reliable method for identification, but current DNA sequence-based methods identify only N. fowleri or require full sequencing to identify other species in the genus. A novel closed-tube method for distinguishing thermophilic Naegleria species is presented, using a single primer set and the DNA intercalating dye SYTO9 for real-time PCR and melting-curve analysis of the 5.8S ribosomal DNA gene and flanking noncoding spacers (ITS1, ITS2). Collection of DNA melting data at close temperature intervals produces highly informative melting curves with one or more recognizable melting peaks, readily distinguished for seven Naegleria species and the related Willaertia magna. Advantages over other methods used to identify these organisms include its comprehensiveness (encompassing all species tested to date), simplicity (no electrophoresis required to verify the product), and sensitivity (unambiguous identification from DNA equivalent to one cell). This approach should be applicable to a wide range of microorganisms of medical importance.     

Improved Protocol for Rapid Identification of Certain Spa Types Using High Resolution Melting Curve Analysis

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most significant pathogens associated with health care. For efficient surveillance, control and outbreak investigation, S. aureus typing is essential. A high resolution melting curve analysis was developed and evaluated for rapid identification of the most frequent spa types found in an Austrian hospital consortium covering 2,435 beds. Among 557 methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates 38 different spa types were identified by sequence analysis of the hypervariable region X of the protein A gene (spa). Identification of spa types through their characteristic high resolution melting curve profiles was considerably improved by double spiking with genomic DNA from spa type t030 and spa type t003 and allowed unambiguous and fast identification of the ten most frequent spa types t001 (58%), t003 (12%), t190 (9%), t041 (5%), t022 (2%), t032 (2%), t008 (2%), t002 (1%), t5712 (1%) and t2203 (1%), representing 93% of all isolates within this hospital consortium. The performance of the assay was evaluated by testing samples with unknown spa types from the daily routine and by testing three different high resolution melting curve analysis real-time PCR instruments. The ten most frequent spa types were identified from all samples and on all instruments with 100% specificity and 100% sensitivity. Compared to classical spa typing by sequence analysis, this gene scanning assay is faster, cheaper and can be performed in a single closed tube assay format. Therefore it is an optimal screening tool to detect the most frequent endemic spa types and to exclude non-endemic spa types within a hospital.     

一种花生快速遗传转化方法的建立与应用

遗传转化是植物基因工程的重要手段。快速、高效地将目的基因导入植物细胞, 并缩短获得转基因后代的时间是遗传转化的关键。花生(Arachis hypogaea)是我国重要的油料及经济作物。目前花生的遗传转化体系尚未完善, 制约着花生的基因功能解析和分子育种进程。该文建立了一套快速、稳定的花生遗传转化体系。通过将农杆菌注射于花生第2茎节的切面获得转化植株, 再将阳性植株进行移栽和回土, 采摘注射点以上的荚果进行后续鉴定与分析。结果表明, 利用该方法可获得40%以上的T₀代嵌合体植株, 约5个月可收获T₀代花生种子, 其中约有9%的T₁代花生植株为非嵌合体的杂合体。针对部分转基因植株结实少的问题, 进一步提出了将快速转化体系与传统组培方法相结合的优化方案。构建的快速转化方法对大蒜(Allium sativum)、马铃薯(Solanum tuberosum)和香雪兰(Freesia refracta)的遗传转化具有潜在应用价值, 对其它植物的遗传转化也有重要参考价值。     

水产品中创伤弧菌DNA环介导恒温扩增快速检测方法的建立及初步应用

创伤弧菌是一种重要的食源性致病菌,主要存在于河口和海洋环境中,严重危害水产养殖业的发展和人类健康。建立快速、准确、易操作的检测方法对防控创伤弧菌的传染,保障水产养殖业发展和增强食品安全意义重大。基于创伤弧菌vvHA基因,利用一种新型的核酸扩增技术-环介导恒温扩增(loop-mediated isothermal amplification,LAMP),建立了创伤弧菌LAMP快速检测方法。对11种共46株细菌进行扩增,仅创伤弧菌为LAMP阳性结果,说明LAMP方法具有高度特异性。灵敏度试验结果表明,对创伤弧菌纯培养菌的检测灵敏度为15CFU/ml,对污染食品中创伤弧菌的检测灵敏度为24CFU/g。此法40~60min内即可完成检测,检验检疫实践证明:LAMP方法操作简便、特异性强、灵敏度高且成本低廉,具有良好的应用前景。     

Incidence of Listeria spp. and Listeria monocytogenes in a Poultry Processing Environment and in Poultry Products and Their Rapid Confirmation by Multiplex PCR

Volume 60, no. 12, p. 4602: Fig. 1 should appear as shown below. FIG. 1. Incidence of L. monocytogenes and other Listeria spp. in a poultry processing environment and in raw and cooked poultry products from March to September 1992. (A) Raw (R) and cooked (C) areas within the processing environment. (B) Raw and cooked poultry products. (box), L. monocytogenes; (box), Listeria spp. (not L. monocytogenes); (symbl), no Listeria spp. [This corrects the article on p. 4600 in vol. 60.].     

Rapid Bovine and Caprine species Identification in Ruminant Feeds by Duplex Real-Time PCR Melting Curve Analysis Using EvaGreen Fluorescence Dye

A duplex real-time PCR assay with melting curve analysis, using the EvaGreen fluorescence dye, was developed for rapid and reliable identification of bovine and caprine in ruminant feeds. The method merges the use of bovine (Bos taurus) and caprine (Capra hircus) specific primers that amplify small fragments (bovine 96 bp and caprine 142 bp) of the mitochondrial 16S rRNA and 12S rRNA genes, respectively. DNA was isolated from heat-treated meats (133 °C/3 bar for 20 min) mixtures of bovine and caprine and was used to optimize the assay. Gene products of caprine and bovine produced two distinct melting peaks simultaneously at 82 and 86.8 °C, respectively. Duplex analysis of the reference samples showed that the detection limit of the assay was 0.003 % for bovine and 0.005 % for caprine species. The aim of this study was to develop a duplex real-time PCR assay followed by a melt curve step for sensitive, rapid, specific, and cost-effective detection of bovine and caprine species based on the amplicon melting peak in ruminant feeds to prevent Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies.     

A Simple One-Step PCR Walking Method and Its Application of Bacterial rRNA for Sequencing Identification

There are many PCR walking methods applied currently, and they all have examples of successful application in organisms which are more complex than bacteria. However, to a certain extent, it will be more convenient for researchers if the complicated operation and poor specificity for bacteria can be improved. Here, we introduced an improved one-step PCR walking method of bacteria. Using a specific primer of the known sequence together with a universal semirandom primer, the unknown sequence adjacent to a known sequence can be obtained easily by just one ordinary round PCR. The products can be gel purified and directly sequenced. Specific primers were designed according to the gene sequence of bacterial rRNA, and the variable and adjacent gene sequences were obtained by this method. The sequence analysis of the product showed that it can improve the resolution of bacterial identification to the species level.     

A Simple One-Step PCR Walking Method and Its Application of Bacterial rRNA for Sequencing Identification

There are many PCR walking methods applied currently, and they all have examples of successful application in organisms which are more complex than bacteria. However, to a certain extent, it will be more convenient for researchers if the complicated operation and poor specificity for bacteria can be improved. Here, we introduced an improved one-step PCR walking method of bacteria. Using a specific primer of the known sequence together with a universal semi-random primer, the unknown sequence adjacent to a known sequence can be obtained easily by just one ordinary round PCR. The products can be gel-purified and directly sequenced. Specific primers were designed according to the gene sequence of bacterial rRNA, and the variable and adjacent gene sequences were obtained by this method. The sequence analysis of the product showed that it can improve the resolution of bacterial identification to the species level.     

脂肪酸组分分析在不动杆菌鉴定中的应用

以不动杆菌属(Acinetobacter)中的A. baumannii、A. haemolyticus、A. johnsonii、A. junii、A. lwoffii模式菌株为参比菌株,对中国农业微生物菌种保藏管理中心(ACCC)所保藏的6株不动杆菌进行脂肪酸组分分析及16S rRNA基因系统进化分析.结果表明,利用脂肪酸分析可将6株菌完全准确地鉴定到属的水平上,这一点与16S rRNA基因分析结果一致;在种的水平上,16S rRNA基因进化分析与脂肪酸组分分析的结果可互为补充,相互印证.同时,通过对不动杆菌部分模式菌株及供试菌株的脂肪酸组分分析,报道了不动杆菌的特征性脂肪酸为C18:1 w9c、C16:00和C16:1w7c/C16:1w6c.     

A Rapid and Simple Method for DNA Engineering Using Cycled Ligation Assembly

DNA assembly techniques have developed rapidly, enabling efficient construction of complex constructs that would be prohibitively difficult using traditional restriction-digest based methods. Most of the recent methods for assembling multiple DNA fragments in vitro suffer from high costs, complex set-ups, and diminishing efficiency when used for more than a few DNA segments. Here we present a cycled ligation-based DNA assembly protocol that is simple, cheap, efficient, and powerful. The method employs a thermostable ligase and short Scaffold Oligonucleotide Connectors (SOCs) that are homologous to the ends and beginnings of two adjacent DNA sequences. These SOCs direct an exponential increase in the amount of correctly assembled product during a reaction that cycles between denaturing and annealing/ligating temperatures. Products of early cycles serve as templates for later cycles, allowing the assembly of many sequences in a single reaction. To demonstrate the method’s utility, we directed the assembly of twelve inserts, in one reaction, into a transformable plasmid. All the joints were precise, and assembly was scarless in the sense that no nucleotides were added or missing at junctions. Simple, efficient, and low-cost cycled ligation assemblies will facilitate wider use of complex genetic constructs in biomedical research.     

Rapid Identification of Viable Bacterial Spores Using a Fluorescence Method

A method has been devised to differentiate viable and nonviable bacterial spores. “Germination-like” changes are initiated in spores with performic acid and lysozyme. The germinated spores are stained with aqueous acridine orange, a fluorescent dye. Nonviable spores fluoresce lemon-green and viable spores orange-red. It is proposed that with the use of a membrane filter resistant to performic acid and lysozyme, the method may be used for spore enumeration in foods in about 4 hr compared to conventional plating methods, which usually require up to 72 hr.     

新型冠状病毒纳米PCR快速检测方法的建立

新型冠状病毒(SARS-CoV-2)感染可导致致命性肺炎,且极具传染性。自2019年年末在我国出现以来,已在全球蔓延。为了建立一种灵敏、快速检测SARS-CoV-2的分子检测方法,本研究使用金纳米颗粒配合普通PCR检测方法,针对SARS-CoV-2核衣壳蛋白建立了SARS-CoV-2 NanoPCR新型分子检测方法。特异性结果显示,该方法对猪流行性腹泻病毒、牛冠状病毒、犬冠状病毒、水貂冠状病毒、猫传染性腹膜炎病毒均无交叉反应,表明该方法的特异性良好。敏感性结果显示,该方法的最低检测量为3.69×10⁴拷贝/μL,高于普通PCR最低检测量10倍,表明该方法的敏感性良好。使用建立的方法对3份临床样品进行检测,该方法与普通PCR方法结果一致,10倍稀释样品后,NanoPCR相比较普通PCR条带仍然具有较高辨识度。综上,本研究建立的灵敏、特异的NanoPCR方法可以对临床样品进行快速诊断和鉴定。     

一种构建新型T载体的简便方法及应用

T载体能够用于PCR产物的快速克隆且易于操作。以常用的克隆载体pGEM-3zf(+)为出发材料,将其进行改造为通用的T载体。通过一步反向PCR方法在该载体中插入带有Xcm I酶切位点的一段序列,在Xcm I酶的切割下产生两端含有T核苷酸的线型核苷酸序列,最终获得用于克隆PCR产物的T载体。外源基因xdh克隆试验表明该载体构建成功,此载体完全可以用于PCR产物的基因克隆试验,为相关载体的改造提供了思路。     

Twelve-Hour PCR-Based Method for Detection of Salmonella spp. in Food

A PCR-based method for the detection of Salmonella spp. in food was developed. The method, set up on typical salami from the Italian region of Marche, is sensitive and specific and shows excellent correlation with the conventional method of reference when naturally contaminated foods are analyzed. Moreover, it can be easily performed within a maximum of 12 h from food sampling, thus allowing prompt detection of Salmonella spp. in the food stocks analyzed.