'Bioluminescent' reporter phage for the detection of Category A bacterial pathogens

Yersinia pestis and Bacillus anthracis are Category A bacterial pathogens that are the causative agents of the plague and anthrax, respectively. Although the natural occurrence of both diseases' is now relatively rare, the possibility of terrorist groups using these pathogens as a bioweapon is real. Because of the disease's inherent communicability, rapid clinical course, and high mortality rate, it is critical that an outbreak be detected quickly. Therefore methodologies that provide rapid detection and diagnosis are essential to ensure immediate implementation of public health measures and activation of crisis management. Recombinant reporter phage may provide a rapid and specific approach for the detection of Y. pestis and B. anthracis. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention currently use the classical phage lysis assays for the confirmed identification of these bacterial pathogens. These assays take advantage of naturally occurring phage which are specific and lytic for their bacterial hosts. After overnight growth of the cultivated bacterium in the presence of the specific phage, the formation of plaques (bacterial lysis) provides a positive identification of the bacterial target. Although these assays are robust, they suffer from three shortcomings: 1) they are laboratory based; 2) they require bacterial isolation and cultivation from the suspected sample, and 3) they take 24-36 h to complete. To address these issues, recombinant "light-tagged" reporter phage were genetically engineered by integrating the Vibrio harveyi luxAB genes into the genome of Y. pestis and B. anthracis specific phage. The resulting luxAB reporter phage were able to detect their specific target by rapidly (within minutes) and sensitively conferring a bioluminescent phenotype to recipient cells. Importantly, detection was obtained either with cultivated recipient cells or with mock-infected clinical specimens. For demonstration purposes, here we describe the method for the phage-mediated detection of a known Y. pestis isolate using a luxAB reporter phage constructed from the CDC plague diagnostic phage ΦA1122 (Figure 1). A similar method, with minor modifications (e.g. change in growth temperature and media), may be used for the detection of B. anthracis isolates using the B. anthracis reporter phage Wβ::luxAB. The method describes the phage-mediated transduction of a biolumescent phenotype to cultivated Y. pestis cells which are subsequently measured using a microplate luminometer. The major advantages of this method over the traditional phage lysis assays is the ease of use, the rapid results, and the ability to test multiple samples simultaneously in a 96-well microtiter plate format. Figure 1. Detection schematic. The phage are mixed with the sample, the phage infects the cell, luxAB are expressed, and the cell bioluminesces. Sample processing is not necessary; the phage and cells are mixed and subsequently measured for light.     

A globotriaosylceramide (Gb3Cer) mimic peptide isolated from phage display library expressed strong neutralization to Shiga toxins

A Gb3-trisaccharide mimic peptide was selected with biopanning from a phage display library against anti-Gb3 antibody to neutralize Shiga toxins (Stxs). Biopanning was carried out on a microplate immobilized with a Fab fragment of anti-Gb3 antibody and a subtraction procedure screening was applied to enhance specificity. The selected phage clones showed strong affinity to anti-Gb3 antibody and to Stxs. Among these clones, a 9-mer sequence WHWTWLSEY was determined as the strongest Gb3 mimic peptide and chemically synthesized. The peptide bound strongly to Stx-1 and Stx-2, though the binding was inhibited with Gb3Cer. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and fluorescent spectroscopy determined that the affinity of the peptide to both Stxs was strong. Neutralization activity was confirmed by in vitro assay with HeLa cells. The Gb3 mimic peptide potentially has great promise for use against Stxs.     

从抗TNF抗体的CDR肽库中获得拮抗TNF的短肽

为设计来自抗体的短肽 ,以抗肿瘤坏死因子 (TNF)嵌合抗体 (cA2 )CDRs为模板 ,在其两侧各加 3个随机氨基酸残基 ( X3 CDR X3 ) ,构建了 6个以CDR为基础的肽库 .经过 3轮亲和选择 ,挑取单克隆 ,进一步经ELISA检测TNF阳性噬菌体克隆 ,分离得到 7个ELISA阳性较好的噬菌体肽克隆 ,分别命名为CDR2L1、CDR2L2、CDR2L3、CDR1L1、CDR2H1、CDR3H1、CDR3H 2 .应用MTT方法 ,检测 7个克隆对TNF生物学活性的拮抗作用 .结果显示 :来自CDR2L ,CDR3H肽库中的CDR2L2、CDR2L3,CDR3H2噬菌体肽具有明显的拮抗TNF诱导L92 9细胞的细胞毒作用 ,其中以CDR2L2噬菌体肽的拮抗活性最强 .而来源于CDR1L ,CDR2H肽库的CDR1L1和CDR2H1噬菌体肽和来自CDR2L ,CDR3H肽库中的CDR2L1和CDR3H1噬菌体肽没有明显的拮抗TNF作用 .研究结果初步表明 :从cA2抗体CDR肽库中筛选得到的噬菌体CDR模拟肽具有亲本抗体相似的结合活性和生物学效应 ,从而为开发已知抗体 (特别是治疗用抗体 )CDR为基础的肽药物创建一个技术平台奠定基础     

Determination of bacterially derived auxins using a microplate method

Rapid and efficient methods for determining the ability of soil and rhizosphere bacteria to produce key metabolites which are useful in growth promotion or suppression of plant growth are needed. A microplate method was developed and compared to a standard method for assays of auxin compounds produced by bacteria. The microplate method was similar to the standard method in accuracy of determination, required less chemical reagents, and considerably reduced the time required for analyses.     

An enzyme-immobilized microplate for determination of linamarin for large number of samples

Summary An enzyme-immobilized microplate for determination of linamarin was prepared by covalently linking cassava leaf linamarase to the microplate. For linamarin determination, cassava roots were homogenised in 0.1 Mo-phosphoric acid and the filtrate adjusted to pH 6 with NaOH prior to adding into the wells. The cyanide released was then determined spectrophotometrically. One nmol linamarin can be detected. The microplate method is suitable for analysis of large number of samples and is useful for screening purposes.     

植酸酶菌种筛选方法的研究

通过微板培养法对植酸酶产生菌菌种筛选方法进行了研究,建立了一种快速、有效的高通量植酸酶菌种筛选方法。利用该方法结合菌种诱变技术已选育出植酸酶酶活高达297u／mL的A,niger 496-1菌株。     

微孔比色法在猪胰腺PLA_2制备中的应用

微孔比色法采用合成的磷脂类似物２－硫代十六酰乙基磷酸胆碱作底物,在多孔聚苯乙烯板的小孔中反应,并用酶联免疫检测器连续测定和记录吸收值．同时应用此法及滴定法检测酶活力,从猪胰腺中制备了一种分子量低（１４．３ｋＤ）,对热、酸稳定,活性依赖Ｃａ２＋的ＰＬＡ２．两种方法检测结果具有可比性,而微孔比色法同时可测多个样品,有节约样品,灵敏度较高等优点．微孔比色法特别适用于大量的样品测定,如拮抗剂筛选、临床样品及制备酶时层析级分的检测等．     

A comparison of the traditional method of counting viable cells and a quick microplate method for monitoring the growth characteristics of Listeria monocytogenes

AIMS: To determine: (i) the growth parameters (specific growth rate, lag time, asymptotic amount of growth, generation time and time for maximum growth rate) of Listeria monocytogenes in different broths by standard cultivation methods and (ii) whether a microplate method in conjunction with a standard nondedicated plate reader could be adapted to routine assay. METHODS AND RESULTS: Growth curves were determined from cell numbers in a standard tube method at 2 h intervals by serial dilution and plating, and in a microplate method by absorbance measurements. Growth curves were fitted with a modified Gompertz function. CONCLUSIONS: The microplate method was similar to the standard cultivation methods in accuracy, required less chemical reagents, and considerably reduced the time required for analyses. This work also illustrates that growth characteristics of bacteria are not necessarily constant, and depend on the methodology used. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: It is not the intended purpose of this paper to present all the data for the media tested but instead to illustrate the success of the microplate method for studying growth kinetics compared to a standard cultivation method and system precision. The method will be of considerable benefit to laboratories unable to afford dedicated workstations.     

Determination of cell concentration in a plant cell suspension using a fluorescence microplate reader

Microscopic counting of plant cells is a very tedious and time-consuming process and is therefore seldom used to evaluate plant cell number on a routine basis. This study describes a fast and simple method to evaluate cell concentration in a plant cell suspension using a fluorescence microplate reader. Eschscholtzia californica cells were fixed in a mix of methanol and acetic acid (3:1) and stained with a fluorescent DNA binding dye (Hoechst 33258). Readings were done in a fluorescence microplate reader at 360/465 nm. Specific binding of the dye to double-stranded DNA was significantly favored over unspecific binding when 1.0 M Tris buffer at pH 7.5 containing 1.0 M NaCl and 75 microg ml(-1) of Hoechst 33258 was used. Fluorescence readings must be done between 4 min and 12 min following the addition of the staining solution to the sample. The microplate counting method provides a convenient, rapid and sensitive procedure for determining the cell concentration in plant cell suspensions. The assay has a linear detection range from 0.2 x 10(6) cells to 10.0 x 10(6) cells per milliliter (actual concentration in the tested cell suspension). The time needed to perform the microplate counting was 10% of that needed for the microscopic enumeration. However, this microplate counting method can only be used on genetically stable cell lines and on asynchronous cell suspensions.     

A globotriaosylceramide (Gb3Cer) mimic peptide isolated from phage display library expressed strong neutralization to Shiga toxins

A Gb₃-trisaccharide mimic peptide was selected with biopanning from a phage display library against anti-Gb₃ antibody to neutralize Shiga toxins (Stxs). Biopanning was carried out on a microplate immobilized with a Fab fragment of anti-Gb₃ antibody and a subtraction procedure screening was applied to enhance specificity. The selected phage clones showed strong affinity to anti-Gb₃ antibody and to Stxs. Among these clones, a 9-mer sequence WHWTWLSEY was determined as the strongest Gb₃ mimic peptide and chemically synthesized. The peptide bound strongly to Stx-1 and Stx-2, though the binding was inhibited with Gb₃Cer. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and fluorescent spectroscopy determined that the affinity of the peptide to both Stxs was strong. Neutralization activity was confirmed by in vitro assay with HeLa cells. The Gb₃ mimic peptide potentially has great promise for use against Stxs.     

Evaluation of a scanner-assisted colorimetric MIC method for susceptibility testing of gram-negative fermentative bacteria

We describe the ScanMIC method, a colorimetric MIC method for susceptibility testing of gram-negative fermentative bacteria. The method is a slight modification of the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCLS) recommended broth microdilution method that uses a redox indicator 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) to enhance the estimate of bacterial growth inhibition in a microplate and a flatbed scanner to capture the microplate image. In-house software was developed to transform the microplate image into numerical values based on the amount of bacterial growth and to generate the MICs automatically. The choice of indicator was based on its low toxicity and ease of reading by scanner. We compared the ScanMIC method to the NCCLS recommended broth microdilution method with 197 coliform strains against seven antibacterial agents. The interpretative categorical agreement was obtained in 92.4% of the assays, and the agreement for MIC differences (within +/-1 log(2) dilution) was obtained in 96% for ScanMIC versus broth microdilution and 97% for a two-step incubation colorimetric broth microdilution versus the broth microdilution method. The method was found to be labor-saving, not to require any initial investment, and to show reliable results. Thus, the ScanMIC method could be useful for epidemiological surveys that include susceptibility testing of bacteria.     

Evaluation of a Scanner-Assisted Colorimetric MIC Method for Susceptibility Testing of Gram-Negative Fermentative Bacteria

We describe the ScanMIC method, a colorimetric MIC method for susceptibility testing of gram-negative fermentative bacteria. The method is a slight modification of the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCLS) recommended broth microdilution method that uses a redox indicator 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) to enhance the estimate of bacterial growth inhibition in a microplate and a flatbed scanner to capture the microplate image. In-house software was developed to transform the microplate image into numerical values based on the amount of bacterial growth and to generate the MICs automatically. The choice of indicator was based on its low toxicity and ease of reading by scanner. We compared the ScanMIC method to the NCCLS recommended broth microdilution method with 197 coliform strains against seven antibacterial agents. The interpretative categorical agreement was obtained in 92.4% of the assays, and the agreement for MIC differences (within ±1 log₂ dilution) was obtained in 96% for ScanMIC versus broth microdilution and 97% for a two-step incubation colorimetric broth microdilution versus the broth microdilution method. The method was found to be labor-saving, not to require any initial investment, and to show reliable results. Thus, the ScanMIC method could be useful for epidemiological surveys that include susceptibility testing of bacteria.     

微量板细胞病变法滴定水痘疫苗的研究

建立了用微量板细胞病变法滴定水痘疫苗的实验方法。将适宜稀释度的病毒与2BS细胞混种于96孔板培养,种毒后第7天观察孔内细胞病变情况,以karber法计算疫苗滴度,并与蚀斑法进行比较。实验表明,微量板细胞病变法滴定水痘疫苗,结果稳定性好,精密度高,较现行的蚀斑法操作简便、误差小,能够较好的反映出水痘的真实滴度,可作为一种较为简便的滴定水痘疫苗的方法。     

纳米金标记-逐步银染法快速检测金黄色葡萄球菌

将纳米金探针应用于目的核酸的检测,具有与PCR相当的灵敏度和特异性.本研究建立了一种可以在微孔板上快速检测金黄色葡萄球菌的纳米金标记-逐步银染法.该方法利用已包被链霉亲和素的微孔板,将PCR扩增的金黄色葡萄球菌nuc基因与生物素探针、纳米金探针形成的三明治杂交结构锚定其上,然后在低温下逐步银染显色,通过酶标仪检测放大的银染信号.这种纳米金标记-逐步银染法可以在显著降低非特异性背景信号的同时放大银染信号,检测金黄色葡萄球菌nuc基因的灵敏度为1 pmol/L,比常温一步银染法的灵敏度提高约102倍. 51例临床标本的检测结果与PCR法一致,与培养生化鉴定法的检测结果之间无显著性差异(P >0.05). 综上所述,本研究成功构建了金黄色葡萄球菌的纳米金标记-逐步银染法,在病原微生物的快速检测领域表现出广阔的发展潜力.     

一种测定蛹虫草中虫草酸含量的酶标仪微量反应方法

研究和建立一种基于酶标仪-96孔板高通量测定虫草酸含量的检测方法,并对该方法进行性能评价。以酶标仪为检测仪器,在96孔板内按照设定反应条件微量加入样品和试剂进行显色反应,利用酶标仪测定吸光度值并计算虫草酸含量。通过检测精密度、重复性、回收率,并与分光光度计法进行比较,综合评价该方法的准确度、精确度。结果表明,测定数据具有较高的精密度(样品CM1的RSD值0.829%;样品CM2的RSD值1.772%)、重复性(标准样品B40的RSD值2.061%;样品CM2的RSD值1.599%)、回收率(平均回收率99.24%,RSD值3.666%),测定结果与分光光度法检测结果无显著差异(P>0.05)。结果表明,酶标仪微量法测定准确、重复性好,并可大大减少样品和试剂的用量,该方法方便、快捷、高效,可以替代分光光度法用于虫草酸含量的测定。     

High-throughput microplate technique for enzymatic hydrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass

Several factors will influence the viability of a biochemical platform for manufacturing lignocellulosic based fuels and chemicals, for example, genetically engineering energy crops, reducing pre-treatment severity, and minimizing enzyme loading. Past research on biomass conversion has focused largely on acid based pre-treatment technologies that fractionate lignin and hemicellulose from cellulose. However, for alkaline based (e.g., AFEX) and other lower severity pre-treatments it becomes critical to co-hydrolyze cellulose and hemicellulose using an optimized enzyme cocktail. Lignocellulosics are appropriate substrates to assess hydrolytic activity of enzyme mixtures compared to conventional unrealistic substrates (e.g., filter paper, chromogenic, and fluorigenic compounds) for studying synergistic hydrolysis. However, there are few, if any, high-throughput lignocellulosic digestibility analytical platforms for optimizing biomass conversion. The 96-well Biomass Conversion Research Lab (BCRL) microplate method is a high-throughput assay to study digestibility of lignocellulosic biomass as a function of biomass composition, pre-treatment severity, and enzyme composition. The most suitable method for delivering milled biomass to the microplate was through multi-pipetting slurry suspensions. A rapid bio-enzymatic, spectrophotometric assay was used to determine fermentable sugars. The entire procedure was automated using a robotic pipetting workstation. Several parameters that affect hydrolysis in the microplate were studied and optimized (i.e., particle size reduction, slurry solids concentration, glucan loading, mass transfer issues, and time period for hydrolysis). The microplate method was optimized for crystalline cellulose (Avicel) and ammonia fiber expansion (AFEX) pre-treated corn stover.     

Microplate enzyme assay for screening lipoxygenases to degrade wood extractives

Lipoxygenases are non-heme iron-containing dioxygenases, capable of catalyzing the oxidation of unsaturated fatty acids. The enzyme has the potential to degrade problematic wood extractives in the paper-making process. However, commercially available lipoxygenase is currently too expensive for this application. A 96-well UV microplate assay was developed to screen enzymes from fungal sources for a more cost-effective alternative lipoxygenase. The substrate used for this assay was linoleic acid, a predominant fatty acid in wood. The enzyme activity and reaction kinetics determined by this microplate assay were compared to those obtained from a conventional bench scale assay. A number of hydrolytic enzymes and other oxidases were also tested using this protocol, to examine the specificity of the assay. The results show that the microplate assay developed can provide an inexpensive method for accelerated screening of a large number of enzymes to identify potential oxidative enzymes with specific action in degrading wood extractives.     

Isolation of lambda phage DNA by hydroxylapatite chromatography

A simple and rapid (1 day) method for preparation of lambda phage DNA was proposed. The method included two main steps: (a) growth and lysis of bacteria containing lambda phage and (b) purification of lambda phage DNA by hydroxylapatite chromatography. The phage DNA prepared by this method was intact and free of RNA, proteins, and bacterial DNA.     

A simple and rapid method to isolate purer M13 phage by isoelectric precipitation

M13 virus (phage) has been extensively used in phage display technology and nanomaterial templating. Our research aimed to use M13 phage to template sulfur nanoparticles for making lithium ion batteries. Traditional methods for harvesting M13 phage from Escherichia coli employ polyethylene glycol (PEG)-based precipitation, and the yield is usually measured by plaque counting. With this method, PEG residue is present in the M13 phage pellet and is difficult to eliminate. To resolve this issue, a method based on isoelectric precipitation was introduced and tested. The isoelectric method resulted in the production of purer phage with a higher yield, compared to the traditional PEG-based method. There is no significant variation in infectivity of the phage prepared using isoelectric precipitation, and the dynamic light scattering data indirectly prove that the phage structure is not damaged by pH adjustment. To maximize phage production, a dry-weight yield curve of M13 phage for various culture times was produced. The yield curve is proportional to the growth curve of E. coli. On a 200-mL culture scale, 0.2 g L^?1 M13 phage (dry-weight) was produced by the isoelectric precipitation method.     

Microplate enzyme assay for screening lipoxygenases to degrade wood extractives

Lipoxygenases are non-heme iron-containing dioxygenases, capable of catalyzing the oxidation of unsaturated fatty acids. The enzyme has the potential to degrade problematic wood extractives in the paper-making process. However, commercially available lipoxygenase is currently too expensive for this application. A 96-well UV microplate assay was developed to screen enzymes from fungal sources for a more cost-effective alternative lipoxygenase. The substrate used for this assay was linoleic acid, a predominant fatty acid in wood. The enzyme activity and reaction kinetics determined by this microplate assay were compared to those obtained from a conventional bench scale assay. A number of hydrolytic enzymes and other oxidases were also tested using this protocol, to examine the specificity of the assay. The results show that the microplate assay developed can provide an inexpensive method for accelerated screening of a large number of enzymes to identify potential oxidative enzymes with specific action in degrading wood extractives.