A Highly Specific One-step PCR Assay for the Rapid Discrimination of Enteropathogenic Yersinia enterocolitica from Pathogenic Yersinia pseudotuberculosis and Yersinia pestis

Based on differences within the yopT-coding region of Yersinia. enterocolitica, Y. pseudotuberculosis and Y. pestis, a rapid and sensitive one-step polymerase chain reaction assay with high specificity for pathogenic Y. enterocolitica was developed. By this method pathogenic isolates of Y. enterocolitica can be easily identified and discriminated from other members of this genus. The entire coding sequence of the yopT effector gene of Y. pseudotuberculosis Y36 was determined.     

Microresonator mass sensors for detection of Bacillus anthracis Sterne spores in air and water

Towards the goal of developing a real-time monitoring device for microorganisms, we demonstrate the use of microcantilevers as resonant mass sensors for detection of Bacillus anthracis Sterne spores in air and liquid. The detection scheme was based on measuring resonant frequency decrease driven by thermally induced oscillations, as a result of the added mass of the spores with the use of a laser Doppler vibrometer (LDV). Viscous effects were investigated by comparing measurements in air and deionized (DI) water along with theoretical values. Moreover, biological experiments were performed which involved suspending spores onto the cantilevers and performing mass detection in air and water. For detection of spores in water, the cantilevers were functionalized with antibodies in order to fix the spores onto the surface. We demonstrate that as few as 50 spores on the cantilever can be detected in water using the thermal noise as excitation source. Measurement sensitivity of 9.23 Hz/fg for air and 0.1 Hz/fg for water were obtained. These measurements were compared with theoretical values and sources of improvement in cantilever sensitivity in a viscous medium were also discussed. It is expected that by driving the cantilevers and using higher order modes, detection of a single spore in liquids should be achievable.     

Sequence analysis of the yadA, inv, and ail genes and their expression in the main and nonmain Yersinia pestis subspecies and Yersinia pseudotuberculosis

The nucleotide sequences of the inv, yadA, and ail adhesin-invasin genes were analyzed in 24 strains of the main and nonmain Yersinia pestis subspecies, which were isolated from natural plague foci in Russia and neighbor countries, and ten Y. pseudotuberculosis strains. All of the five plague agent subspecies (main, caucasica, altaica, ulegeica, and hissarica) had the inv and yadA genes altered by insertion of the IS element and a single nucleotide deletion, respectively, as was earlier observed for the Y. pestis strains KIM and CO92. Consequently, the strains lacked functional activity of the Inv and YadA proteins. The ail gene of the main and ulegeica subspecies had a missense mutation, which replaced Val138 with Phe in the Ail protein. The strains of the caucasica subspecies had an AGT insertion in the ail gene, resulting in Ser148 insertion in the polypeptide chain. The changes in the ail sequence probably exerted no effect on ail expression, since the strains of all subspecies were resistant to blood serum complement.     

Visual, base-specific detection of nucleic acid hybridization using polymerization-based amplification

Polymerization-based signal amplification offers sensitive visualization of biotinylated biomolecules functionalized to glass microarrays in a manner suitable for point-of-care use. Here we report using this method for visual detection of multiplexed nucleic acid hybridizations from complex media and develop an application toward point mutation detection and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) typing. Primer extension reactions were employed to label selectively and universally all complementary surface DNA hybrids with photoinitiators, permitting simultaneous and dynamic photopolymerization from positive sites to 0.5-nM target concentrations. Dramatic improvements in signal ratios between complementary and mismatched hybrids enabled visual discrimination of single base differences in KRAS codon-12 biomarkers.     

Direct and negative regulation of the sycO-ypkA-ypoJ operon by cyclic AMP receptor protein (CRP) in Yersinia pestis

Background  

Pathogenic yersiniae, including Y. pestis, share a type III secretion system (T3SS) that is composed of a secretion machinery, a set of translocation proteins, a control system, and six Yop effector proteins including YpkA and YopJ. The cyclic AMP receptor protein (CRP), a global regulator, was recently found to regulate the laterally acquired genes (pla and pst) in Y. pestis. The regulation of T3SS components by CRP is unknown.     

两步PCR介导的Red重组技术快速敲除鼠疫耶尔森菌sRNA及染色体大片段

【目的】利用Red同源重组系统,通过二步PCR法建立一种适合鼠疫耶尔森菌s RNA和大片段染色体基因敲除的方法。【方法】第一步PCR先扩增出目的基因的上、下游同源臂(600–1000 bp)及卡那抗性盒,再以上、下游同源臂及卡那抗性盒等摩尔混合物为模板,通过融合PCR获得含上下游同源臂及卡那抗性盒的线性突变盒,再将此突变盒的PCR产物电转到含有pKD46质粒的鼠疫201菌株,在阿拉伯糖的诱导下,p KD46质粒表达Red重组酶,促使卡那抗性盒替换目的基因,最后对获得的重组克隆进行PCR鉴定。【结果】本研究通过两步PCR法构建600–1000 bp的同源臂,提高了同源重组效率,并将鼠疫菌sRNA RyhB1(108 bp)和RyhB2(106 bp)和染色体大片段47-2(10.4 kb)、47-3(21.6 kb)、47-3a(9.2 kb)及47-3b(6.1 kb)成功敲除。【结论】基于Red重组系统构建的二步法突变技术,是一种简单、高效的精确修饰鼠疫菌s RNA及大片段染色体的方法,适合于鼠疫菌全基因组的基因敲除,为鼠疫菌基因表达与调控、致病和毒力等研究提供有力的工具。     

Comparison of multiplex PCR, enzyme immunoassay and cell culture methods for the detection of enterotoxinogenic Bacillus cereus

Fast and reliable methods are needed for the detection of pathogenic Bacillus cereus which should provide consistent results. Therefore, we tested a panel of 176 strains, including B. cereus strains, B. cereus group strains and other Bacillus spp. with polymerase chain reaction, immunoassays and cytotoxicity tests and assessed the consistency of the results. A screening multiplex PCR for the detection of hbl, nhe, ces and cytK1 as well as two multiplex PCRs for the differentiation of Hbl genes (hblC, hblD, hblA) and Nhe genes (nheA, nheB, nheC) was applied. All PCRs included an internal amplification control. Component specific antibody based immunoassays were used for the detection of the three components of Hbl and Nhe and the overall cytotoxicity to Vero cells and HEp-2 cells was checked. An overall excellent correlation was obtained for the results of the three, methodically independent assays and no false-negative PCR results were seen for any of the strains tested positive in immunoassays and cytotoxicity tests. The three multiplex PCRs proved to be a facile method for the identification of enterotoxinogenic B. cereus isolates.     

Homogeneous real-time detection and quantification of nucleic acid amplification using restriction enzyme digestion

A method for real-time fluorescent detection and quantification of nucleic acid amplification using a restriction endonuclease was developed. In this homogeneous system detection is mediated by a primer containing a reporter and quencher moiety at its 5' terminus separated by a short section of DNA encoding a restriction enzyme recognition sequence. In the single stranded form, the signal from the fluorescent reporter is quenched due to fluorescence resonance energy transfer. However, as the primer becomes incorporated into a double stranded amplicon, a restriction enzyme present in the reaction cleaves the DNA linking the reporter and quencher, allowing unrestricted fluorescence of the reporter. To test this system, a primer specific for the E6 gene of human papilloma virus (HPV) 16 was combined with the cleavable energy transfer label and used to amplify HPV16 positive DNA. In the presence of the thermally stable restriction enzyme BstNI, the reporter system was found to generate a fluorescent signal in proportion to the amount of template DNA. In addition to this direct format, the reporter primer was also used to monitor and quantify the amplification of other sequences. This was accomplished by using primers that contain a tag sequence complementary to the reporter oligonucleotide.     

Rapid detection of noroviruses in fecal samples and shellfish by nucleic acid sequence-based amplification

The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of a nucleic acid sequence-based amplification (NASBA) method of detecting noroviruses in artificially and naturally contaminated shellfish. We used 58 fecal samples that tested positive for noroviruses with electron microscopy (EM) to develop an NASBA assay for these viruses. Oligonucleotide primers targeting the polymerase coding region were used to amplify the viral RNA in an isothermal process that resulted in the accumulation of RNA amplicons. These amplicons were detected by hybridization with digoxigenin-labeled oligonucleotide probes that were highly specific for genogroup I (GI) and genogroup II (GII) of noroviruses. The expected band of 327 bp appeared in denaturing agarose gel without any nonspecific band. The specific signal for each amplicon was obtained through Northern blotting in many repeats. All fecal samples of which 46 (79.3%) belonged to GII and 12 (20.6%) belonged to GI were positive for noroviruses by EM and by NASBA. Target RNA concentrations as low as 5 pg/ml were detected in fecal specimens using NASBA. When the assay was applied to artificially contaminated shellfish, the sensitivity to nucleic acid was 100 pg/1.5 g shellfish tissue. The potential use of this assay was also confirmed in naturally contaminated shellfish collected from different ponds in Guangzhou city of China, of which 24 (18.76%) out of 128 samples were positive for noroviruses; of these, 19 (79.6%) belonged to GII and 5 (20.4%) belonged to GI. The NASBA assay provided a more rapid and efficient way of detecting noroviruses in fecal samples and demonstrated its potential for detecting noroviruses in food and environmental samples with high specificity and sensitivity.     

The first large-scale nucleic acid amplification testing (NAT) of donated blood using multiplex reagent for simultaneous detection of HBV, HCV, and HIV-1 and significance of NAT for HBV.

The first nationwide nucleic acid amplification testing (NAT) for hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) of voluntarily donated blood after serological pre-screening and before release of cellular components and plasma for fractionation was implemented by the Japanese Red Cross Blood Transfusion Services. From February 1, 2000 to April 30, 2001, specimens from 6,805,010 units of serologically negative donation were screened in minipools of 50 samples within 24 hr after blood donation by NAT using multiplex HBV/HCV/HIV-1 reagent for blood transfusion including short shelf-life platelets. Among them, 112 HBV DNA-positives, 25 HCV RNA positives and 4 HIV-1 RNA positives were screened out and we could prevent transfusion of these NAT positive units. Subtypes/genotypes of HBV DNA, adr/C, adw/A, adw/B, adw/C, ayr/C and ayw/D were found and adr/C was predominant. A total of 61.6 % of them (69/112) were negative by overnight EIA. Sixth three of HBV NAT-positive samples carried virus loads less than 10(4) copies/mL and 92.1 % of them (58/63) were negative by overnight EIA. The virus growth curves of HBV in 6 cases obtained by retrospective and prospective follow-up study showed exponential straight lines in the early stage of serological window periods and the log times of HBV growth (10 fold increase) in serological window period were between 4.6 and 7.6 days. NAT screening with highly sensitive reagents in pool of specimens is useful to exclude blood units with low level of HBV and HBV mutants from blood transfusion.     

Sensitivity of detection of rhinoviruses in spiked clinical samples by nucleic acid sequence-based amplification in the presence of an internal control

The objectives of the study were to determine the sensitivity of Nucleic Acid Sequence-Based Amplification (NASBA) for the detection of rhinovirus (RV) serotype 15 in water and in spiked respiratory specimens in the presence of a newly developed internal control (IC). The sensitivity of NASBA on RNA was 10 molecules per reaction. The sensitivity of RV NASBA on RV-15 in water and in respiratory specimens was equal to that in tissue culture. Addition of 10(4) molecules of rhinovirus internal control (RV IC) did not affect the sensitivity. Viral RNA should be extracted from clinical specimens as rapidly as possible after collection, since loss of detectable RNA occurs after 2 h. NASBA allows a sensitive detection of RV RNA in spiked respiratory specimens in the presence of an internal control.     

Production of lactic acid from paper sludge using acid-tolerant, thermophilic Bacillus coagulan strains

Production of lactic acid from paper sludge was studied using thermophilic Bacillus coagulan strains 36D1 and P4-102B. More than 80% of lactic acid yield and more than 87% of cellulose conversion were achieved using both strains without any pH control due to the buffering effect of CaCO₃ in paper sludge. The addition of CaCO₃ as the buffering reagent in rich medium increased lactic acid yield but had little effect on cellulose conversion; when lean medium was utilized, the addition of CaCO₃ had little effect on either cellulose conversion or lactic acid yield. Lowering the fermentation temperature lowered lactic acid yield but increased cellulose conversion. Semi-continuous simultaneous saccharification and co-fermentation (SSCF) using medium containing 100 g/L cellulose equivalent paper sludge without pH control was carried out in serum bottles for up to 1000 h. When rich medium was utilized, the average lactic acid concentrations in steady state for strains 36D1 and P4-102B were 92 g/L and 91.7 g/L, respectively, and lactic acid yields were 77% and 78%. The average lactic acid concentrations produced using semi-continuous SSCF with lean medium were 77.5 g/L and 77.0 g/L for strains 36D1 and P4-102B, respectively, and lactic acid yields were 72% and 75%. The productivities at steady state were 0.96 g/L/h and 0.82 g/L/h for both strains in rich medium and lean medium, respectively. Our data support that B. coagulan strains 36D1 and P4-102B are promising for converting paper sludge to lactic acid via SSCF.     

多酶恒温扩增核酸试纸条法快速检测肺炎支原体方法的建立及应用

【背景】肺炎支原体是导致儿童和青少年呼吸道感染的重要病原体,长期以来由于其临床表现不特异而容易错过最佳治疗时期。【目的】结合多酶恒温扩增(multienzyme isothermal rapid amplification,MIRA)技术和核酸试纸条建立一种快速检测肺炎支原体的方法。【方法】以肺炎支原体社区获得性肺炎呼吸窘迫综合征(community acquired respiratory distress syndrome, CARDS)毒素编码基因为靶基因设计引物和探针,对反应体系的温度、时间等进行优化,评估其敏感性,通过检测肺炎支原体和其余7种病原体分析其特异性,并对35份临床样本进行验证。【结果】MIRA核酸试纸条法在37℃条件下,15 min内便可完成对肺炎支原体的检测,最低检出限为10 copies/μL;除肺炎支原体外,其余7种病原体均不能扩增,特异性较好。以实时荧光PCR检测为标准,MIRA核酸试纸条法对35份临床样本检测后的诊断特异度为100.00%、灵敏度为96.15%、阴性预测值为90.00%、阳性预测值为100.00%。【结论】本研究建立了MIRA核酸试纸条法...     

内标多重荧光RT-PCR同时检测肠道病毒71型和柯萨奇病毒A16型

【目的】为对当前爆发的手足口病进行快速准确的检测, 【方法】本研究建立了含内标的同时检测EV71和CA16的多重荧光RT-PCR方法,对该方法的特异性、灵敏度等进行评估,并对400多份临床样品进行了检测。【结果】实验结果表明,该检测方法特异性强,对10株EV71病毒、8株CA16病毒和25株其他人类病毒进行了检测,特异性为100%;该检测方法对EV71和CA16的检测灵敏度分别达到0.1 TCID50和1 TCID50;将0.1-104TCID50/ml EV71和CA16样本进行重复性实验,其变异系数分别为0.9-2.0%和0.9-2.3%。对400多份临床样品分别进行荧光RT-PCR检测和传统方法检测,结果显示,荧光RT-PCR对EV71和CA16的阳性检出率平均为46.1%和14.2%,比传统方法（34.5%和12.8%）的阳性检测率高。另外,实验数据显示,在粪便、直肠拭子、咽喉拭子样本中,PCR抑制物存在的比例为1.8%-3.4%,表明内标对监控PCR抑制物的存在具有重要作用。【结论】本方法能同时对EV71和CA16进行快速检测,并且灵敏度高,特异性好,由于加入了内标,能有效地监控假阴性的出现,适合于手足口病的临床检测。     

Assessment of a two-step nucleic acid amplification assay for detection of Neisseria meningitidis followed by capsular genogrouping

Immediate prevention of meningococcal disease relies in part on the prompt treatment with antibiotics of household and other close contacts of cases; however intervention with effective vaccination relies on identification of serogroup-causing strains. Parenteral antibiotic for patient with suspected meningococcal disease before hospital admission is currently recommended. Laboratory standard methods are hindered by failure to detect bacteria by this medical approach to improve patient prognosis. We assessed two polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays to detect (crgA) and define the serogroups (siaD, orf-2, and ctrA) of Neisseria meningitidis in 120 cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from positive cases (culture or antigen detection or direct smear). The PCR sensitivity for the identification of N. meningitidis was 100% (95% confidence interval, CI, 96-100%) compared to a sensitivity of 46% for culture (95% CI 37-55%), 61% for latex agglutination test (95% CI 52-70%), and 68% for Gram stain (95% CI 59-76%); PCR specificity was 97% (95% CI 82-100%). PCR correctly identified the serogroups A, B, C, W135, Y, and X in CSF samples with a sensitivity of 88% (95% CI 80-93%); the primer sets were 100% specific. The introduction of PCR-based assays shall increase laboratory confirmed cases, consequently enhancing surveillance of meningococcal disease.     

Multiple strategies to improve sensitivity,speed and robustness of isothermal nucleic acid amplification for rapid pathogen detection

Background  

In the past decades the rapid growth of molecular diagnostics (based on either traditional PCR or isothermal amplification technologies) meet the demand for fast and accurate testing. Although isothermal amplification technologies have the advantages of low cost requirements for instruments, the further improvement on sensitivity, speed and robustness is a prerequisite for the applications in rapid pathogen detection, especially at point-of-care diagnostics. Here, we describe and explore several strategies to improve one of the isothermal technologies, helicase-dependent amplification (HDA).