Development of a Novel Fluorophore for Real-Time Biomonitoring System

Rapid in-field diagnosis is very important to prevent the outbreak of various infectious and contagious diseases. Highly sensitive and quantitative detection of diseases can be performed using fluorescent immunochemical assay with specific antigen-antibody binding and a good quality fluorophore. This can lead to the development of a small, portable, quantitative biosensor to transmit diagnostic results to a control center in order to systematically prevent disease outbreaks. In this study, we developed a novel fluorophore, coumarin-derived dendrimer, with high emission intensity, strong signal brightness, and high photostability. It is easily coupled with biomolecules and emits strong and stable fluorescence at 590 nm with excitation at 455 nm. Application to fluorescent immunochromatographic test (FICT) showed that the novel coumarin-derived dendrimer bioconjugate could detect antigens at amount as low as 0.1 ng. The clinical results and the spectral characteristics of the novel coumarin-derived dendrimer open, for the first time, the possibility of developing a cost/energy efficient LED-based portable quantitative biosensor for point-of-care (POC) disease diagnosis, which can permit real time monitoring (U-healthcare system) by a disease control center.     

Quantification of Rice Blast Disease Progressions Through Taqman Real-Time PCR

Rice blast caused by Magnaporthe oryzae is a major disease in the paddy field and also a representative model system in the investigation of plant–microbe interactions. This study was undertaken to provide the quantitative evaluation method that specifically determines the amount of M. oryzae proliferation in planta. Real-time PCR was used as the detection strategy in combination with the primer pair and Taqman probe specific to MHP1, a unigene encoding HYDROPHOBIN that is indispensable for normal virulence expression. Based on the crossing point values from the PCR reactions containing a series of increasing concentration of cloned amplicon or fungal genomic DNA, correlation among the template’s copy number or its amount and amplification pattern was calculated. Reliability of this equation was further confirmed using the DNA samples from the rice leaves infected with compatible or incompatible strains of M. oryzae. The primer pair used in the Taqman real-time PCR reaction can recognize the existence of fungal DNA as low as 1 pg. In sum, our quantitative evaluation system is applicable and reliable in the blast diagnosis and also in the estimation of objective blast disease progression.     

Development of a Real-Time PCR assay for quantitative assessment of uncultured freshwater zoosporic fungi

Recently, molecular environmental surveys of the eukaryotic microbial community in lakes have revealed a high diversity of sequences belonging to uncultured zoosporic fungi. Although they are known as saprobes and algal parasites in freshwater systems, zoosporic fungi have been neglected in microbial food web studies. Recently, it has been suggested that zoosporic fungi, via the consumption of their zoospores by zooplankters, could transfer energy from large inedible algae and particulate organic material to higher trophic levels. However, because of their small size and their lack of distinctive morphological features, traditional microscopy does not allow the detection of fungal zoospores in the field. Hence, quantitative data on fungal zoospores in natural environments is missing. We have developed a quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay for the quantification of fungal zoospores in lakes. Specific primers were designed and qPCR conditions were optimized using a range of target and non-target plasmids obtained from previous freshwater environmental 18S rDNA surveys. When optimal DNA extraction protocol and qPCR conditions were applied, the qPCR assay developed in this study demonstrated high specificity and sensitivity, with as low as 100 18S rDNA copies per reaction detected. Although the present work focuses on the design and optimization of a new qPCR assay, its application to natural samples indicated that qPCR offers a promising tool for quantitative assessment of fungal zoospores in natural environments. We conclude that this will contribute to a better understanding of the ecological significance of zoosporic fungi in microbial food webs of pelagic ecosystems.     

3种贝类原虫多重荧光定量PCR方法的建立

目的:建立能够同时检测单孢子虫、派琴虫和折光马尔太虫的三重荧光定量PCR方法。方法:根据基因库中单孢子虫、派琴虫和折光马尔太虫的基因序列,设计3对特异性引物和3条用不同荧光基团标记的TaqMan探针,对反应条件和试剂浓度进行优化,建立能够同时检测单孢子虫、派琴虫和折光马尔太虫的三重荧光定量PCR方法。结果:该方法对单孢子虫、派琴虫和折光马尔太虫的检测敏感性分别达到40、400和40个模板拷贝数;此外抗干扰能力强,对单孢子虫、派琴虫和折光马尔太虫不同模板浓度进行组合,仍可有效地同时检测这3种原虫,对嗜水气单胞菌、荧光假单胞菌、副溶血弧菌、溶藻弧菌、河弧菌和拟态弧菌等病原体的检测结果均为阴性。结论:建立的单孢子虫、派琴虫和折光马尔太虫多重荧光定量PCR具有特异、敏感、快速、定量和重复性好等优点,可用于临床上单孢子虫、派琴虫和折光马尔太虫感染的检测。     

实时荧光定量PCR技术的研究进展与应用

实时荧光定量PCR技术(real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR,FQ-PCR)以其特异性强、灵敏度高、重复性好、定量准确、自动化程度高、速度快、全封闭反应等优点在人类和动物疾病的快速检测、食品安全检测、定量分析、基因分型、基因表达研究、以及疫苗效力测定中成为分子生物学研究的重要工具...     

人博卡病毒TaqMan探针实时定量PCR检测方法的建立及初步应用

目的:建立人博卡病毒(HBoV)核酸特异、快速、敏感的TaqMan探针实时定量PCR检测方法,并对临床样本进行检测。方法:比对编码HBoV非结构蛋白NP-1的基因序列,选取其保守片段设计引物和探针,建立实时荧光定量PCR检测方法,并与传统PCR方法进行比较,然后分别对两者的灵敏性、特异性、稳定性及临床样本检验的适用性等进行评价。结果:所建立的实时定量PCR检测方法可用于HBoV的特异性检测;相对于传统PCR所达到的250拷贝/反应的检测灵敏度,实时定量PCR的检测灵敏度可高达10拷贝/反应,检测范围为109～101拷贝/反应,且具有良好的特异性和重复性;初步用于76份临床呼吸道标本检测,检出阳性5例,高于普通PCR方法(3/76)。结论:建立了HBoV TaqMan探针实时定量PCR检测方法,并可用于临床鼻咽拭子样本的检测,为开展HBoV流行病学监测及早期临床诊断提供了技术手段。     

实时荧光定量PCR的发展和数据分析

实时荧光定量PCR技术是基因时代一项用于检测mRNA的常用技术,是临床检测和基础研究中不可缺少的重要研究方法,包括绝对定量PCR和相对定量PCR。该技术的特点是可以减少PCR后操作,在比较不同浓度的mRNA方面具有非常宽的动力学范围。我们就目前实时荧光定量PCR的发展及数据的分析进行综述。     

O1群霍乱弧菌实时荧光定量PCR快速检测方法的建立

目的:建立针对O1群霍乱弧菌的实时荧光定量TaqMan PCR快速检测方法,并进行模拟粪便标本的检测评价。方法:根据O1群霍乱弧菌O抗原编码基因rfb的特异性序列设计引物和TaqMan探针,建立检测O1群霍乱弧菌的实时荧光定量TaqMan PCR快速检测方法,对所建立的方法分别进行实验室内的灵敏度及特异性评价;将O1群霍乱弧菌灭活菌株悬液倍比稀释后与健康成人新鲜粪便混匀,制备成模拟带菌者粪便标本,提取DNA,进行Taq-Man PCR检测,用以评价该方法。结果:建立了快速检测O1群霍乱弧菌的实时荧光定量TaqMan PCR方法,灵敏度为每反应体系104拷贝;该方法对其他14种肠道菌DNA没有扩增;该方法对模拟粪便标本的检测灵敏度为每反应体系102 CFU。结论:建立了一种快速、高效检测O1群霍乱弧菌的荧光定量PCR检测方法,该方法可用于O1群霍乱弧菌临床粪便标本的检测。     

Development and Validation of a Real-Time PCR for Detection of Pathogenic Leptospira Species in Clinical Materials

Available serological diagnostics do not allow the confirmation of clinically suspected leptospirosis at the early acute phase of illness. Several conventional and real-time PCRs for the early diagnosis of leptospirosis have been described but these have been incompletely evaluated. We developed a SYBR Green-based real-time PCR targeting secY and validated it according to international guidelines. To determine the analytical specificity, DNA from 56 Leptospira strains belonging to pathogenic, non-pathogenic and intermediate Leptospira spp. as well as 46 other micro-organisms was included in this study. All the pathogenic Leptospira gave a positive reaction. We found no cross-reaction with saprophytic Leptospira and other micro-organisms, implying a high analytical specificity. The analytical sensitivity of the PCR was one copy per reaction from cultured homologous strain M 20 and 1.2 and 1.5 copy for heterologous strains 1342 K and Sarmin, respectively. In spiked serum & blood and kidney tissue the sensitivity was 10 and 20 copies for M 20, 15 and 30 copies for 1342 K and 30 and 50 copies for Sarmin. To determine the diagnostic sensitivity (DSe) and specificity (DSp), clinical blood samples from 26 laboratory-confirmed and 107 negative patients suspected of leptospirosis were enrolled as a prospective consecutive cohort. Based on culture as the gold standard, we found a DSe and DSp of 100% and 93%, respectively. All eight PCR positive samples that had a negative culture seroconverted later on, implying a higher actual DSp. When using culture and serology as the gold standard, the DSe was lower (89%) while the DSp was higher (100%). DSe was 100% in samples collected within the first – for treatment important - 4 days after onset of the illness. Reproducibility and repeatability of the assay, determined by blind testing kidney samples from 20 confirmed positive and 20 negative rodents both appeared 100%. In conclusion we have described for the first time the development of a robust SYBR Green real-time PCR for the detection of pathogenic Leptospira combined with a detailed assessment of its clinical accuracy, thus providing a method for the early diagnosis of leptospirosis with a well-defined satisfactory performance.     

Development of a Real-Time PCR Assay for Rapid Detection and Quantification of Alexandrium minutum (a Dinoflagellate)

The marine dinoflagellate genus Alexandrium includes a number of species which produce neurotoxins responsible for paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP), which in humans may cause muscular paralysis, neurological symptoms, and, in extreme cases, death. A. minutum is the most widespread toxic PSP species in the western Mediterranean basin. The monitoring of coastal waters for the presence of harmful algae also normally involves microscopic examinations of phytoplankton populations. These procedures are time consuming and require a great deal of taxonomic experience, thus limiting the number of specimens that can be analyzed. Because of the genetic diversity of different genera and species, molecular tools may also help to detect the presence of target microorganisms in marine field samples. In this study, we developed a real-time PCR-based assay for rapid detection of all toxic species of the Alexandrium genus in both fixative-preserved environmental samples and cultures. Moreover, we developed a real-time quantitative PCR assay for the quantification of A. minutum cells in seawater samples. Alexandrium genus-specific primers were designed on the 5.8S rDNA region. Primer specificity was confirmed by using BLAST and by amplification of a representative sample of the DNA of other dinoflagellates and diatoms. Using a standard curve constructed with a plasmid containing the ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 A. minutum sequence and cultured A. minutum cells, we determined the absolute number of 5.8S rDNA copies per cell. Consequently, after quantification of 5.8S rDNA copies in samples containing A. minutum cells, we were also able to estimate the number of cells. Several fixed A. minutum bloom sea samples from Arenys Harbor (Catalan Coast, Spain) were analyzed using this method, and quantification results were compared with standard microscopy counting methods. The two methods gave comparable results, confirming that real-time PCR could be a valid, fast alternative procedure for the detection and quantification of target phytoplankton species during coastal water monitoring.     

Development and Validation of Real-Time PCR for Rapid Detection of Mecistocirrus digitatus

Hematophagous activity of Mecistocirrus digitatus, which causes substantial blood and weight loss in large ruminants, is an emerging challenge due to the economic loss it brings to the livestock industry. Infected animals are treated with anthelmintic drugs, based on the identification of helminth species and the severity of infection; however, traditional methods such as microscopic identification and the counting of eggs for diagnosis and determination of level of infection are laborious, cumbersome and unreliable. To facilitate the detection of this parasite, a SYBR green-based real-time PCR was standardized and validated for the detection of M. digitatus infection in cattle and buffaloes. Oligonucleotides were designed to amplify partial Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS)-1 sequence of M. digitatus. The specificity of the primers was confirmed by non-amplification of DNA extracted from other commonly occurring gastrointestinal nematodes in ruminants. Plasmids were ligated with partial ITS-1 sequence of M. digitatus, serially diluted (hundred fold) and used as standards in the real-time PCR assay. The quantification cycle (Cq) values were plotted against the standard DNA concentration to produce a standard curve. The assay was sensitive enough to detect one plasmid containing the M. digitatus DNA. Clinical application of this assay was validated by testing the DNA extracted from the faeces of naturally infected cattle (n = 40) and buffaloes (n = 25). The results were compared with our standard curve to calculate the quantity of M. digitatus in each faecal sample. The Cq value of the assay depicted a strong linear relationship with faecal DNA content, with a regression coefficient of 0.984 and efficiency of 99%. This assay has noteworthy advantages over the conventional methods of diagnosis because it is more specific, sensitive and reliable.     

Development of a Peptide ELISA for the Diagnosis of Aleutian Mink Disease

Aleutian disease (AD) is a common immunosuppressive disease in mink farms world-wide. Since the 1980s, counterimmunoelectrophoresis (CIEP) has been the main detection method for infection with the Aleutian Mink Disease Virus (AMDV). In this study, six peptides derived from the AMDV structural protein VP2 were designed, synthesized, and used as ELISA antigens to detect anti-AMDV antibodies in the sera of infected minks. Serum samples were collected from 764 minks in farms from five different provinces, and analyzed by both CIEP (a gold standard) and peptide ELISA. A peptide designated P1 (415 aa–433 aa) exhibited good antigenicity. A novel ELISA was developed using ovalbumin-linked peptide P1 to detect anti-AMDV antibodies in mink sera. The sensitivity and specificity of the peptide ELISA was 98.0% and 97.5%, respectively. Moreover, the ELISA also detected 342 early-stage infected samples (negative by CIEP and positive by PCR), of which 43.6% (149/342) were true positives. These results showed that the peptide ELISA had better sensitivity compared with CIEP, and therefore could be preferable over CIEP for detecting anti-AMDV antibodies in serological screening.     

Development of Real-Time PCR Assays for Rapid Detection of Pfiesteria piscicida and Related Dinoflagellates

Pfiesteria complex species are heterotrophic and mixotrophic dinoflagellates that have been recognized as harmful algal bloom species associated with adverse fish and human health effects along the East Coast of North America, particularly in its largest (Chesapeake Bay in Maryland) and second largest (Albermarle-Pamlico Sound in North Carolina) estuaries. In response to impacts on human health and the economy, monitoring programs to detect the organism have been implemented in affected areas. However, until recently, specific identification of the two toxic species known thus far, Pfiesteria piscicida and P. shumwayae (sp. nov.), required scanning electron microscopy (SEM). SEM is a labor-intensive process in which a small number of cells can be analyzed, posing limitations when the method is applied to environmental estuarine water samples. To overcome these problems, we developed a real-time PCR-based assay that permits rapid and specific identification of these organisms in culture and heterogeneous environmental water samples. Various factors likely to be encountered when assessing environmental samples were addressed, and assay specificity was validated through screening of a comprehensive panel of cultures, including the two recognized Pfiesteria species, morphologically similar species, and a wide range of other estuarine dinoflagellates. Assay sensitivity and sample stability were established for both unpreserved and fixative (acidic Lugol's solution)-preserved samples. The effects of background DNA on organism detection and enumeration were also explored, and based on these results, we conclude that the assay may be utilized to derive quantitative data. This real-time PCR-based method will be useful for many other applications, including adaptation for field-based technology.