Comparative characteristics of the ultrastructure of the causative agents of glanders and melioidosis]

The authors examined the ultrastructure of the causative agents of glanders and melio idosis. It was revealed that the structure of their cell wall and of the cytoplasmic membrane was characteristic of Gram negative bacteria. The cytoplasm of both types of the causative agents showed the presence of ribosomes, membrane structure, nucleoid, and also osmiophilic and osmiophobic inclusions.     

Membrane antigens of the agents of glanders and melioidosis]

Double immunodiffusion in gel test was used to determine the antigenic composition of the preparations of membranes isolated from the lysozyme spheroplasts of glanders (strain No. 10230) and melioidosis (strain No. C-141) causative agents. The membranes of these microbes proved to contain antigens of cell walls, lipopolysaccharides and the thermolabile membrane antigen proper. A study of antimembrane sera in the agglutination and immunofluorescence tests demonstrated a heterogeneity of the glanders and melioidosis strains under study by the membrane thermolabile antigen.     

Identification of the causative agents of glanders and melioidosis by polymerase chain reaction

Burkholderia mallei and B. pseudomallei are causative agents of glanders and melioidosis, respectively, i.e. severe and fatal infection diseases of man and animal. The computer-based analysis of the 23S rRNA gene sites was used for selecting the primers. Two pairs of primers were chosen for the identification of B. mallei and Bpseudomallei. DNAs from 48 B. pseudomallei and 15 strains of B. mallei, unlike from other geterological bacteria, were positively amplified. Therefore, the method of polymerase chain reaction can be used in laboratory diagnosis of glanders and melioidosis.     

Some properties of plasmocoagulase of the causative agents of glanders and melioidosis

Criteria for the evaluation of the plasmocoagulase activity of natural isolates and mutant strains of the causative agents of glanders and melioidosis were worked out, which made it possible to subdivide them by this sign into pathogens with high, moderate and low activity. Plasmocoagulase produced by pathogenic Burkholderia was shown to be a thermolabile enzyme, comparatively stable with respect to the action of such chemico-biological agents as hydrogen peroxide and chloramine.     

Effects of some chemopreparations on the causative agents of glanders and melioidosis]

The authors present the results of in vitro determination of the sensitivity of the causative agent of glanders and melioidosis to 8 preparations-5-nitrofuran derivatives, and also to negram and PASK. The most active against M. mallei and Ps. pseudomallei were furazonal and furacrillin; negram was less active. No naturally resistanct strains to furacrylin and furazonal were revealed among the M. mallei and Ps. pseudomallei strains studied.     

Molecular-genetic approaches to diagnosis and intraspecific typing of causative agents of glanders and melioidosis

Pathogenic Burkholderia--Burkholderia mallei and Burkholderia pseudomallei--are causative agents of glanders and melioidosis, severe infectious diseases of man and animals. They are regarded as potential agents of bioterrorism. The existing bacteriological and immunological methods of identification of B. mallei and B. pseudomallei are not efficient enough for the rapid diagnosis and typing of strains. Described in the paper are molecular methods of detection of the agents by PCR, hybridization and strain typing made on the basis of bacterial total cell protein profiles, RAPD, ribotyping as well as of plasmid and DNA microrestriction analyses.     

The use of polymerase chain reaction for detection of the agents of glanders and melioidosis using experimental infection

Glanders and melioidosis are severe infectious diseases of people and animals. The causative agents of these infections refer to the potential agents of bioterrorism of group B. In this work the possibility of use of flagellin-based primers for the identification of B. mallei and B. pseudomallei and for diagnosis of experimental glanders and melioidosis was studied. The obtained results permit to make a conclusion that PCR using the developed primers may be recommended for the incorporation in the scheme of laboratory diagnosis of glanders and melioidosis both for the identification of clean cultures and in experimental clinical material.     

Comparison of rapid DNA extraction methods applied to PCR identification of medicinal mushroom Ganoderma spp

Four different DNA extraction methods were used to extract genomic DNA of the medicinal mushroom Lingzhi from its developing stage materials, such as mycelium, dry fruiting body, or sliced and spore powder or sporoderm-broken spore powder. The DNA samples were analyzed using agarose gel electrophoresis, UV spectrophotometer, and PCR amplification. According to the average yields and purity of DNA, high salt concentrations and low pH methods were the best for DNA extraction. The mycelia and sporoderm-broken spore powder yielded higher and purer DNA. The method developed could effectively eliminate the influence of the secondary metabolites to DNA extraction. The DNA samples extracted from the developed method could be successfully used for PCR applications.     

Obtaining spheroplasts from the agents of glanders and melioidosis and separation of membrane structures from them]

Spheroplasts were obtained from the causative agents of glanders and melioidosis under the effect of lysozyme and antibiotics. In the capacity of an inducing agent lysozyme was effective in high concentration only (0.4%); preliminary washing and incubation in sucrose were necessary to obtain glanders spheroplasts. Of the antibiotics studied penicillin was more useful for obtaining melioidosis spheroplasts and ampicillin--for glanders spheroplasts. Membrane preparations were derived from the spheroplasts of glanders and melioidosis causative agents.     

Towards a rapid molecular diagnostic for melioidosis: Comparison of DNA extraction methods from clinical specimens

Optimising DNA extraction from clinical samples for Burkholderia pseudomallei Type III secretion system real-time PCR in suspected melioidosis patients confirmed that urine and sputum are useful diagnostic samples. Direct testing on blood remains problematic; testing DNA extracted from plasma was superior to DNA from whole blood or buffy coat.     

新生隐球菌基因组DNA不同抽提方法的比较

目的 DNA是进行分子生物学研究的重要基础。在本研究中,我们建立了2种简单快速抽提基因组DNA的方法并可用作PCR扩增的模板。通过比较4种不同的DNA抽提方法以确定哪种更适合进行下一步的基因分析。方法这4种方法是:玻璃珠法,酶法,3%SDS法和氯化苄法。玻璃珠法是用玻璃珠在混漩器上剧烈振荡破碎细胞壁;3%SDS法是将细胞在含10mmol/LDTT的3%SDS溶液中加热,然后用5mmol/LKAc和异丙醇抽提,DNA的产量通过A260测定。结果 3%SDS溶解法、经典酶法、玻璃珠法和氯化苄法的DNA产量分别为0.4154±0.0367、0.8484±0.0756、1.2636±0.2040、0.4070±0.0339(g/L×108CFU/mL)。结论玻璃珠法是最敏感、重复性好、简单、费用合理的抽提方法 。     

A rapid DNA extraction method for PCR identification of fungal indoor air contaminants

Following air sampling fungal DNA needs to be extracted and purified to a state suitable for laboratory use. Our laboratory has developed a simple method of extraction and purification of fungal DNA appropriate for enzymatic manipulation and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) applications. The methodology described is both rapid and cost effective for use with multiple fungal organisms.     

Comparison of four different methods for extraction of Stachybotrys chartarum spore DNA and verification by real-time PCR

A comparison of four different methods for the extraction of spore DNA from Stachybotrys chartarum was conducted. Spore DNA was extracted and purified using either one of three different commercial kits or water. All preparations utilized bead milling. Genomic DNA extracted from 10(1) to 10(7) spores was assessed by both agarose gel electrophoresis and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) performed against multi-copy (rRNA) and single-(tubulin) gene targets. The spore isolation technique we employed was verified to be pure by light microscopy. Although all preparatory methods led to successful detection by qPCR, S. chartarum spore DNA prepared using the Qiagen Plant kit was notably better over the extraction range.     

DNA extraction method for screening yeast clones by PCR

A simple procedure for isolating yeast DNA suitable for use as a template for PCR amplification is described. SDS treatment alone is sufficient for extraction of chromosomal DNA from yeast cells. Cells of a yeast colony are suspended in a small volume (about 20 microL) of a 0.25% SDS solution, mixed vigorously and centrifuged. The supernatant can be directly used as a template after dilution to give an SDS concentration of less than 0.01% in the final PCR mixture.     

An assessment of the efficiency of fungal DNA extraction methods for maximizing the detection of medically important fungi using PCR

To date, no single reported DNA extraction method is suitable for the efficient extraction of DNA from all fungal species. The efficiency of extraction is of particular importance in PCR-based medical diagnostic applications where the quantity of fungus in a tissue biopsy may be limited. We subjected 16 medically relevant fungi to physical, chemical and enzymatic cell wall disruption methods which constitutes the first step in extracting DNA. Examination by light microscopy showed that grinding with mortar and pestle was the most efficient means of disrupting the rigid fungal cell walls of hyphae and conidia. We then trialled several published DNA isolation protocols to ascertain the most efficient method of extraction. Optimal extraction was achieved by incorporating a lyticase and proteinase K enzymatic digestion step and adapting a DNA extraction procedure from a commercial kit (MO BIO) to generate high yields of high quality DNA from all 16 species. DNA quality was confirmed by the successful PCR amplification of the conserved region of the fungal 18S small-subunit rRNA multicopy gene.     

Comparative analysis of three methods from dried blood spots for expeditious DNA extraction from mosquitoes; suitable for PCR based techniques

The objective of this work was to compare the quality, purity and quantity of DNA isolated from dried blood spots (DBS) by three methods (Chelex-100, QIAamp DNA mini kit, and TE (Tris EDTA)-Buffer). Sample collection was performed in six districts in Odisha, India and screened for cases of clinical malaria and dengue and vector density. Mosquito abdomens were spotted on Whatman 3MM (MERCK) Filter paper and dried for 10 min at room temperature. DNA was isolated from DBS using three methods (Chelex-100, QIAamp DNA mini kit, and TE-Buffer), and PCR was used to determine the feeding behaviours of vector mosquitoes. DNA was quantified using a UV-spectrophotometer, and q-PCR was used to determine the target gene copy number to compare the methods. The QIAamp DNA mini kit method was used as the reference method. The yield and purity of DNA extracted with Chelex-100 and TE were 14–72 ng/µl and 1.51–1.85 and 9–50 ng/µl and 1.68–2.1, respectively. DNA extracted using the Chelex-100 method was stored for over 1 month at ? 20 °C and was suitable for later use. The Chelex-100 method had a sensitivity of 99.5% and specificity of 78%. A Bland–Altman plot suggested that the Chelex-100 method was similar to the QIAamp DNA mini kit method for determining the feeding behaviours of vector mosquitoes. The Chelex-100 method is simple, cost-effective, and safe and requires minimal time for DNA extraction from dried blood spots. In malaria and dengue research, detecting the feeding behaviours from mosquito DNA from dried blood spots on filter paper by PCR is an easy, minimally invasive and inexpensive molecular technique that can be performed in remote areas.

     

Comparison of small-scale methods for the rapid extraction of plant DNA suitable for PCR analysis

We present results from a comparison of six methods for rapid DNA extraction from leaf and other plant tissues. We have used samples from six plant species in our study, including both crop species and their wild relatives. The success of the methods is assessed by PCR of the DNA using conserved primers, and the applicability of the different methods to particular species and tissues is assessed. The speed, reliability, convenience, and potential for further improvement of the methods are also discussed.     

High-throughput DNA extraction method suitable for PCR

PCR has become one of the most popular techniques in functional genomics. Projects in both forward and reverse genetics routinely require PCR amplification of thousands of samples. Processing samples to extract DNA of sufficient purity for PCR is often a limiting step. We have developed a simple 96-well plate-based high-throughput DNA extraction method that is applicable to many plant species. The method involves a simple incubation of plant tissue samples in a DNA extraction buffer followed by a neutralization step. With the addition of a modified PCR buffer, the extracted DNA enabled the robust amplification of genomic fragments from samples of Arabidopsis, tobacco, sorghum, cotton, moss, and even pine needles. Several thousand DNA samples can be economically processed in a single day by one person without the use of robotics. This procedure will facilitate many technologies including high-throughput genotyping, map-based cloning, and identification of T-DNA or transposon-tagged mutants for known gene sequences.     

Evaluation of DNA extraction methods from mouse stomachs for the quantification of H. pylori by real-time PCR

Real-time PCR methods have recently been developed for the quantification of Helicobacter pylori from infected mouse stomachs. However, the extent to which results is affected by the efficiency of different methods of DNA extraction and the degree of inhibition of the subsequent PCR have largely been ignored. In this study, mouse stomachs were processed using two homogenisation methods: complete disruption using a blender and homogenisation by vortexing with glass beads. Each procedure was followed by DNA purification by three different protocols-two commercially available kits-Qiagen DNA Mini Tissue kit and Qiagen Stool Kit and a phenol-chloroform extraction method. PCR inhibition was assessed by screening for mouse DNA and for H. pylori DNA after spiking stomach extracts with H. pylori 16S rDNA. PCR inhibition was found to be lower in DNA samples prepared by vortexing and processed by column kits. Validation of procedures was performed by quantification of H. pylori DNA and mouse DNA in infected mouse stomachs. Homogenisation with glass beads followed by the Qiagen Tissue kit was found to be the most suitable protocol combining high extraction and detection efficiency of 16S rDNA in the presence of a mouse DNA background.