Comparison of primers for the detection of pathogenic Escherichia coli using real-time PCR

AIMS: To evaluate PCR primers for the detection of pathogenic Escherichia coli in a real-time PCR assay and determine their utility in produce irrigation water testing. METHODS AND RESULTS: Three previously published PCR primer sets and one set designed for this study were tested for their ability to produce amplification products for several pathogenic E. coli serotypes from whole cells as template. Two of the previously published primer sets were chosen for real-time PCR detection limit determination. The coneaeA and PEH detection limit of E. coli O157:H7 was 10(0) and 10(1) CFU rxn(-1) in sterile water respectively. To detect E. coli O157:H7 in sprout irrigation water, the water required dilution due to PCR inhibitors. The detection limit of the coneaeA and PEH was 10(1) and between 10(2) and 10(3) CFU rxn(-1) in diluted sprout irrigation water respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The primer set coneaeA was able to produce an amplification product from each E. coli serotype, except O128:H7 and most sensitive for real-time PCR detection of pathogenic E. coli in diluted sprout irrigation water. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The necessity of a dissociation analysis to distinguish positive samples from those with fluorescence of random dsDNA generation for real-time PCR in a complex background was established.     

美国白蛾核型多角体病毒实时荧光定量PCR检测方法的建立及应用

为了建立对昆虫核型多角体病毒（nucleopolyhedrovirus）进行定量检测方法,本研究选用美国白蛾Hyphantria cunea核型多角体病毒的polyhedrin基因为目的基因,经引物设计、PCR 扩增、目的片段与载体连接转化以及重组质粒的鉴定,并对重组质粒标准品和样品DNA进行检测,构建出美国白蛾核型多角体病毒SYBR GreenⅠ荧光定量标准曲线。统计学分析显示标准品浓度的对数值与Ct 值之间存在良好的线性关系（R=0.998）。该方法的检测灵敏度为10¹～10²拷贝/μL,线性范围达5个数量级,扩增产物形成单一的特异性熔解峰,组内组间的变异系数均小于3%。根据已建立的方法对不同感染时间段的感病幼虫进行检测,每毫克幼虫样本内病毒polyhedrin基因拷贝数增殖倍数对数值与感染时间（d）呈正相关（R=0.987）。这些结果表明,建立的美国白蛾核型多角体病毒荧光定量 PCR检测方法是可靠的,具有灵敏度高、重复性好等特点,可为昆虫核型多角体病毒体内增殖动态研究及昆虫病毒的标准化生产提供参考。     

Rapid detection of Salmonella enterica serovars by multiplex PCR

A multiplex PCR based assay was developed for the identification of the genus Salmonella. Five sets of primers from different genomic sequences such as fimA, himA, hns, invA and hto genes were selected for the identification of serogroups of Salmonella enterica such as S. Typhi, S. ParatyphiA, S. Typhimurium, S. Enteritidis and S. Weltevreden. The selected primers amplified products with the sizes of 85, 123, 152, 275 and 496 bp, respectively, for the genus Salmonella. This assay was found to be highly sensitive, as it could detect 5 cells of Salmonella and 1,000 fg of genomic DNA. Amplification of DNA extracted from other genera viz. V. cholerae and E. coli yielded negative results. This assay provides specific and reliable results and allows for the cost–effective detection of Salmonella in one reaction tube in mixed bacterial communities.     

猪细胞因子SYBR Green实时PCR检测方法的建立

目的:建立一种用SYBR Green荧光染料检测猪细胞因子的实时PCR方法。方法:从猪外周血淋巴细胞中提取细胞因子mRNA,反转录成cDNA,利用SYBR Green荧光染料法实时检测IL8、IL10、IFNα、IFN(?)和TNFα的mRNA表达水平。分别通过融解曲线和琼脂糖凝胶电泳分析各细胞因子检测的特异性;并对各细胞因子PCR产物进行梯度稀释后作为模板进行敏感性试验;利用建立的方法分别对正常猪和感染PRRSV的猪的外周血淋巴细胞中上述细胞因子进行检测,并以管家基因cyclophilin为内参照对各细胞因子进行定量分析。结果:建立的各细胞因子SYBR Green实时检测方法具有良好的特异性和敏感性,TNFα检测敏感性可达10个拷贝,其它细胞因子检测敏感性均可达100个拷贝。猪在感染PRRSV后,外周血淋巴细胞中IL8和IL10明显增加,而IFNα和TNFα略有下降。结论:建立了五种猪细胞因子SYBR Green实时PCR检测方法,并能成功地应用于临床检测。     

Improved PCR primers for the detection and identification of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

A set of PCR primers that should amplify all subgroups of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF, Glomeromycota), but exclude sequences from other organisms, was designed to facilitate rapid detection and identification directly from field-grown plant roots. The small subunit rRNA gene was targeted for the new primers (AML1 and AML2) because phylogenetic relationships among the Glomeromycota are well understood for this gene. Sequence comparisons indicate that the new primers should amplify all published AMF sequences except those from Archaeospora trappei. The specificity of the new primers was tested using 23 different AMF spore morphotypes from trap cultures and Miscanthus sinensis, Glycine max and Panax ginseng roots sampled from the field. Non-AMF DNA of 14 plants, 14 Basidiomycota and 18 Ascomycota was also tested as negative controls. Sequences amplified from roots using the new primers were compared with those obtained using the established NS31 and AM1 primer combination. The new primers have much better specificity and coverage of all known AMF groups.     

Identification of Salmonella enterica subspecies I, Salmonella enterica serovars Typhimurium, Enteritidis and Typhi using multiplex PCR

This study was designed to develop a multiplex PCR method with five specific primer pairs for the detection of Salmonella spp., Salmonella subspecies I, Salmonella enterica serovars Typhimurium, Typhi and Enteritidis. A multiplex PCR was constructed with five primer pairs for the detection of Salmonella and pathogenic Salmonella serovars, including a specific primer pair for Salmonella Typhi, based on the sequence comparison between genomic DNA sequences of 12 Salmonella strains. Each primer pair was specifically targeted to Salmonella spp., Salmonella subspecies I, Salmonella Typhimurium, Typhi and Enteritidis. This multiplex PCR was evaluated with various DNAs of Salmonella serovars that yielded high specificity for amplifying the expected PCR products of Salmonella serovars. Using this primer pair, a set of multiplex PCR was performed for the rapid identification of salmonellae and major pathogenic Salmonella serovars. Although this multiplex PCR method will need to be evaluated for a wide range of Salmonella serovars among multilaboratories, it should be useful for identifying clinically significant strains of Salmonella serovars rapidly and accurately without the need for serological testing.     

Improvement of phylum- and class-specific primers for real-time PCR quantification of bacterial taxa

Mapping the distribution of phylogenetically distinct bacteria in natural environments is of primary importance to an understanding of ecological dynamics. Here we present a quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay for the analysis of higher taxa composition in natural communities that advances previously available methods by allowing quantification of several taxa during the same qPCR run. Existing primers targeting the 16S rRNA gene specific for Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes and for the α and γ subdivisions of the Proteobacteria were improved by largely increasing the coverage of the taxon they target without diminishing their specificity. The qPCR assay was validated in vitro testing artificial mixtures of 16S rRNA sequences and used to characterise the composition of natural communities developing in young marine biofilms. The possible contribution of the proposed technique in revealing ecological dynamics affecting higher bacterial taxa is discussed.     

Design of new primers that can detect Salmonella without decrease of detection threshold in the presence of contaminant organisms

Novel PCR primer sets for the detection of Salmonella were designed based on the oriC sequence information of various enteric bacteria, which are potential contaminants in commercial liquid egg samples. Using the PCR primers, the selective detection of Salmonella in the presence of large excess number of salmonella-like strains were achieved without the reduction of its sensitivity. The application of these primer sets for the detection of Salmonella from commercial liquid egg was also demonstrated.     

PCR detection of Salmonella enterica serotype Montevideo in and on raw tomatoes using primers derived from hilA

Salmonellae have been some of the most frequently reported etiological agents in fresh-produce-associated outbreaks of human infections in recent years. PCR assays using four innovative pairs of primers derived from hilA and sirA, positive regulators of Salmonella invasive genes, were developed to identify Salmonella enterica serotype Montevideo on and in tomatoes. Based on examination of 83 Salmonella strains and 22 non-Salmonella strains, we concluded that a pair of hilA primers detects Salmonella specifically. The detection limits of the PCR assay were 10(1) and 10(0) CFU/ml after enrichment at 37 degrees C for 6 and 9 h, respectively. When the assay was validated by detecting S. enterica serotype Montevideo in and on artificially inoculated tomatoes, 10(2) and 10(1) CFU/g were detected, respectively, after enrichment for 6 h at 37 degrees C. Our results suggest that the hilA-based PCR assay is sensitive and specific, and can be used for rapid detection of Salmonellae in or on fresh produce.     

Rapid detection and differentiation of the major mycoplasma contaminants in cell cultures using real-time PCR with SYBR Green I and melting curve analysis

A quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) procedure followed by melting curve analysis, using the green fluorescence dye SYBR Green I, was developed for rapid detection and differentiation of mycoplasma contaminants in cell cultures. This method showed that the detection of the target sequence was linear over a range from 10(4) to 10 colony-forming units (CFU) of the mycoplasma cells. Analysis of the melting temperature of the PCR products allowed differentiation of the major mycoplasma contaminants. These results demonstrate that the protocol described in the present study can decrease the time to obtain reproducible results by simultaneous detection and differentiation of the Mycoplasma species contaminating cell cultures.     

Quantitative real-time PCR using TaqMan and SYBR Green for Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia, tetQ gene and total bacteria

Accurate quantification of bacterial species in dental plaque is needed for microbiological diagnosis of periodontal diseases. The present study was designed to assess the sensitivity, specificity and quantitativity of the real-time PCR using the GeneAmp Sequence Detection System with two fluorescence chemistries. TaqMan probe with reporter and quencher dye, and SYBR Green dye were used for sources of the fluorescence. Primers and probes were designed for Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia and total bacteria based on the nucleotide sequences of the respective 16S ribosomal RNA genes. Since spread of antibiotic resistance genes is one of the crucial problems in periodontal therapy, quantitative detection of tetQ gene, which confers resistance to tetracycline, was included in the examination. The detection of P. gingivalis, P. intermedia and A. actinomycetemcomitans was linear over a range of 10-10(7) cells (10-10(7) copies for tetQ gene), while the quantitative range for total bacteria was 10(2)-10(7) cells. Species-specific amplifications were observed for the three periodontal bacteria, and there was no significant difference between the TaqMan and SYBR Green chemistry in their specificity, quantitativity and sensitivity. The SYBR Green assay, which was simpler than TaqMan assay in its manipulations, was applied to the clinical plaque samples. The plaque samples were obtained from eight patients (eight periodontal pockets) before and 1 week after the local drug delivery of minocycline. Although the number of P. gingivalis, P. intermedia and A. actinomycetemcomitans markedly decreased after the antibiotic therapy in most cases, higher copy numbers of the tetQ gene were detectable. The real-time PCR demonstrated sufficient sensitivity, specificity and quantitativity to be a powerful tool for microbiological examination in periodontal disease, and the quantitative monitoring of antibiotic resistance gene accompanied with the antibiotic therapy should be included in the examination.     

Validation of DNA and RNA real-time assays for food analysis using the hilA gene of Salmonella enterica serovars

In Europe, alternative methods for the detection of food-borne pathogens can be used instead of the standard ISO/CEN reference protocol, if validated according to the protocol outlined in ISO 16140, 2003. In this study, the performance of two novel methods for the detection of Salmonella sp. using real-time PCR technology in tandem with an adapted two-step enrichment protocol were assessed and validated against a reference culture method, ISO 6579, 2004. The DNA and RNA real-time PCR assays amplified a 270 bp region of the hilA gene of Salmonella enterica serovars, and incorporated an internal amplification control (IAC) which was co-amplified with the hilA gene to monitor potential PCR inhibitors and ensure successful amplification. The inclusivity and exclusivity of the hilA primer set was examined for both the DNA and RNA methods and detected the 30 S. enterica serovars but not the 30 non-salmonellae strains. The inoculation of meat carcass swabs with five different S. enterica serovars at five different inocula, indicated both PCR methods were able to detect between 1 and 10 CFU per carcass swab. The real-time DNA PCR assay performed as well as the traditional cultural method in detecting Salmonella sp. in artificially contaminated salad, chocolate, fish and cheese samples. The relative accuracy, relative sensitivity and relative specificity of the DNA PCR real-time method were determined to be 98.5, 98.1 and 100%, respectively. The DNA method was further validated in a collaborative inter-laboratory trial according to ISO 16140, 2003. The validated methods provide an accurate means for the rapid detection and tracking of S. enterica serovars giving equivalent results to the standard method within three days, thus providing an alternative testing method to the reference microbiological method. The real-time PCR methodology not only offers significant time-saving advantages compared to traditional methods, it can also be applied to a wide range of samples types.     

Evaluation of touch-down real-time PCR based on SYBR Green I fluorescent dye for the detection of Neisseria meningitidis in clinical samples

Antibiotic treatment prior to transport or admission of patients to hospital has reduced the proportion of patients with invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) from whom Neisseria meningitidis can be isolated by standard microbiological techniques. Assays to detect the crgA gene were used to detect meningococcal DNA by both conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and real-time PCR (RTPCR) in relation to microbiological diagnosis of cases over two years between 2002 and 2003. The sensitivity of both PCR assays for culture-confirmed cases was 93% and the specificity was 98.6%. Agreement between the two PCR assays was 96.2%. The inter- and intra-assay variations and effects of different amounts of DNA on the melting temperatures were examined. The touch-down RTPCR based on SYBR Green I fluorescent dye detected and characterized N. meningitidis in clinical samples within one hour.     

Quantification of class 1 integron abundance in natural environments using real-time quantitative PCR

Integrons are bacterial genetic elements capable of capturing and expressing potentially adaptive genetic material. Class 1 integrons constitute the most intensely studied group of these elements to date, mainly due to their well-established role in the acquisition and dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes in clinical environments. However, virtually nothing is known about the distribution or abundance of class 1 integrons outside of the clinical context. Here we develop a SYBR Green-based real-time quantitative PCR assay capable of quantifying the abundance of class 1 integrons in environmental samples. It was shown that the abundance of the intI1 gene in creek sediment correlates with ecological condition, implying that class 1 integrons provide selective advantages relevant to environmental pressures other than the use of antibiotics. By comparing the quantities of intI1 and 16S rRNA gene in each sample, it was demonstrated that approximately 2.7% of cells potentially harbour a class 1 integron. These findings suggest that class 1 integrons are widespread in natural environments removed from clinical settings and occur in a broader range of host organisms than had previously been assumed on the basis of culture-dependent estimates.     

Quantification of Microthrix parvicella in activated sludge bacterial communities by real-time PCR

AIMS: This study was to develop a simple and reliable method for quantifying Microthrix parvicella 16S rRNA gene copies and its application to activated sludge samples collected from wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) with and without foaming problems. METHODS AND RESULTS: The relative frequency of M. parvicella was determined by combining real-time PCR assays for quantification of total bacterial 16S rRNA gene copies and M. parvicella 16S rRNA gene copies. The developed method was applied to analyse 32 activated sludge samples obtained from German WWTP. The level of M. parvicella 16S rRNA gene copies in the 18 nonfoaming samples was below 3% of the total number of 16S rRNA gene copies and in the range of 0-18% for the 14 foaming samples. CONCLUSIONS: The described method allows reliable monitoring of the amount of M. parvicella in activated sludge samples. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The described method may become an important component of a warning system for forthcoming bulking and foaming episodes.     

SYBR Green I荧光RT-PCR法检测贝类中的诺如病毒

针对诺如病毒II型的保守区域设计引物,建立了SYBR Green I实时荧光RT-PCR检测诺如病毒II型的反应体系。此方法的病毒检测下限达到102拷贝,标准曲线的线形范围为102~106拷贝,相关系数为0.9952,斜率为?2.982,截距为35.84。对诺如病毒II型检测特异,与轮状病毒、腺病毒、甲肝病毒、星状病毒无交叉反应。针对质粒标准品检测的批内试验变异系数 (CV) 为0.95％~1.69％ (n=5),批间试验CV为0.87％~1.24％ (n=3)。运用此方法随机检测30份贝类水产品,检测出2份阳性样品。结果表明,SYBR Green I荧光RT-PCR检测诺如病毒II型的方法灵敏、特异、重复性好,可应用于贝类水产品的快速检测。     

PCR detection of Salmonella spp. using primers targeting the quorum sensing gene sdiA

Bacteria communicate with one another and with their host using chemical signalling molecules. This phenomenon is generally described as quorum sensing. A set of primers for PCR detection of Salmonella spp. has been designed using as target the sdiA gene which encodes a signal receptor of the LuxR family. The PCR product (274 bp) was confirmed by sequencing. A number of 81 non-Salmonella strains (representing 24 different species) were tested and gave negative results, while a total of 101 different serotypes of Salmonella (155 strains) tested positive for the presence of the sdiA gene. The sensitivity and specificity of the sdiA-based PCR assay were also checked in artificially contaminated human faecal samples. In this study, we demonstrate that quorum sensing genes can be successfully exploited as diagnostic markers.