不同DNA抽提方法对普通PCR和实时荧光定量PCR方法检测家蚕微孢子虫的影响

为了优选快速、 灵敏、 特异的家蚕微孢子虫Nosema bombycis分子检测方法和DNA抽提方法, 本文通过对家蚕微孢子虫TaqMan探针荧光定量PCR检测方法和SYBR Green荧光定量PCR检测方法的建立以及反应体系优化, 并与普通PCR方法进行比较; 再采用4种不同DNA抽提方法分别对PCR和实时荧光定量PCR方法检测家蚕微孢子虫悬浮液的效果评价。结果显示: 不经过DNA抽提, 直接将家蚕微孢子虫发芽液进行PCR反应的效果优于其他方法, 检测灵敏度由高到低依次为直接法、 酚/氯仿抽提法、 动物组织DNA试剂盒抽提法和植物组织DNA试剂盒抽提法; TaqMan探针法检测家蚕微孢子虫发芽液的灵敏度和SYBR Green法相近, 达到微孢子10²个/mL, 两者均优于普通PCR方法。实验表明, 直接采用发芽液结合荧光定量PCR方法检测家蚕微孢子虫最为简便、 快速、 灵敏。该研究结果将有助于提高家蚕微粒子病监控技术和检疫能力, 对家蚕微粒子病的检疫和防治具有积极意义。     

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。     

一种检测马尔尼菲青霉菌实时荧光定量PCR方法的建立和应用

目的:建立一种检测马尔尼菲青霉菌的实时荧光定量PCR的方法。方法:针对马尔尼菲青霉菌5.8S rRNA设计特异性PCR引物,采用核酸荧光染料SYBR GreenⅠ进行实时荧光定量PCR检测,探讨该方法的灵敏度和特异性,并进行临床样品检测验证。结果:该方法的特异性较好,与该菌属内的其他细菌间无交叉反应;灵敏度可检测出10个细胞/mL全血,在检测范围内线性良好,相关系数R2=0.981。临床样品检测和传统的培养方法结果完全相符。结论:该方法特异性好,灵敏度高,操作简单,检测时间短;临床样品检测具有很好的准确性,从本研究的结果显示实时荧光定量PCR方法在检测马尔尼菲青霉菌中的应用可以大大缩短临床的诊断时间,提高临床诊断的准确度和效率。     

免疫捕获PCR法快速检测金黄色葡萄球菌

旨在建立一种快速检测金黄色葡萄球菌(Staphylococcus aureus,SA)免疫捕获PCR技术,并探讨其灵敏度和特异性。SA特异性抗体包被PCR管以富集待测样品中目标菌,之后在同一PCR管里直接进行免疫捕获PCR,并和直接PCR比较。免疫捕获PCR法可特异性检测2株SA菌株,而无法检测到其它8种常见食源性致病菌,说明该方法对SA具有良好的特异性;该方法对纯菌液而言,检测灵敏度可达到2.35×102CFU/mL,是直接PCR的100倍;对5种食品模拟带菌检测发现,无需增菌培养,其灵敏度可达到2.35×103-2.35×104CFU/mL,是直接PCR的10-100倍。免疫捕获PCR法集免疫学与分子生物学检测技术于一体,具有高特异性、高灵敏度、检测快速、易于操作、成本低廉等诸多优点,是一种适合基层实验室使用的检测技术。     

甘蔗杆状病毒荧光定量PCR检测方法的建立及初步应用

为建立一种能够快速、灵敏、特异的检测甘蔗杆状病毒(sugarcane bacilliform virus, SCBV)的SYBR GreenⅠ荧光定量PCR方法,针对SCBV的基因序列,设计了特异性扩增引物,利用构建的标准品建立和优化针对SCBV的荧光定量PCR检测方法,并对该方法进行了特异性、稳定性、灵敏性等的测试,随后用于田间样品的检测。结果表明:将含有SCBV基因组序列的重组质粒进行梯度稀释制成标准品,利用标准品进行荧光定量PCR,获得标准曲线y=-3.482 1x+37.264,相关系数r~2=0.999 9,说明CT值与反应起始模板数量呈线性关系,可进行准确定量;组内和组间变异系数在0.19%～1.68%之间,表明检测方法重复性良好;建立的荧光定量PCR方法最低可检测到10个拷贝重组质粒/μL,是常规PCR检测灵敏度的100倍。使用建立的荧光定量PCR方法和常规PCR方法对采集的90份甘蔗叶片样品进行检测,常规PCR检出53份阳性样品,荧光定量PCR检出56份阳性样品,表明所建立的荧光定量PCR方法较常规PCR敏感性高,且准确性高。本研究建立的SCBV荧光定量PCR检测方法重复性好,灵敏度高,为构建甘蔗健康种苗体系提供了一种高效检测方法。     

嗜肺军团菌实时荧光定量PCR快速检测方法的建立

目的：建立针对嗜肺军团菌Mip基因的实时荧光定量TaqMan PCR检测方法,并进行自来水和空调冷却水模拟标本的检测评价。方法：根据嗜肺军团菌Mip基因的特异性序列设计引物和TaqMan探针,建立嗜肺军团菌的实时荧光定量TaqMan PCR快速检测方法,对方法进行灵敏度及特异性评价,并对自来水和空调冷却水模拟标本中的嗜肺军团菌进行检测。结果：建立的方法对嗜肺军团菌的检测具有高度特异性,与3种非嗜肺军团菌和6种其他呼吸道病原均没有交叉反应;基因组DNA的检测灵敏度为1.6pg／μL,模拟自来水和空调冷却水标本的检测灵敏度为10CFU／mL。结论：建立的TaqMan荧光定量PCR方法特异、灵敏、快速,适于嗜肺军团菌的日常监测和暴发疫情的应急诊断。     

应用改良的实时TaqMan荧光定量 RT-PCR技术检测口蹄疫病毒及其3D基因转录水平

将改良的实时TaqMan荧光定量RT-PCR技术应用于口蹄疫病毒感染体内和体外的定量检测以及其3D基因转录水平分析.结果表明对样品中口蹄疫病毒基因组RNA的检测灵敏度可达l0个基因拷贝,可同时检测病毒正负链复制水平且重复性较好,所测口蹄疫病毒3D基因转录水平可高达6.9×104拷贝/μL;与实时SYBR GreenⅠ染料RT-PCR技术比较,改良的实时TagMan荧光定量RT-PCR技术检测灵敏度高6.7倍.以上结果证实,改良的实时TaqMan荧光定量RT-PCR技术在病毒检测和基因表达水平分析方面有更高的灵敏度和特异性.     

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。     

腐皮镰刀菌SYBR Green实时荧光定量PCR快速检测方法的建立

目的建立一种能够快速、灵敏、特异的鉴定腐皮镰刀菌的SYBR Green实时荧光定量PCR。方法运用SYBR Green实时荧光定量PCR反应体系检测腐皮镰刀菌,并对此方法的特异性、灵敏度和稳定性进行评价。结果通过对45例样品的检测,结果显示SYBR Green实时荧光定量PCR特异性好,其检出率高于普通PCR;灵敏度高,对重组质粒标准品的检测灵敏度为1.0×10~2copies/μL;稳定性好,对质粒为1.0×10~7copies/μL、1.0×10~5copies/μL、1.0×10~3copies/μL的标准品重复检测10次,结果显示扩增反应Ct值的变异系数为0.96%~1.68%。结论SYBR Green实时荧光定量PCR检测腐皮镰刀菌,不仅特异性好,灵敏度高,稳定性好,而且简便、快速、易操作。     

荧光定量PCR与LAMP检测IHHNV的特异性和灵敏性比较

传染性皮下及造血器官坏死病毒(IHHNV)是世界各地养殖对虾的重要病毒性病原之一,给对虾养殖业造成严重经济损失.研究建立了检测IHHNV的荧光定量PCR和环介导等温核酸扩增(Loop-mediated isothermal amplification,LAMP)两种技术,并对它们的特异性和灵敏性进行了比较.结果显示,所建立的荧光定量PCR检测IHHNV的方法最低检测限度为6个DNA拷贝/反应,在待扩增DNA浓度为6.038×104-6.038×109cps/mL,范围时,模板浓度与循环阈值Ct之间的相关性良好,决定系数r2为0.99521;对5份白斑综合症病毒基因组DNA和10份健康对虾基因组DNA样品进行荧光定量PCR检测,结果都为阴性;这说明荧光定量PCR检测IHHNV方法具有灵敏度高、特异性高和精确性高等优点.同样,所建立的LAMP检测IHHNV的方法在60min反应时间内也可榆测到最低为6个拷贝的DNA模板,反应产物加入荧光染料SYBR Green Ⅰ后反应液呈现明显的亮绿色,且特异的检测IHHNV DNA模板;这说明所建立的LAMP检测IHHNV的方法具有荧光定量PCR方法相当的灵敏度、特异性和精确性.考虑到LAMP检测方法操作更为简单、方便,而且不需要昂贵的仪器,LAMP检测IHHNV的方法更适合于对虾养殖现场检测的推广使用.     

Evaluation of DNA extraction methods for use in combination with SYBR green I real-time PCR to detect Salmonella enterica serotype enteritidis in poultry

The objective of this study was to develop a rapid, reproducible, and robust method for detecting Salmonella enterica serotype Enteritidis in poultry samples. First, for the extraction and purification of DNA from the preenrichment culture, four methods (boiling, alkaline lysis, Nucleospin, and Dynabeads DNA Direct System I) were compared. The most effective method was then combined with a real-time PCR method based on the double-stranded DNA binding dye SYBR Green I used with the ABI Prism 7700 system. The specificity of the reaction was determined by the melting temperature (T(m)) of the amplicon obtained. The experiments were conducted both on samples of chicken experimentally contaminated with serotype Enteritidis and on commercially available poultry samples, which were also used for comparisons with the standard cultural method (i.e., ISO 6579/2001). The results of comparisons among the four DNA extraction methods showed significant differences except for the results from the boiling and Nucleospin methods (the two methods that produced the lowest threshold cycles). Boiling was selected as the preferred extraction method because it is the simplest and most rapid. This method was then combined with SYBR Green I real-time PCR, using primers SEFA-1 and SEFA-2. The specificity of the reaction was confirmed by the T(m), which was consistently specific for the amplicon obtained; the mean peak T(m) obtained with curves specific for serotype Enteritidis was 82.56 +/- 0.22 degrees C. The standard curve constructed using the mean threshold cycle and various concentrations of serotype Enteritidis (ranging from 10(3) to 10(8) CFU/ml) showed good linearity (R(2) = 0.9767) and a sensitivity limit of less than 10(3) CFU/ml. The results of this study demonstrate that the SYBR Green I real-time PCR constitutes an effective and easy-to-perform method for detecting serotype Enteritidis in poultry samples.     

Real-time quantitative PCR detection of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis and differentiation from other mycobacteria using SYBR Green and TaqMan assays

Sensitive real-time sequence detection methods based on two different chemistries were developed for Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (Map), the causative agent of Johne's disease in cattle. One is based on the detection of SYBR Green bound to PCR products and the second method is more specific, detecting the cleavage of a fluorogenic (TaqMan) probe bound to a target sequence during primer extension phase. Novel primers and probes that amplify small fragments (<80 bp) of the Map specific insertion sequence, IS900 were designed. Both the SYBR Green and TaqMan assays are sensitive, able to detect 4 fg of DNA extracted from Map strain ATCC19698. This amount of DNA corresponds to the detection of 0.8 cells. Map cells were quantified directly from 7H9 broth using the SYBR Green assay and compared to dilutions of DNA extracted from an equivalent number of cells. The SYBR Green assay of 7H9 broth resulted in a minimum detectable limit of 0.07 cells (equivalent to 0.34 fg of DNA). Media ingredients were not observed to interfere with the assay. Since no extraction step was necessary in the direct cell measurements, direct detection was ten-fold more sensitive than detection of extracted DNA. Both SYBR Green and TaqMan assays are highly specific for the detection of Map. They did not detect any closely related members of the avium complex, other species of mycobacteria, or related genera that are likely to be present in environmental samples. No reporter signal was detected during TaqMan assays performed with 100 pg of template DNA from the non-Map organisms.     

SYBR Green I and TaqMan quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction methods for the determination of amplification of Plasmodium falciparum multidrug resistance-1 gene (pfmdr1)

The pfmdr1 gene, which encodes P-glycoprotein homolog 1, has been shown to be a reliable marker of resistance for Plasmodium falciparum related to artesunate and mefloquine combination therapy. The aims of this study are to investigate the copy number of pfmdr1 in P. falciparum isolates collected from the 4 malaria-endemic areas of Thailand (Kanchanaburi, Mae Hongson, Ranong, and Tak) along the Thailand-Myanmar (Burma) border (Thai-Myanmar border) by using SYBR Green I and the standard method TaqMan real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and to compare the efficiency (sensitivity and specificity) of SYBR Green I with TaqMan RT-quantitative (q)PCR methods in determining pfmdr1 gene copy number. Ninety-six blood samples were collected onto filter paper from patients with uncomplicated falciparum malaria who attended malaria clinics in the Kanchanaburi (n = 45), Mae Hongson (n = 18), Ranong (n = 11), and Tak (n = 22) provinces in Thailand. Parasite genomic DNA was extracted from dried blood spots by using QIAcube? automated sample preparation. Pfmdr1 gene copy number was determined by TaqMan (63 samples) and SYBR Green I (96 samples) real-time PCR. Seventy-one (74.0%), 14 (14.6%), 10 (10.4%), and 1 (1%) isolates carried 1, 2, 3, and 4 pfmdr1 gene copies, respectively. Forty-three of 48 (89.6%), 6 of 11 (54.5%), and 3 of 4 (75.0%) samples, respectively, showed agreement with results of 1, 2, and 3 pfmdr1 gene copies as determined by both methods. The efficiency of SYBR Green I in identifying pfmdr1 gene copy number was found to be significantly correlated with that of TaqMan. Considering its simplicity and relatively low cost, SYBR Green I RT-qPCR is therefore a promising alternative technique for the determination of pfmdr1 copy number.     

Evaluation of DNA Extraction Methods for Use in Combination with SYBR Green I Real-Time PCR To Detect Salmonella enterica Serotype Enteritidis in Poultry

The objective of this study was to develop a rapid, reproducible, and robust method for detecting Salmonella enterica serotype Enteritidis in poultry samples. First, for the extraction and purification of DNA from the preenrichment culture, four methods (boiling, alkaline lysis, Nucleospin, and Dynabeads DNA Direct System I) were compared. The most effective method was then combined with a real-time PCR method based on the double-stranded DNA binding dye SYBR Green I used with the ABI Prism 7700 system. The specificity of the reaction was determined by the melting temperature (T_m) of the amplicon obtained. The experiments were conducted both on samples of chicken experimentally contaminated with serotype Enteritidis and on commercially available poultry samples, which were also used for comparisons with the standard cultural method (i.e., ISO 6579/2001). The results of comparisons among the four DNA extraction methods showed significant differences except for the results from the boiling and Nucleospin methods (the two methods that produced the lowest threshold cycles). Boiling was selected as the preferred extraction method because it is the simplest and most rapid. This method was then combined with SYBR Green I real-time PCR, using primers SEFA-1 and SEFA-2. The specificity of the reaction was confirmed by the T_m, which was consistently specific for the amplicon obtained; the mean peak T_m obtained with curves specific for serotype Enteritidis was 82.56 ± 0.22°C. The standard curve constructed using the mean threshold cycle and various concentrations of serotype Enteritidis (ranging from 10³ to 10⁸ CFU/ml) showed good linearity (R² = 0.9767) and a sensitivity limit of less than 10³ CFU/ml. The results of this study demonstrate that the SYBR Green I real-time PCR constitutes an effective and easy-to-perform method for detecting serotype Enteritidis in poultry samples.     

Comparison of different approaches to quantify Staphylococcus aureus cells by real-time quantitative PCR and application of this technique for examination of cheese.

Two different real-time quantitative PCR (RTQ-PCR) approaches were applied for PCR-based quantification of Staphylococcus aureus cells by targeting the thermonuclease (nuc) gene. Purified DNA extracts from pure cultures of S. aureus were quantified in a LightCycler system using SYBR Green I. Quantification proved to be less sensitive (60 nuc gene copies/microl) than using a fluorigenic TaqMan probe (6 nuc gene copies/microl). Comparison of the LightCycler system and the well-established ABI Prism 7700 SDS with TaqMan probes revealed no statistically significant differences with respect to sensitivity and reproducibility. Application of the RTQ-PCR assay to quantify S. aureus cells in artificially contaminated cheeses of different types achieved sensitivities from 1.5 x 10(2) to 6.4 x 10(2) copies of the nuc gene/2 g, depending on the cheese matrix. The coefficients of correlation between log CFU and nuc gene copy numbers ranged from 0.979 to 0.998, thus enabling calculation of the number of CFU of S. aureus in cheese by performing RTQ-PCR.     

Specific detection of Aspergillus carbonarius by SYBR® Green and TaqMan® quantitative PCR assays based on the multicopy ITS2 region of the rRNA gene

Agroproducts contaminated by ochratoxin A (OTA) represent a risk for human and animal health and, therefore, maximum limits have been established by Food Safety Authorities. Reduction of OTA contamination may be accomplished by early detection of OTA-producing fungal species using rapid, specific and sensitive detection and quantification by PCR-based methods. Aspergillus carbonarius is one of the most important OTA-producing species, in particular in grapes and derivatives from Mediterranean regions. In this work, highly efficient quantitative PCR assays using SYBR Green I and TaqMan methods were developed for specific detection of A. carbonarius to be used in grapes. The primers and the TaqMan probe were based on the internal transcribed region 2 multicopy region (internal 2 sequence of the rRNA gene). The specificity and sensitivity of both assays were tested on genomic DNA mixtures of several A. carbonarius strains and other fungal species frequently present in grapes. Both methods were also compared using grapes inoculated with different spore concentrations of A. carbonarius , detecting up to 0.4 pg DNA g⁻¹ grape berries. The efficiency and sensitivity of both methods were comparable and only the lower cost of SYBR Green might favour its use in routine screenings.     

Comparison of the utility of five commercial kits for extraction of DNA from Aspergillus fumigatus spores

The aim of this study was to compare the efficiency of DNA extraction from water as well as from blood samples spiked with A. fumigatus spores, using selected commercial kits. Extraction of DNA according to manufacturer's protocols was preceded by blood cells lysis and disruption of fungal cells by enzymatic digestion or bead beating. The efficiency of DNA extraction was measured by PCR using Aspergillus-specific primers and SYBR Green I dye or TaqMan probes targeting 28S rRNA gene. All methods allowed the detection of Aspergillus at the lowest tested density of water suspensions of spores (101 cells/ml). The highest DNA yield was obtained using the ZR Fungal/Bacterial DNA kit, YeastStar Genomic DNA kit, and QIAamp DNA Mini kit with mechanical cell disruption. The ZR Fungal/Bacterial DNA and YeastStar kits showed the highest sensitivity in examination of blood samples spiked with Aspergillus (100 % for the detection of 102 spores and 75 % for 101 spores). Recently, the enzymatic method ceased to be recommended for examination of blood samples for Aspergillus, thus ZR Fungal/Bacterial DNA kit and QIAamp DNA Mini kit with mechanical cell disruption could be used for extraction of Aspergillus DNA from clinical samples.     

Quantitative real-time PCR assay for rapid detection of plant and human pathogenic Macrophomina phaseolina from field and environmental samples

A real-time qPCR assay was developed to detect and quantify Macrophomina phaseolina abundance in rhizosphere soil and plant tissue. Both TaqMan and SYBR green techniques were targeted on ~ 1 kb sequence characterized amplified region (SCAR) of M. phaseolina and two sets of specific primers were designed for SYBR green (MpSyK) and TaqMan (MpTqK) assays. No cross-hybridization and no fluorescent signal exceeding the baseline threshold was observed in TaqMan and SYBR green assays, respectively. The minimum detection limit or sensitivity of TaqMan assay was 30 fg/μL of M. phaseolina DNA and limit of quantification of M. phaseolina viable population was estimated as 0.66 × 10(5) CFU/g soil(-1) equivalent to 10 pg/μL of target DNA. This is the first report which demonstrated real-time qPCR assays with greater specificity and sensitivity to detect M. phaseolina population in soil and plant materials.     

Quantitative PCR in the diagnosis of Leishmania

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a sensitive and rapid method for the diagnosis of canine Leishmania infection and can be performed on a variety of biological samples, including peripheral blood, lymph node, bone marrow and skin. Standard PCR requires electrophoretic analysis of the amplification products and is usually not suitable for quantification of the template DNA (unless competitor-based or other methods are developed), being of reduced usefulness when accurate monitoring of target DNA is required. Quantitative real-time PCR allows the continuous monitoring of the accumulation of PCR products during the amplification reaction. This allows the identification of the cycle of near-logarithmic PCR product generation (threshold cycle) and, by inference, the relative quantification of the template DNA present at the start of the reaction. Since the amplification product are monitored in "real-time" as they form cycle-by-cycle, no post-amplification handling is required. The absolute quantification is performed according either to an internal standard co-amplified with the sample DNA, or to an external standard curve obtained by parallel amplification of serial known concentrations of a reference DNA sequence. From the quantification of the template DNA, an estimation of the relative load of parasites in the different samples can be obtained. The advantages compared to standard and semi-quantitative PCR techniques are reduction of the assay's time and contamination risks, and improved sensitivity. As for standard PCR, the minimal components of the quantitative PCR reaction mixture are the DNA target of the amplification, an oligonucleotide primer pair flanking the target sequence, a suitable DNA polymerase, deoxynucleotides, buffer and salts. Different technologies have been set up for the monitoring of amplification products, generally based on the use of fluorescent probes. For instance, SYBR Green technology is a non-specific detection system based on a fluorescent dsDNA intercalator and it is applicable to all potential targets. TaqMan technology is more specific since performs the direct assessment of the amount of amplified DNA using a fluorescent probe specific for the target sequence flanked by the primer pair. This probe is an oligonucleotide labelled with a reporter dye (fluorescent) and a quencher (which absorbs the fluorescent signal generated by the reporter). The thermic protocol of amplification allows the binding of the fluorescent probe to the target sequence before the binding of the primers and the starting of the polymerization by Taq polymerase. During polymerization, 5'-3' exonuclease activity of Taq polymerase digests the probe and in this way the reporter dye is released from the probe and a fluorescent signal is detected. The intensity of the signal accumulates at the end of each cycle and is related to the amount of the amplification product. In recent years, quantitative PCR methods based either on SYBR Green or TaqMan technology have been set up for the quantification of Leishmania in mouse liver, mouse skin and human peripheral blood, targeting either single-copy chromosomal or multi-copy minicircle sequences with high sensitivity and reproducibility. In particular, real-time PCR seems to be a reliable, rapid and noninvasive method for the diagnosis and follow up of visceral leishmaniasis in humans. At present, the application of real-time PCR for research and clinical diagnosis of Leishmania infection in dogs is still foreseable. As for standard PCR, the high sensitivity of real-time PCR could allow the use of blood sampling that is less invasive and easily performed for monitoring the status of the dogs. The development of a real-time PCR assay for Leishmania infantum infection in dogs could support the standard and optimized serological and PCR methods currenly in use for the diagnosis and follow-up of canine leishmaniasis, and perhaps prediction of recurrences associated with tissue loads of residual pathogens after treatment. At this regard, a TaqMan Real Time PCR method developed for the quantification of Leishmania infantum minicircle DNA in peripheral blood of naturally infected dogs sampled before and at different time points after the beginning of a standard antileishmanial therapy will be illustrated.     

Quantitative PCR for glucose transporter and tristetraprolin family gene expression in cultured mouse adipocytes and macrophages

Quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) such as TaqMan and SYBR Green qPCR are widely used for gene expression analysis. The drawbacks of SYBR Green assay are that the dye binds to any double-stranded DNA which can generate false-positive signals and that the length of the amplicon affects the intensity of the amplification. Previous results demonstrate that TaqMan assay is more sensitive but generates lower calculated expression levels than SYBR Green assay in quantifying seven mRNAs in tung tree tissues. The objective of this study is to expand the analysis using animal cells. We compared both qPCR assays for quantifying 24 mRNAs including those coding for glucose transporter (Glut) and mRNA-binding protein tristetraprolin (TTP) in mouse 3T3-L1 adipocytes and RAW264.7 macrophages. The results showed that SYBR Green and TaqMan qPCR were reliable for quantitative gene expression in animal cells. This result was supported by validation analysis of Glut and TTP family gene expression. However, SYBR Green qPCR overestimated the expression levels in most of the genes tested. Finally, both qPCR instruments (Bio-Rad’s CFX96 real-time system and Applied Biosystems’ Prism 7700 real-time PCR instrument) generated similar gene expression profiles in the mouse cells. These results support the conclusion that both qPCR assays (TaqMan and SYBR Green qPCR) and both qPCR instruments (Bio-Rad’s CFX96 real-time system and Applied Biosystems’ Prism 7700 real-time PCR instrument) are reliable for quantitative gene expression analyses in animal cells but SYBR Green qPCR generally overestimates gene expression levels than TaqMan qPCR.