scholarly journals Quantitative Detection of Clostridium tyrobutyricum in Milk by Real-Time PCR

2007 ◽  
Vol 73 (11) ◽  
pp. 3747-3751 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lorena López-Enríquez ◽  
David Rodríguez-Lázaro ◽  
Marta Hernández

ABSTRACT We developed a real-time PCR assay for the quantitative detection of Clostridium tyrobutyricum, which has been identified as the major causal agent of late blowing in cheese. The assay was 100% specific, with an analytical sensitivity of 1 genome equivalent in 40% of the reactions. The quantification was linear (R 2 > 0.9995) over a 5-log dynamic range, down to 10 genome equivalents, with a PCR efficiency of >0.946. With optimized detergent treatment and enzymatic pretreatment of the sample before centrifugation and nucleic acid extraction, the assay counted down to 300 C. tyrobutyricum spores, with a relative accuracy of 82.98 to 107.68, and detected as few as 25 spores in 25 ml of artificially contaminated raw or ultrahigh-temperature-treated whole milk.

2005 ◽  
Vol 71 (7) ◽  
pp. 3911-3916 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark G. Wise ◽  
Gregory R. Siragusa

ABSTRACT Strains of Clostridium perfringens are a frequent cause of food-borne disease and gas gangrene and are also associated with necrotic enteritis in chickens. To detect and quantify the levels of C. perfringens in the chicken gastrointestinal tract, a quantitative real-time PCR assay utilizing a fluorogenic, hydrolysis-type probe was developed and utilized to assay material retrieved from the broiler chicken cecum and ileum. Primers and probe were selected following an alignment of 16S rDNA sequences from members of cluster I of the genus Clostridium, and proved to be specific for C. perfringens. The assay could detect approximately 50 fg of C. perfringens genomic DNA and approximately 20 cells in pure culture. Measurements of the analytical sensitivity determined with spiked intestinal contents indicated that the consistent limit of detection with ileal samples was approximately 102 CFU/g of ileal material, but only about 104 CFU/g of cecal samples. The decreased sensitivity with the cecal samples was due to the presence of an unidentified chemical PCR inhibitor(s) in the cecal DNA purifications. The assay was utilized to rapidly detect and quantify C. perfringens levels in the gut tract of broiler chickens reared without supplementary growth-promoting antibiotics that manifested symptoms of necrotic enteritis. The results illustrated that quantitative real-time PCR correlates well with quantification via standard plate counts in samples taken from the ileal region of the gastrointestinal tract.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sayantan Tripathy ◽  
Arunansu Talukdar ◽  
Goutam Pramanik ◽  
P. V. Rajesh ◽  
Souradyuti Ghosh

<b>Layman Summary: </b>Nucleic acid extraction is a key prerequisite for any nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) or isothermal NAAT (iNAAT) based molecular diagnosis assays.<b> </b>Existing methods utilizes spin column system for nucleic acid extraction which are unsuitable for limited resource settings. Our work explores two methods for chitosan coated magnetic particle preparation that can be executed within 6 h from commonly available chemicals with nothing but a magnetic stirrer and water bath and doable by a minimally trained person. We will also investigated the compatibility of the extracted nucleic acid with downstream NAATs such as real time LAMP, colorimetric LAMP, and real time PCR. In the process, we established the analytical sensitivity of the overall method.<div><br><div><b>Characterization methods</b>: SEM, XRD, EDX, FT-IR</div><div><br></div><div><b>Bioanalytical methods:</b> Real time LAMP, Colorimetric LAMP, Real time PCR</div></div>


2004 ◽  
Vol 70 (3) ◽  
pp. 1366-1377 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Rodr�guez-L�zaro ◽  
Marta Hern�ndez ◽  
Mariela Scortti ◽  
Teresa Esteve ◽  
Jos� A. V�zquez-Boland ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT We developed and assessed real-time PCR (RTi-PCR) assays for the detection and quantification of the food-borne pathogen Listeria monocytogenes and the closely related nonpathogenic species L. innocua. The target genes were hly and iap for L. monocytogenes and lin02483 for L. innocua. The assays were 100% specific, as determined with 100 Listeria strains and 45 non-Listeria strains, and highly sensitive, with detection limits of one target molecule in 11 to 56% of the reactions with purified DNA and 3 CFU in 56 to 89% of the reactions with bacterial suspensions. Quantification was possible over a 5-log dynamic range, with a limit of 15 target molecules and R 2 values of >0.996. There was an excellent correspondence between the predicted and the actual numbers of CFU in the samples (deviations of <23%). The hly-based assay accurately quantified L. monocytogenes in all of the samples tested. The iap-based assay, in contrast, was unsuitable for quantification purposes, underestimating the bacterial counts by 3 to 4 log units in a significant proportion of the samples due to serovar-related target sequence variability. The combination of the two assays enabled us to classify L. monocytogenes isolates into one of the two major phylogenetic divisions of the species, I and II. We also assessed the new AmpliFluor technology for the quantitative detection of L. monocytogenes by RTi-PCR. The performance of this system was similar to that of the TaqMan system, although the former system was slightly less sensitive (detection limit of 15 molecules in 45% of the reactions) and had a higher quantification limit (60 molecules).


Plants ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 1151
Author(s):  
Félix Morán ◽  
Chrysoula-Lito Sassalou ◽  
Celia Canales ◽  
Varvara I. Maliogka ◽  
Antonio Olmos ◽  
...  

Grapevine Roditis leaf discoloration-associated virus (GRLDaV) is an emerging grapevine pathogen included in the European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization (EPPO) alert list due to its ability to damage grapevine crops and cause production losses. This work aimed to develop a specific and reliable diagnostic tool that would contribute to preventing the spread of this pathogen. Therefore, a TaqMan real-time quantitative PCR was developed. The method was validated according to EPPO guidelines showing a high degree of analytical sensitivity, analytical specificity, selectivity, and repeatability and reproducibility. The sensitivity of this method is much higher than the sensitivity reached by previously reported methods even when tested in crude extracts, which could allow rapid testing by avoiding nucleic acid extraction steps. The method was also able to detect GRLDaV isolates from all the geographic origins reported so far, despite their high degree of genetic diversity. In addition, this new technique has been successfully applied for the quantitative detection of GRLDaV in plant material and two mealybug species, Planococcus citri and Pseudococcus viburni. In conclusion, the methodology developed herein represents a significant contribution to the diagnosis and control of this emerging pathogen in grapevine.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sayantan Tripathy ◽  
Arunansu Talukdar ◽  
Goutam Pramanik ◽  
P. V. Rajesh ◽  
Souradyuti Ghosh

<b>Layman Summary: </b>Nucleic acid extraction is a key prerequisite for any nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) or isothermal NAAT (iNAAT) based molecular diagnosis assays.<b> </b>Existing methods utilizes spin column system for nucleic acid extraction which are unsuitable for limited resource settings. Our work explores two methods for chitosan coated magnetic particle preparation that can be executed within 6 h from commonly available chemicals with nothing but a magnetic stirrer and water bath and doable by a minimally trained person. We will also investigated the compatibility of the extracted nucleic acid with downstream NAATs such as real time LAMP, colorimetric LAMP, and real time PCR. In the process, we established the analytical sensitivity of the overall method.<div><br><div><b>Characterization methods</b>: SEM, XRD, EDX, FT-IR</div><div><br></div><div><b>Bioanalytical methods:</b> Real time LAMP, Colorimetric LAMP, Real time PCR</div></div>


2006 ◽  
Vol 72 (6) ◽  
pp. 4256-4263 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Rodr�guez-L�zaro ◽  
Deborah A. Lewis ◽  
Alain A. Ocampo-Sosa ◽  
Ursula Fogarty ◽  
L�szl� Makrai ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT We developed a novel quantitative real-time PCR (Q-PCR) method for the soil actinomycete Rhodococcus equi, an important horse pathogen and emerging human pathogen. Species-specific quantification was achieved by targeting the chromosomal monocopy gene choE, universally conserved in R. equi. The choE Q-PCR included an internal amplification control (IAC) for identification of false negatives. A second Q-PCR targeted the virulence plasmid gene vapA, carried by most horse isolates but infrequently found in isolates from other sources. The choE-IAC and vapA assays were 100% sensitive and specific as determined using 178 R. equi isolates, 77 nontarget bacteria, and a panel of 60 R. equi isolates with known vapA + and vapA-negative (including vapB +) plasmid genotypes. The vapA + frequency among isolate types was as follows: horse, 85%; human, 20%; bovine and pig, 0%; others, 27%. The choE-IAC Q-PCR could detect up to one genome equivalent using R. equi DNA or 100 bacteria/ml using DNA extracted from artificially contaminated horse bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid. Quantification was linear over a 6-log dynamic range down to ≈10 target molecules (or 1,000 CFU/ml BAL fluid) with PCR efficiency E of >0.94. The vapA assay had similar performance but appeared unsuitable for accurate (vapA +) R. equi quantification due to variability in target gene or plasmid copy number (1 to 9). The dual-reaction Q-PCR system here reported offers a useful tool to both medical and veterinary diagnostic laboratories for the quantitative detection of R. equi and (optional) vapA + “horse-pathogenic” genotype determination.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Veronika Merold ◽  
Kim Silberreis ◽  
Kilian Stoecker

Real-time PCR (rtPCR) has become an essential tool in clinical microbiology and has been used for the acute diagnostics of many pathogens. Key performance indicators of rtPCR assays are their specificity as well as their analytical and clinical sensitivity. One way to maximize the sensitivity of such diagnostic rtPCRs is the use of genomic targets, which are present in several copies in the target cells. Here, we use the naturally pre-amplified ribosomal RNA as target for specific and highly sensitive reverse-transcription rtPCR detection of two high consequence pathogens, Yersinia pestis and Francisella tularensis. We determined their analytical sensitivity and illustrate that the newly designed assays are superior compared with other previous published rtPCR assays. Furthermore, we used spiked clinical sample matrices to evaluate their clinical applicability. Finally, we demonstrate that these assays can be applied on heat-inactivated samples without the need of time-consuming nucleic acid extraction.


Pathogens ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 188
Author(s):  
Tanja Hoffmann ◽  
Andreas Hahn ◽  
Jaco J. Verweij ◽  
Gérard Leboulle ◽  
Olfert Landt ◽  
...  

This study aimed to assess standard and harsher nucleic acid extraction schemes for diagnostic helminth real-time PCR approaches from stool samples. A standard procedure for nucleic acid extraction from stool and a procedure including bead-beating as well as proteinase K digestion were compared with group-, genus-, and species-specific real-time PCR assays targeting helminths and nonhelminth pathogens in human stool samples. From 25 different in-house and commercial helminth real-time PCR assays applied to 77 stool samples comprising 67 historic samples and 10 external quality assessment scheme samples positively tested for helminths, higher numbers of positive test results were observed after bead-beating-based nucleic acid extraction for 5/25 (20%) real-time PCR assays irrespective of specificity issues. Lower cycle threshold values were observed for one real-time PCR assay after the standard extraction scheme, and for four assays after the bead-beating-based scheme. Agreement between real-time PCR results after both nucleic acid extraction strategies according to Cohen’s kappa ranged from poor to almost perfect for the different assays. Varying agreement was observed in eight nonhelminth real-time PCR assays applied to 67 historic stool samples. The study indicates highly variable effects of harsh nucleic acid extraction approaches depending on the real-time PCR assay used.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 1031
Author(s):  
Roberto Zoccola ◽  
Alessia Di Blasio ◽  
Tiziana Bossotto ◽  
Angela Pontei ◽  
Maria Angelillo ◽  
...  

Mycobacterium chimaera is an emerging pathogen associated with endocarditis and vasculitis following cardiac surgery. Although it can take up to 6–8 weeks to culture on selective solid media, culture-based detection remains the gold standard for diagnosis, so more rapid methods are urgently needed. For the present study, we processed environmental M. chimaera infected simulates at volumes defined in international guidelines. Each preparation underwent real-time PCR; inoculates were placed in a VersaTREK™ automated microbial detection system and onto selective Middlebrook 7H11 agar plates. The validation tests showed that real-time PCR detected DNA up to a concentration of 10 ng/µL. A comparison of the isolation tests showed that the PCR method detected DNA in a dilution of ×102 CFU/mL in the bacterial suspensions, whereas the limit of detection in the VersaTREK™ was <10 CFU/mL. Within less than 3 days, the VersaTREK™ detected an initial bacterial load of 100 CFU. The detection limit did not seem to be influenced by NaOH decontamination or the initial water sample volume; analytical sensitivity was 1.5 × 102 CFU/mL; positivity was determined in under 15 days. VersaTREK™ can expedite mycobacterial growth in a culture. When combined with PCR, it can increase the overall recovery of mycobacteria in environmental samples, making it potentially applicable for microbial control in the hospital setting and also in environments with low levels of contamination by viable mycobacteria.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 1610
Author(s):  
Christian Klotz ◽  
Elke Radam ◽  
Sebastian Rausch ◽  
Petra Gosten-Heinrich ◽  
Toni Aebischer

Giardiasis in humans is a gastrointestinal disease transmitted by the potentially zoonotic Giardia duodenalis genotypes (assemblages) A and B. Small wild rodents such as mice and voles are discussed as potential reservoirs for G. duodenalis but are predominantly populated by the two rodent species Giardia microti and Giardia muris. Currently, the detection of zoonotic and non-zoonotic Giardia species and genotypes in these animals relies on cumbersome PCR and sequencing approaches of genetic marker genes. This hampers the risk assessment of potential zoonotic Giardia transmissions by these animals. Here, we provide a workflow based on newly developed real-time PCR schemes targeting the small ribosomal RNA multi-copy gene locus to distinguish G. muris, G. microti and G. duodenalis infections. For the identification of potentially zoonotic G. duodenalis assemblage types A and B, an established protocol targeting the single-copy gene 4E1-HP was used. The assays were specific for the distinct Giardia species or genotypes and revealed an analytical sensitivity of approximately one or below genome equivalent for the multi-copy gene and of about 10 genome equivalents for the single-copy gene. Retesting a biobank of small rodent samples confirmed the specificity. It further identified the underlying Giardia species in four out of 11 samples that could not be typed before by PCR and sequencing. The newly developed workflow has the potential to facilitate the detection of potentially zoonotic and non-zoonotic Giardia species in wild rodents.


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