Quantitative PCR for detection and discrimination of the bloodborne pathogen Staphylococcus epidermidis in platelet preparations using divIVA and icaA as target genes

2007 ◽  
Vol 53 (11) ◽  
pp. 1222-1231 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cherie Cameron Mastronardi ◽  
Sandra Ramírez-Arcos
Keyword(s):  
Quantitative Pcr ◽  
Internal Control ◽  
Staphylococcus Epidermidis ◽  
Target Genes ◽  
White Blood Cells ◽  
Virulence Gene ◽  
Qpcr Assay ◽  
Platelet Storage ◽  
Highly Sensitive ◽  
Internal Sequence

Bacterial contamination of blood components is the major microbiological cause of transfusion-associated morbidity, with Staphylococcus epidermidis being the most frequently isolated organism from contaminated platelet preparations (PPs). We have recently shown that S. epidermidis forms biofilms during platelet storage, which might account for reported missed detection during routine screening. In this study, we developed a highly sensitive and specific multiplex quantitative PCR (QPCR) assay to detect S. epidermidis in PPs at levels of 102–103 cfu/mL. A specific primer pair and hydrolysis probe were designed to amplify an internal region of the cell division divIVA gene that is unique to S. epidermidis. In addition, an internal sequence of the virulence gene icaA, which is involved in the synthesis of the S. epidermidis biofilm matrix, was selected to allow for differentiation of potentially biofilm-forming S. epidermidis isolates. A conserved region of the 8 alleles of the HLA-DQα1 locus present in residual white blood cells in PPs was selected as an internal control for the assay. The specificity of this assay was confirmed, as other staphylococcal species that were tested with the optimized parameters were not detected. This QPCR assay could be adaptable for the detection of other bloodborne bacterial pathogens.

scholarly journals Accurate, Fast and Cost-Effective Diagnostic Test for Monosomy 1p36 Using Real-Time Quantitative PCR

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Pricila da Silva Cunha ◽  
Heloisa B. Pena ◽  
Carla Sustek D’Angelo ◽  
Celia P. Koiffmann ◽  
Jill A. Rosenfeld ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Real Time ◽  
Diagnostic Test ◽  
Quantitative Pcr ◽  
Target Genes ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Qpcr Assay ◽  
Deletion Syndrome ◽  
Comparative Genomic ◽  
Real Time Quantitative Pcr ◽  
Subtelomeric Deletion

Monosomy 1p36 is considered the most common subtelomeric deletion syndrome in humans and it accounts for 0.5–0.7% of all the cases of idiopathic intellectual disability. The molecular diagnosis is often made by microarray-based comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH), which has the drawback of being a high-cost technique. However, patients with classic monosomy 1p36 share some typical clinical characteristics that, together with its common prevalence, justify the development of a less expensive, targeted diagnostic method. In this study, we developed a simple, rapid, and inexpensive real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay for targeted diagnosis of monosomy 1p36, easily accessible for low-budget laboratories in developing countries. For this, we have chosen two target genes which are deleted in the majority of patients with monosomy 1p36:PRKCZandSKI. In total, 39 patients previously diagnosed with monosomy 1p36 by aCGH, fluorescentin situhybridization (FISH), and/or multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) all tested positive on our qPCR assay. By simultaneously using these two genes we have been able to detect 1p36 deletions with 100% sensitivity and 100% specificity. We conclude that qPCR ofPRKCZandSKIis a fast and accurate diagnostic test for monosomy 1p36, costing less than 10 US dollars in reagent costs.

scholarly journals Detection of Coxiella burnetii in Complex Matrices by Using Multiplex Quantitative PCR during a Major Q Fever Outbreak in The Netherlands

2011 ◽  
Vol 77 (18) ◽  
pp. 6516-6523 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. de Bruin ◽  
A. de Groot ◽  
L. de Heer ◽  
J. Bok ◽  
P. R. Wielinga ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bacillus Thuringiensis ◽  
The Netherlands ◽  
Quantitative Pcr ◽  
Coxiella Burnetii ◽  
Internal Control ◽  
Q Fever ◽  
Qpcr Assay ◽  
Environmental Matrices ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Control Target

ABSTRACTQ fever, caused byCoxiella burnetii, is a zoonosis with a worldwide distribution. A large rural area in the southeast of the Netherlands was heavily affected by Q fever between 2007 and 2009. This initiated the development of a robust and internally controlled multiplex quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay for the detection ofC. burnetiiDNA in veterinary and environmental matrices on suspected Q fever-affected farms. The qPCR detects threeC. burnetiitargets (icd,com1, and IS1111) and oneBacillus thuringiensisinternal control target (cry1b).Bacillus thuringiensisspores were added to samples to control both DNA extraction and PCR amplification. The performance of the qPCR assay was investigated and showed a high efficiency; a limit of detection of 13.0, 10.6, and 10.4 copies per reaction for the targetsicd,com1, and IS1111, respectively; and no cross-reactivity with the nontarget organisms tested. Screening forC. burnetiiDNA on 29 suspected Q fever-affected farms during the Q fever epidemic in 2008 showed that swabs from dust-accumulating surfaces contained higher levels ofC. burnetiiDNA than vaginal swabs from goats or sheep. PCR inhibition by coextracted substances was observed in some environmental samples, and 10- or 100-fold dilutions of samples were sufficient to obtain interpretable signals for both theC. burnetiitargets and the internal control. The inclusion of an internal control target and threeC. burnetiitargets in one multiplex qPCR assay showed that complex veterinary and environmental matrices can be screened reliably for the presence ofC. burnetiiDNA during an outbreak.

A Quantitative PCR Assay for Rapid Detection of Shigella Species in Fresh Produce

2010 ◽  
Vol 73 (2) ◽  
pp. 221-233 ◽  
Author(s):  
WEN S. LIN ◽  
CHORNG-MING CHENG ◽  
KHANH T. VAN
Keyword(s):  
Detection Limit ◽  
Quantitative Pcr ◽  
Fresh Produce ◽  
Food Samples ◽  
Qpcr Assay ◽  
Taqman Probe ◽  
Shigella Species ◽  
Highly Sensitive ◽  
Pure Cultures ◽  
Quantitative Pcr Assay

A quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay with two primers and a TaqMan probe targeting conserved regions of the specific ipaH gene of Shigella species and enteroinvasive Escherichia coli (EIEC) were developed. This qPCR assay was used to identify 206 Shigella strains (including four Shigella species with all serotypes and two provisional Shigella species), 3 EIEC strains, and 113 non-Shigella strains with 100% accuracy. Pure cultures of six Shigella reference strains were used to derive standard curves to determine the detection limit and efficiency of the qPCR method. The ipaH qPCR assay had an equally low detection limit (0.12 to 0.74 CFU per PCR) for the four Shigella species tested. The average qPCR efficiency was 99.29% (95.36 to 103.92%). The detection limit of the qPCR assay tested on 15 varieties of inoculated fresh produce ranged from 0.4 to 16 CFU/100 ml of buffer rinse. This qPCR assay took the variation of wild-type nucleotides into consideration and was used successfully to screen fresh produce. This highly sensitive qPCR assay can be completed within 24 h and has potential use as a screening tool for all four Shigella species and EIEC in food samples.

scholarly journals A Modified Method to Isolate Circulating Tumor Cells and Identify by a Panel of Gene Mutations in Lung Cancer

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 ◽  
pp. 153303382199527
Author(s):  
Helin Wang ◽  
Jieqing Wu ◽  
Qi Zhang ◽  
Jianqing Hao ◽  
Ying Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lung Cancer ◽  
Tumor Cells ◽  
Circulating Tumor Cells ◽  
Detection Rate ◽  
Target Genes ◽  
White Blood Cells ◽  
Gene Mutations ◽  
Copy Number Variations ◽  
Immunomagnetic Beads ◽  
Membrane Rupture

The CellSearch system is the only FDA approved and successful used detection technology for circulating tumor cells(CTCs). However, the process for identification of CTCs by CellSearch appear to damage the cells, which may adversely affects subsequent molecular biology assays. We aimed to explore and establish a membrane-preserving method for immunofluorescence identification of CTCs that keeping the isolated cells intact. 98 patients with lung cancer were enrolled, and the efficacy of clinical detection of CTCs was examined. Based on the CellSearch principle, we optimized an anti-EpCAM antibody and improved cell membrane rupture. A 5 ml peripheral blood sample was used to enrich CTCs with EpCAM immunomagnetic beads. Fluorescence signals were amplified with secondary antibodies against anti-EpCAM antibody attached on immunomagnetic beads. After identifying CTCs, single CTCs were isolated by micromanipulation. To confirm CTCs, genomic DNA was extracted and amplified at the single cell level to sequence 72 target genes of lung cancer and analyze the mutation copy number variations (CNVs) and gene mutations. A goat anti-mouse polyclonal antibody conjugated with Dylight 488 was selected to stain tumor cells. We identified CTCs based on EpCAM+ and CD45+ cells to exclude white blood cells. In the 98 lung cancer patients, the detection rate of CTCs (≥1 CTC) per 5 ml blood was 87.76%, the number of detections was 1–36, and the median was 2. By sequencing 72 lung cancer-associated genes, we found a high level of CNVs and gene mutations characteristic of tumor cells. We established a new CTCs staining scheme that significantly improves the detection rate and allows further analysis of CTCs characteristics at the genetic level.

scholarly journals Development of a Highly Sensitive FcMito qPCR Assay for the Quantification of the Toxigenic Fungal Plant Pathogen Fusarium culmorum

Toxins ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 211 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katarzyna Bilska ◽  
Tomasz Kulik ◽  
Anna Ostrowska-Kołodziejczak ◽  
Maciej Buśko ◽  
Matias Pasquali ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plant Pathogen ◽  
Fusarium Culmorum ◽  
Qpcr Assay ◽  
Highly Sensitive ◽  
Fungal Plant Pathogen

Multiplex Quantitative PCR Assays for the Detection and Quantification of the Six Major Non-O157 Escherichia coli Serogroups in Cattle Feces†

2016 ◽  
Vol 79 (1) ◽  
pp. 66-74 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. B. SHRIDHAR ◽  
L. W. NOLL ◽  
X. SHI ◽  
B. AN ◽  
N. CERNICCHIARO ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Quantitative Pcr ◽  
Foodborne Pathogens ◽  
Virulence Genes ◽  
Target Genes ◽  
Culture Methods ◽  
Fecal Samples ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Cattle Feces ◽  
Before And After

ABSTRACT Shiga toxin–producing Escherichia coli (STEC) serogroups O26, O45, O103, O111, O121, and O145, called non-O157 STEC, are important foodborne pathogens. Cattle, a major reservoir, harbor the organisms in the hindgut and shed them in the feces. Although limited data exist on fecal shedding, concentrations of non-O157 STEC in feces have not been reported. The objectives of our study were (i) to develop and validate two multiplex quantitative PCR (mqPCR) assays, targeting O-antigen genes of O26, O103, and O111 (mqPCR-1) and O45, O121, and O145 (mqPCR-2); (ii) to utilize the two assays, together with a previously developed four-plex qPCR assay (mqPCR-3) targeting the O157 antigen and three virulence genes (stx1, stx2, and eae), to quantify seven serogroups and three virulence genes in cattle feces; and (iii) to compare the three mqPCR assays to a 10-plex conventional PCR (cPCR) targeting seven serogroups and three virulence genes and culture methods to detect seven E. coli serogroups in cattle feces. The two mqPCR assays (1 and 2) were shown to be specific to the target genes, and the detection limits were 4 and 2 log CFU/g of pure culture–spiked fecal samples, before and after enrichment, respectively. A total of 576 fecal samples collected from a feedlot were enriched in E. coli broth and were subjected to quantification (before enrichment) and detection (after enrichment). Of the 576 fecal samples subjected, before enrichment, to three mqPCR assays for quantification, 175 (30.4%) were quantifiable (≥4 log CFU/g) for at least one of the seven serogroups, with O157 being the most common serogroup. The three mqPCR assays detected higher proportions of postenriched fecal samples (P < 0.01) as positive for one or more serogroups compared with cPCR and culture methods. This is the first study to assess the applicability of qPCR assays to detect and quantify six non-O157 serogroups in cattle feces and to generate data on fecal concentration of the six serogroups.

Development of an FgMito assay: A highly sensitive mitochondrial based qPCR assay for quantification of Fusarium graminearum sensu stricto

2015 ◽  
Vol 210 ◽  
pp. 16-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomasz Kulik ◽  
Anna Ostrowska ◽  
Maciej Buśko ◽  
Matias Pasquali ◽  
Marco Beyer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fusarium Graminearum ◽  
Sensu Stricto ◽  
Qpcr Assay ◽  
Highly Sensitive

scholarly journals Development of an Internal Control for Evaluation and Standardization of a Quantitative PCR Assay for Detection of Helicobacter pylori in Drinking Water

2007 ◽  
Vol 73 (22) ◽  
pp. 7380-7387 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keya Sen ◽  
Nancy A. Schable ◽  
Dennis J. Lye
Keyword(s):  
Helicobacter Pylori ◽  
Drinking Water ◽  
Quantitative Pcr ◽  
Water Samples ◽  
Sodium Thiosulfate ◽  
Qpcr Assay ◽  
E Coli ◽  
H Pylori ◽  
Labeled Probe ◽  
Treated Drinking Water

ABSTRACT Due to metabolic and morphological changes that can prevent Helicobacter pylori cells in water from growing on conventional media, an H. pylori-specific TaqMan quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay was developed that uses a 6-carboxyfluorescein-labeled probe (A. E. McDaniels, L. Wymer, C. Rankin, and R. Haugland, Water Res. 39:4808-4816, 2005). However, proper internal controls are needed to provide an accurate estimate of low numbers of H. pylori in drinking water. In this study, the 135-bp amplicon described by McDaniels et al. was modified at the probe binding region, using PCR mutagenesis. The fragment was incorporated into a single-copy plasmid to serve as a PCR-positive control and cloned into Escherichia coli to serve as a matrix spike. It was shown to have a detection limit of five copies, using a VIC dye-labeled probe. A DNA extraction kit was optimized that allowed sampling of an entire liter of water. Water samples spiked with the recombinant E. coli cells were shown to behave like H. pylori cells in the qPCR assay. The recombinant E. coli cells were optimized to be used at 10 cells/liter of water, where they were shown not to compete with 5 to 3,000 cells of H. pylori in a duplex qPCR assay. Four treated drinking water samples spiked with H. pylori (100 cells) demonstrated similar cycle threshold values if the chlorine disinfectant was first neutralized by sodium thiosulfate.

scholarly journals Post-ejaculation thermal stress causes changes to the RNA profile of sperm in an external fertilizer

2020 ◽  
Vol 287 (1938) ◽  
pp. 20202147
Author(s):  
Rowan A. Lymbery ◽  
Jonathan P. Evans ◽  
W. Jason Kennington
Keyword(s):  
Stress Responses ◽  
Messenger Rna ◽  
Mytilus Galloprovincialis ◽  
Target Genes ◽  
Sperm Function ◽  
Mrna Levels ◽  
Embryo Viability ◽  
Paired Samples ◽  
Degradation Rates ◽  
Highly Sensitive

Sperm cells experience considerable post-ejaculation environmental variation. However, little is known about whether this affects their molecular composition, probably owing to the assumption that sperm are transcriptionally quiescent. Nevertheless, recent evidence shows sperm have distinct RNA profiles that affect fertilization and embryo viability. Moreover, RNAs are expected to be highly sensitive to extracellular changes. One such group of RNAs are heat shock protein (hsp) transcripts, which function in stress responses and are enriched in sperm. Here, we exploit the experimental tractability of the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis by exposing paired samples of ejaculated sperm to ambient (19°C) and increased (25°C) temperatures, then measure (i) sperm motility phenotypes, and (ii) messenger RNA (mRNA) levels of two target genes ( hsp70 and hsp90 ) and several putative reference genes. We find no phenotypic changes in motility, but reduced mRNA levels for hsp90 and the putative reference gene gapdh at 25°C. This could reflect either decay of specific RNAs, or changes in translation and degradation rates of transcripts to maintain sperm function under stress. These findings represent, to our knowledge, the first evidence for changes in sperm RNA profiles owing to post-ejaculation environments, and suggest that sperm may be more vulnerable to stress from rising temperatures than currently thought.

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