scholarly journals Designing Two Synthetic Constructs for Real Time PCR Detection of Francisella tularensis and Ebola Virus

Author(s):  
Mohammadjavad Dehghan Esmat Abadi ◽  
Hesam Motalebzadeh ◽  
Mahmoud Barati ◽  
Mohammadali Yaghobi

Background: Generally, timely diagnosis of micro-organisms is very important to prevent many diseases. Many methods can detect micro-organisms like culture-based methods and molecular methods. The molecular methods are usually preferred because they provide fast and reliable results. In some cases, microbial strains are not accessible, and there is no safety to work with them; therefore, synthetic constructs which are designed according to the available sequences in databases can be used as a positive control for detection of them. Methods: In this study, a synthetic construct was designed for molecular detection of Francisella tularensis (F. tularensis) and the Ebola virus by multiplex real-time PCR reaction. For this, sequences were taken from databases and then multiple alignments were done by software. Also, conventional PCR and two models of real-time PCR (SYBR green and TaqMan) were applied. Finally, multiplex real-time PCR was performed. Results: The synthetic construct was designed and used for conventional PCR and multiplex PCR. The results of common PCR showed a single band at 148 bp and 167 bp in 1.5% agarose gel stained by ethidium bromide for F. tularensis and Ebola virus, respectively. Also, a dual-band at 148 and 167 bp was observed in multiplex PCR. Results of real-time PCR showed a limit of detection about 0.1 pg of plasmid/µl. Conclusion: In conclusion, the designed construct can be used as a positive control for an accurate diagnosis of these micro-organisms without any biological danger for laboratory staff. So, this method is useful for diagnosis of these agents in food, water, and blood samples.

2013 ◽  
Vol 62 (4) ◽  
pp. 453-455 ◽  
Author(s):  
ALEKSANDRA A. ZASADA ◽  
KAMILA FORMIŃSKA ◽  
KATARZYNA ZACHARCZUK

Rapid and accurate diagnostic tools for detection and identification of Y pestis, B. anthracis and F. tularensis are essential for timely initial appropriate treatment of exposed individuals, which will be critical to their survival, as well as for reduction of the public health impact and the spread of the disease. The paper presents application of fast polymerases and fast dry electrophoresis in conventional PCR as an alternative for real-time PCR application for detection and identification of the above pathogens. The proposed method takes less than 50 min. to obtain final results of the tests and is cheaper than real-time PCR.


Author(s):  
Nafiseh Pourmahdi ◽  
Mehdi Zeinoddini ◽  
Mohamad Javad Dehghan Esmatabadi ◽  
Fatemeh Sheikhi

Background: Yersinia pestis and Francisella tularensis cause plague and tularemia, which are known as diseases of the newborn and elderly, respectively. Immunological and culture-based detection methods of these bacteria are time-consuming, costly, complicated and require advanced equipment. We aimed to design and synthesize a gene structure as positive control for molecular detection of these bacteria. Materials and Method: Conserved regions of each bacterium were determined. A fragment containing the fopA and caf1 genes (conserved genes of F. tularensis and Y. pestis, respectively) was artificially synthesized, cloned into the pUC57 vector (pUCfopA- caf1), transformed into E. coli DH5α, and used in a multiplex PCR assay. The sensitivity of this assay was examined by serial dilution of the extracted plasmid, whereas the specificity was examined using genomes of Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, Enterobacter aerogenes, Vibrio cholerae as templates. Finally, PCR products were analyzed in agarose gel electrophoresis. Results: As expected, our analysis showed a clear dual band in the size range of 107 bp to 176 bp, confirming the presence of fopA and caf1 genes. Another 351 bp band was detected due to amplification being dependent on the forward primer of fopA and the reverse primer of caf1. Optimization of the PCR protocol reduced the amplification of this 351 bp band. The sensitivity of this assay was determined to be 36×10 −3ng/μl and the selectivity test confirmed the specificity of this method is appropriate for the detection of target genes. Conclusion: This multiplex PCR method could be used in research laboratories for identification of these important pathogens.


2008 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 362 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ricela Sellek ◽  
Oscar Jimenez ◽  
Carmen Aizpurua ◽  
Begoña Fernandez-Frutos ◽  
Patricia De Leon ◽  
...  

Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 57
Author(s):  
Eric Otto ◽  
Benjamin Held ◽  
Samuel Redford ◽  
Robert A. Blanchette

Heterobasidion irregulare is one of the most problematic forest pathogens in the northern hemisphere, but has only been found relatively recently in the north central United States. Discovered in Wisconsin in 1993, but probably established sometime before that, it quickly spread throughout the state. In November 2014, it was found in southeastern Minnesota. Field surveys were then conducted throughout Minnesota with the focus in the southeast near the initial discovery. To find additional infection sites, surveys were conducted with accompanying aerial imagery of red pine (Pinus resinosa Aiton) stands that were previously thinned. Samples were collected from selected sites with dead and dying trees as well as samples from stumps in recently thinned pine stands. These samples were processed first with a nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) protocol, which was replaced by a real-time PCR assay after its development. No samples tested positive for H. irregulare using these methods and no cultures from isolations were obtained outside the original infection area. Other indigenous fungi were also identified. The majority were wood decay fungi in the Basidiomycota. A spore collection study was also conducted after field surveys. Automated rotary arm spore collectors were used and assayed with an ITS TaqMan real-time PCR assay. Collectors were placed strategically in different areas of Minnesota. A positive control was used in an infected red pine plantation in Wisconsin and this location had the highest number of spores trapped, with 63,776 over a week period. Spores of H. irregulare were detected at several sites in Minnesota, with the highest spore total observed in traps at 413 over a week period. All other locations sampled also had some spores collected except Itasca State Park located in northwestern Minnesota. The weekly deposition of spores ranged from 0 to 1.26 m−2 h−1. Low spore levels occurring in Minnesota indicate that some spores are present, but they are currently being detected in amounts that may not be sufficient for colonization to be successful.


2021 ◽  
Vol 70 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Berta Fidalgo ◽  
Elisa Rubio ◽  
Victor Pastor ◽  
Marta Parera ◽  
Clara Ballesté-Delpierre ◽  
...  

Introduction. The identification of enteropathogens is critical for the clinical management of patients with suspected gastrointestinal infection. The FLOW multiplex PCR system (FMPS) is a semi-automated platform (FLOW System, Roche) for multiplex real-time PCR analysis. Hypothesis/Gap Statement. FMPS has greater sensitivity for the detection of enteric pathogens than standard methods such as culture, biochemical identification, immunochromatography or microscopic examination. Aim.The diagnostic performance of the FMPS was evaluated and compared to that of traditional microbiological procedures. Methodology. A total of 10 659 samples were collected and analysed over a period of 7 years. From 2013 to 2018 (every July to September), samples were processed using standard microbiological culture methods. In 2019, the FMPS was implemented using real-time PCR to detect the following enteropathogens: Shigella spp., Salmonella spp., Campylobacter spp., Giardia intestinalis, Entamoeba histolytica, Blastocystis hominis, Cryptosporidum spp., Dientamoeba fragilis, adenovirus, norovirus and rotavirus. Standard microbiological culture methods (2013–2018) included stool culture, microscopy and immunochromatography. Results. A total of 1078 stool samples were analysed prospectively using the FMPS from July to September (2019): bacterial, parasitic and viral pathogens were identified in 15.3, 9.71 and 5.29 % of cases, respectively. During the same period of 6 years (2013–2018), the proportion of positive identifications using standard microbiological methods from 2013 to 2018 was significantly lower. A major significant recovery improvement was observed for all bacteria species tested: Shigella spp./enteroinvasive Escherichia coli (EIEC) (P <0.05), Salmonella spp. (P <0.05) and Campylobacter spp. (P <0.05). Marked differences were also observed for the parasites G. intestinalis, Cryptosporidium spp. and D. fragilis. Conclusion. These results support the value of multiplex real-time PCR analysis for the detection of enteric pathogens in laboratory diagnosis with outstanding performance in identifying labile micro-organisms. The identification of unsuspected micro-organisms for less specific clinical presentations may also impact on clinical practice and help optimize patient management.


Food Control ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 98 ◽  
pp. 380-388 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaofu Wang ◽  
Ting Tang ◽  
Qingmei Miao ◽  
Shilong Xie ◽  
Xiaoyun Chen ◽  
...  

Plant Disease ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 103 (2) ◽  
pp. 345-356 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yosra Ahmed ◽  
Jacqueline Hubert ◽  
Céline Fourrier-Jeandel ◽  
Megan M. Dewdney ◽  
Jaime Aguayo ◽  
...  

Elsinoë fawcettii, E. australis, and Pseudocercospora angolensis are causal agents of citrus scab and spot diseases. The three pathogens are listed as quarantine pests in many countries and are subject to phytosanitary measures to prevent their entry. Diagnosis of these diseases based on visual symptoms is problematic, as they could be confused with other citrus diseases. Isolation of E. fawcettii, E. australis, and P. angolensis from infected tissues is challenging because they grow slowly on culture media. This study developed rapid and specific detection tools for the in planta detection of these pathogens, using either conventional PCR or one-tube multiplex real-time PCR. Primers and hybridization probes were designed to target the single-copy protein-coding gene MS204 for E. fawcettii and E. australis and the translation elongation factor (Tef-1α) gene for P. angolensis. The specificity of the assays was evaluated by testing against DNA extracted from a large number of isolates (102) collected from different citrus-growing areas in the world and from other hosts. The newly described species E. citricola was not included in the specificity test due to its unavailability from the CBS collection. The detection limits of conventional PCR for the three pathogens were 100, 100, and 10 pg μl−1 gDNA per reaction for E. fawcettii, E. australis, and P. angolensis, respectively. The quadruplex qPCR was fully validated assessing the following performance criteria: sensitivity, specificity, repeatability, reproducibility, and robustness. The quadruplex real-time PCR proved to be highly sensitive, detecting as low as 243, 241, and 242 plasmidic copies (pc) μl−1 of E. fawcettii, E. australis, and P. angolensis, respectively. Sensitivity and specificity of this quadruplex assay were further confirmed using 176 naturally infected citrus samples collected from Ethiopia, Cameroon, the United States, and Australia. The quadruplex assay developed in this study is robust, cost-effective, and capable of high-throughput detection of the three targets directly from citrus samples. This new detection tool will substantially reduce the turnaround time for reliable species identification and allow rapid response and appropriate action.


2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiyu Zhang ◽  
Ming Yao ◽  
Zhihui Tang ◽  
Daning Xu ◽  
Yan Luo ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Pathogens including duck-origin avian influenza virus (AIV), duck-origin Newcastle disease virus (NDV) and duck Tembusu virus (DTMUV) posed great harm to ducks and caused great economic losses to the duck industry. In this study, we aim to develop a triplex real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay to detect these three viruses as early as possible in the suspicious duck flocks. Results The detection limit of the triplex real-time PCR for AIV, NDV, and DTMUV was 1 × 101 copies/μL, which was at least 10 times higher than the conventional PCR. In addition, the triplex assay was highly specific, and won’t cross-react with other duck pathogens. Besides, the intra-day relative standard deviation and inter-day relative standard deviation were lower than 4.44% for these viruses at three different concentrations. Finally, a total of 120 clinical samples were evaluated by the triplex real-time PCR, the conventional PCR and virus isolation, and the positive rates for these three methods were 20.83, 21.67, 19.17%, respectively. Taking virus isolation as the gold standard, the diagnostic specificity and positive predictive value of the three viruses were all above 85%, while the diagnostic sensitivity and negative predictive value of the three viruses were all 100%. Conclusion The developed triplex real-time PCR is fast, specific and sensitive, and is feasible and effective for the simultaneous detection of AIV, NDV, and DTMUV in ducks.


2020 ◽  
Vol 176 ◽  
pp. 112400
Author(s):  
Wook Jin Kim ◽  
Sungyu Yang ◽  
Goya Choi ◽  
Inkyu Park ◽  
Pureum Noh ◽  
...  

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