Real-time PCR Protocol For Detection Research Articles

Improved Quantitative Real-Time PCR Protocol for Detection and Quantification of Methanogenic Archaea in Stool Samples

Methanogenic archaea are an important component of the human and animal intestinal microbiota, and yet their presence is rarely reported in publications describing the subject. One of the methods of quantifying the prevalence of methanogens is quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) of the methanogen-specific mcrA gene, and one of the possible reasons for detection failure is usually a methodology bias. Here, we refined the existing protocol by changing one of the primers and improving the conditions of the qPCR reaction. As a result, at the expense of a slightly lower yet acceptable PCR efficiency, the new assay was characterized by increased specificity and sensitivity and a wider linear detection range of 7 orders of magnitude. The lowest copy number of mcrA quantified at a frequency of 100% was 21 copies per reaction. The other validation parameters tested, such as reproducibility and linearity, also gave satisfactory results. Overall, we were able to minimize the negative impacts of primer dimerization and other cross-reactions on qPCR and increase the number of not only detectable but also quantifiable stool samples-or in this case, chicken droppings.

Real-Time PCR Protocol for Detection and Quantification of Three Pathogenic Members of the Vibrionaceae Family.

Vibriosis, an often-fatal disease induced by pathogenic members of the Vibrionaceae family, causes severe economic losses in aquacultures. To mitigate/avoid vibriosis outbursts, it is vital to detect and quantify these pathogens as early as possible. However, standard microbiological methods are time-consuming and often underestimate cell counts, which calls for the development of valid alternatives. In this study, real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was employed to detect the pathogenic species Vibrio alginolyticus, Listonella anguillara, and Vibrio harveyi using a new primer pair targeting the groEL gene. In addition, the DNA extraction efficiency of three methods, two commercial kits and the boiling method, was compared. The most efficient method was the DNeasy Blood and Tissue kit, with a detection limit ranging between 154 and 600 CFU mL−1 in the case of V. alginolyticus and L. anguillara, and 48 CFU mL−1 for V. harveyi. Thus, this study presents the development and evaluation of a method for the early quantification of all three species in saline suspensions. However, the results obtained by spiking a microalgae sample with V. harveyi emphasize the importance of adjusting the DNA control’s standard curve to the relevant extraction matrices, as it affects the DNA extraction efficiency and may hamper an accurate quantification with qPCR.

Testing animal feed for the presence of ruminant DNA using the official real-time PCR method

Feed has become liable to testing for the presence of ruminant DNA as part of the eradication process of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies. For safety reasons, by the so-called total feed ban, meat and bone meal has been excluded from the diet of food chain animals for years. However, changes in EU regulations that led to relaxation of this ban began from mid-2013 with the introduction of animal proteins derived from poultry and pigs in feed for aquaculture. The EU published an approved PCR method for determining the species of animals from which the ingredients originate. The EU also validated a real-time PCR protocol for detection of prohibited ruminant DNA. As a result of harmonization with the EU legislation, in 2016, amendments to the Serbian TSE regulations were published and an identical method of feed control prescribed. In the same year, this procedure was implemented by the Institute of Veterinary Medicine of Serbia and accredited to the required standard, so adequate feed control started. The aim of this paper is to present the results of the first 50 animal feeds or feed materials tested for the presence of ruminant DNA using the official realtime PCR method. A high percentage (54 %) of the 50 feeds/feed materials studied contained ruminant DNA.

A multiplex real-time PCR method for differentiation of beef, buffalo meat and pork

The objective of this study was to optimize a multiplex real-time PCR protocol for detection of DNA of beef, buffalo meat and pork, serving for food authenticity. The optimized concentrations were 200 nM primer and 100 nM specific probe for beef/buffalo meat, and 300 nM primer and 150 nM probe for pork. The amplification was performed using initial denaturation at 50oC for 2 min, 95oC for 2 min, followed by 45 cycles of denaturation at 95oC for 15 sec, and annealing and extension at 60oC for 40 sec. This protocol had high sensitivity and specificity. The detection limit of this method was found to be 0.1% in raw and heat-treated meat mix (80 – 121oC/15 min) or 0.005 ng DNA/reaction. The protocol of testing was applied for the commercial products both fresh and processed meats. The results demonstrated that 50% of raw beef sample (6/12) weren't found beef DNA. Eight of twelve beef sausage samples (66.67%) contained buffalo DNA. Beef DNA were found in all 12 samples of beef meatballs, but eight out of the 12 meatball samples were confirmed to have buffalo DNA (66.67%) and two out of the 12 meatball samples (16.67%) also contained porcine DNA.

A new real-time PCR protocol for detection of avian haemosporidians.

BackgroundBirds possess the most diverse assemblage of haemosporidian parasites; including three genera, Plasmodium, Haemoproteus, and Leucocytozoon. Currently there are over 200 morphologically identified avian haemosporidian species, although true species richness is unknown due to great genetic diversity and insufficient sampling in highly diverse regions. Studies aimed at surveying haemosporidian diversity involve collecting and screening samples from hundreds to thousands of individuals. Currently, screening relies on microscopy and/or single or nested standard PCR. Although effective, these methods are time and resource consuming, and in the case of microscopy require substantial expertise. Here we report a newly developed real-time PCR protocol designed to quickly and reliably detect all three genera of avian haemosporidians in a single biochemical reaction.MethodsUsing available DNA sequences from avian haemosporidians we designed primers R330F and R480RL, which flank a 182 base pair fragment of mitochondrial conserved rDNA. These primers were initially tested using real-time PCR on samples from Malawi, Africa, previously screened for avian haemosporidians using traditional nested PCR. Our real time protocol was further tested on 94 samples from the Cerrado biome of Brazil, previously screened using a single PCR assay for haemosporidian parasites. These samples were also amplified using modified nested PCR protocols, allowing for comparisons between the three different screening methods (single PCR, nested PCR, real-time PCR).ResultsThe real-time PCR protocol successfully identified all three genera of avian haemosporidians from both single and mixed infections previously detected from Malawi. There was no significant difference between the three different screening protocols used for the 94 samples from the Brazilian Cerrado (χ2 = 0.3429, df = 2, P = 0.842). After proving effective, the real-time protocol was used to screen 2113 Brazilian samples, identifying 693 positive samples.ConclusionsOur real-time PCR assay proved as effective as two widely used molecular screening techniques, single PCR and nested PCR. However, the real-time protocol has the distinct advantage of detecting all three genera in a single reaction, which significantly increases efficiency by greatly decreasing screening time and cost. Our real-time PCR protocol is therefore a valuable tool in the quickly expanding field of avian haemosporidian research.

Validation of a laboratory-developed real-time PCR protocol for detection of Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae in urine

ObjectiveTo evaluate a sensitive and specific, real-time PCR assay with internal control for Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae DNA detection in urine specimens.MethodsThe diagnostic performance of a laboratory-developed quadruplex assay...

Validation of an automated real-time PCR protocol for detection and quantitation of HIV and HCV genomes in semen

The ability to detect and quantify HIV and HCV genomes is important for checking spermatozoid preparation protocols also known as “sperm washing”. But no commercial assay is available. A method was developed for detecting HIV and HCV in semen fractions using the COBAS Ampliprep™ and COBAS Taqman™ instruments. It will detect fewer than 200 copies of HIV RNA per ml of semen plasma and fewer than 200 copies/3 × 10 6 semen cells. The sensitivity for HCV is similar at more than 200 IU/ml and below 200 IU/3 × 10 6 semen cells. No inhibitor of PCR amplification was detected. This automated protocol permits a convenient, standardized testing for HIV and HCV in semen. The performance is the same as that of the previous generation of automated assays but the cost and operating time are both reduced.