• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.88-93
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• 2016

Dirofilaria immitis is a filarial nematode parasite that causes cardiopulmonary dirofilariasis in dogs. The purpose of this study was the development of real-time PCR assays for efficient detection of D. immitis. The D. immitis-specific primers confirmed in our previous study and a newly designed TaqMan probe were used for quantitative diagnostics. First, SYBR Green real-time PCR was performed using the specific primers and serially diluted genomic DNA or plasmid DNA, and melting curve analyses were performed after amplification. The melting curve showed one specific peak in each of the genomic and plasmid DNA reactions, suggesting that the primers specifically amplify the D. immitis cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene. Comparison of SYBR Green and TaqMan real-time PCR using serially diluted plasmid DNA showed higher efficiency and specificity with TaqMan real-time PCR. The real-time PCR assays developed in this study will provide improved diagnostic methods to overcome the limitations of conventional diagnostic tools and facilitate more rapid and accurate diagnoses.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.25-28
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• 2005

The melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) plays an important role in regulation of melanin pigment synthesis within mammalian melanocytes. Mutations within the gene encoding MC1R have been shown to explain coat color variations within several mammalian species including cattle. To develope a rapid and accurate method for the identification of Hanwoo meat, we performed a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis in Melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) gene using TaqMan$^{(R)}$ MGB probe-based real-time PCR. Two specific probes (one for Hanwoo and the other for Holstein and Black angus) were designed. At the 5' end of 2 TaqMan$^{(R)}$ MGB probes, 6-carboxyfluorescein (FAM) was labeled for Hanwoo, and VIC for Holstein and Black angus. As a result, Hanwoo samples showed FAM-positive signal only, whereas other samples showed VIC-positive. This result suggests that the TaqMan$^{(R)}$ MGB probe based real-time PCR technique would be very accurate, easy and reproducible method to discriminate between Hanwoo meat and Holstein/Black angus meat.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.19 no.11
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• pp.1464-1469
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• 2009

To achieve more accurate and rapid detection of macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin B resistance genes, erm(A), erm(B), and erm(C), we developed a TaqMan probe-based real-time PCR (Q-PCR) method and compared it with conventional PCR (C-PCR), which is the most widely using erm gene identification method. The detection limit of Q-PCR was 5 fg of genomic DNA or 5-8 CFU of bacterial cells of Staphylococcus aureus. The utilization of Q-PCR might shorten the time to erm detection from 3-4 h to about 50 min. These data indicated that Q-PCR assay appears to be not only highly sensitive and specific, but also the most rapid diagnostic method. Therefore, the appropriate application of the Q-PCR assay will permit rapid and accurate identification of erm genes from clinical and other samples.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.199-208
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• 2015

Biologics and medical devices manufactured with bovine-derived raw materials have the risk of viral contamination. Therefore, viral validation study is essential to ensure the safety of the products. Bovine adenovirus type-1 (BAdV-1) is one of the common bovine viral pathogens. For quantitative detection of BAdV-1 during the manufacture of biologics and medical devices, a TaqMan probe real-time PCR method was developed. Specific primers and TaqMan probe for amplifying and detecting BAdV-1 DNA were designed. Specificity, limit of detection (LOD), and robustness of the method was validated according to international guideline on the validation of nucleic acid amplification tests for the pathogen detection. The sensitivity of the assay was found to be $7.44{\times}10^1\;TCID_{50}/ml$. The real-time PCR method was reproducible, very specific to BAdV-1, and robust. Moreover, the method was successfully applied to the validation of Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO)-K1 cells artificially infected with BAdV-1, a commercial CHO master bank, and bovine type 1 collagen. The overall results indicate that this rapid, specific, sensitive, and robust assay can be reliably used for quantitative detection of BAdV-1 contamination during the manufacture of biologics and medical devices using bovine-derived raw materials.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.267-274
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• 2015

Biopharmaceuticals and the cell substrates used for their manufacture are currently tested for porcine adventitious viruses due to the widespread use of porcine trypsin in cell culture. Porcine transmissible gastroenteritis virus (PTGV) is one of the major adventitious porcine viruses causing contaminated during the manufacture of biopharmaceuticals. Therefore, rapid and sensitive detection of PTGV is essential in ensuring the safety of biopharmaceuticals. A TaqMan probe real-time RT-PCR method was developed for the quantitative detection of PTGV contamination in cell substrates, raw materials, manufacturing processes, and final products, as well as PTGV clearance validation. Specific primers for the amplification of PTGV RNA were selected, and PTGV RNA was quantified by use of a specific TaqMan probe. Specificity, limit of detection (LOD), and robustness of the method was validated according to international guidelines on the validation of nucleic acid amplification tests. The sensitivity of the assay was calculated to be 1.10 × 10⁰ TCID₅₀/ml. The real-time RT-PCR method was validated to be reproducible, very specific to PTGV, and robust. The established real-time RT-PCR assay was successfully applied to the validation of Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO)-K1 cells artificially infected with PTGV.

• Mycobiology
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• v.50 no.5
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• pp.382-388
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• 2022

White mold (or Sclerotinia stem rot), caused by Sclerotinia species, is a major air, soil, or seed-transmitted disease affecting numerous crops and wild plants. Microscopic or culture-based methods currently available for their detection and identification are time-consuming, laborious, and often erroneous. Therefore, we developed a multiplex quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay for the discrimination, detection, and quantification of DNA collected from each of the three economically relevant Sclerotinia species, namely, S. sclerotiorum, S. minor, and S. nivalis. TaqMan primer/probe combinations specific for each Sclerotinia species were designed based on the gene sequences encoding aspartyl protease. High specificity and sensitivity of each probe were confirmed for sclerotium and soil samples, as well as pure cultures, using simplex and multiplex qPCRs. This multiplex assay could be helpful in detecting and quantifying specific species of Sclerotinia, and therefore, may be valuable for disease diagnosis, forecasting, and management.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.516-519
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• 2007

Enterobacter sakazakii is an emerging food pathogen, which induces severe meningitis and sepsis in neonates and infants, with a high fatality rate. The disease is generally associated with the ingestion of contaminated infant formula. In this study, we describe the development of a real-time PCR protocol to identify E. sakazakii using a TaqMan probe, predicated on the nucleotide sequence data of the 168 rRNA gene obtained from a variety of pathogens. To detect E. sakazakii, four primer sets and one probe were designed. Five strains of E. sakazakii and 28 non-E. sakazakii bacterial strains were used in order to ensure the accuracy of detection. The PCR protocol successfully identified all of the E. sakazakii strains, whereas the 28 non-E. sakazakii strains were not detected by this method. The detection limits of this method for E. sakazakii cells and purified genomic DNA were 2.3 CFU/ assay and 100 fg/assay, respectively. These findings suggest that our newly developed TaqMan real-time PCR method should prove to be a rapid, sensitive, and quantitative method for the detection of E. sakazakii.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.8
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• pp.3701-3704
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• 2012

Background: Cervical cancer is one of the most common cancers in developing countries and the second most common type of cancer in women globally. Several recent studies suggested a co factor role for Chlamydia trachomatis in pathogenesis of cervical cancer. This study aimed to evaluate existence of C. trachomatis DNA in pathologic blocks of patients with cervical cancer. Materials and methods: Seventy-six formaldehyde fixed paraffin embedded tissue specimens from patients with histologically proven history of cervical cancer as well as 150 blocks from healthy peoples were included in the present study. Thin slices were prepared from selected blocks followed by deparaffinization and DNA extraction; the presence of C. trachomatis DNA was examined by Taq Man real-time PCR. Results: Our TaqMan real time PCR assay with cervical specimens of patients with cervical cancer showed that there was no C. trachomatis DNA. Also, we found three positive specimens among our control group. Conclusion: It seems that based on results obtained from the specimens examined in the present study, there is no association between the presence of C. trachomatis DNA in cervical specimens and cervical cancer.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.193-201
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• 2013

Many consumers are increasingly concerned about the meat they eat, and accurate labelling is important due to public health, economic and legal concerns. Meat species adulteration is a common problem in the retail markets. In this study, a TaqMan$^{(R)}$ quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay was applied for its ability to quantify chicken meat, which was not indicated on the label, in 79 commercial pork products (ham, sausages, bacon and ground meat) producted by 10 different manufacturers. The amplification efficiency was 82.05% and the square regression coefficient ($R^2$) was 0.995. PCR results showed that 38.6% of ham samples, 50.0% of sausages samples, and 50.0% of ground meat samples were contaminated with chicken residuals, while the bacon samples were not contaminated with chicken residuals. Only twelve pork products of one of the manufacturers were in accordance with indicated in their labels. The PCR assay reported in this work could be particularly useful in inspection programs to verify the food labelling of commercial processed meats and to gain consumers' trust.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.127-131
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• 2010

Mycobacterium leprae detection is difficult even with molecular biological techniques due to the low sensitivity of current methodologies. In this report, real-time PCR targeting the M. leprae-specific repetitive element (RLEP) sequence was developed as a new diagnostic tool and evaluated using clinical specimens. For this, M. leprae DNAs were extracted from skin biopsy specimens from 80 patients and analyzed by real-time PCR using TaqMan probe. Then, the detection efficiency of the real-time PCR was compared with that of standard PCR. In brief, the rate of positive detection by the standard PCR and real-time PCR was 32.50% and 66.25%, respectively. The results seemed to clearly show that the TaqMan real-time PCR developed in this study may be a useful tool for sensitive detection of M. leprae from clinical specimens.