A new single-step quantitative pathogen detection system: template-tagging followed by multiplex asymmetric PCR using common primers and CE-SSCP

Electrophoresis. 2009 Aug;30(15):2728-36. doi: 10.1002/elps.200900074.

Abstract

Rapid diagnosis of bacterial infection is important for patient management and appropriate therapy during the early phase of bacteria-induced disease. Among the existing techniques for identifying microbial, CE-SSCP combined with 16S ribosomal RNA gene-specific PCR has the benefits of excellent sensitivity, resolution, and reproducibility. However, even though CE-SSCP can separate PCR products with high-resolution, multiplex detection and quantification are complicated by primer-dimer formation and non-specific amplification. Here, we describe a novel technique for multiplex detection and quantification of pathogens by template-tagging followed by multiplex asymmetric PCR and subsequent CE-SSCP. More specifically, we reverse transcribed 16S ribosomal RNAs from seven septicemia-inducing pathogens, tagged the templates with common end sequences, and amplified them using common primers. The resulting amplicons could be successfully separated by CE-SSCP and quantified by comparison to an internal standard. This method yielded results that illustrate the potential of this system for diagnosing infectious disease.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bacteria / genetics
  • Bacteria / isolation & purification*
  • Bacterial Infections / microbiology*
  • DNA Primers / genetics
  • Electrophoresis, Capillary / methods*
  • Linear Models
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods*
  • Polymorphism, Single-Stranded Conformational*
  • RNA, Bacterial / genetics
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / genetics
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Sensitivity and Specificity

Substances

  • DNA Primers
  • RNA, Bacterial
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S