Adsorption of transgenic insecticidal Cry1Ab protein to SiO2. 1. Forces driving adsorption

Genetically modified Bt crops express insecticidal Cry proteins (Bt toxins) that may enter agricultural soils. A mechanistic understanding of Cry protein adsorption to soils is critical for risk assessment, as this process governs Cry protein fate and bioavailability. We used quartz crystal microbalance and optical waveguide lightmode spectroscopy to elucidate the driving forces of the adsorption of monomeric Cry1Ab to negatively charged quartz (SiO(2)) and positively charged poly-L-lysine (PLL) at pH 5-8 and constant ionic strength of 50 mM (NaCl). Bovine serum albumin and hen egg white lysozyme were used as reference proteins because of their known adsorption behavior. Electrostatics governed Cry1Ab adsorption; as pH increased above the isoelectric point of Cry1Ab, the initial rate and the extent of adsorption decreased on SiO(2) and increased on PLL. Reversible adsorption to SiO(2) suggested weak Cry1Ab-SiO(2) electrostatic interactions and no irreversible conformational changes of Cry1Ab at the surface. High conformational stability of Cry1Ab was further supported by supply rate-independent extent of adsorption of Cry1Ab to apolar gold. Some evidence is presented that the nonuniform surface charge distribution of Cry1Ab resulted in patch-controlled electrostatic attraction with sorbents that carried the same net charge as Cry1Ab. A more detailed discussion of this mechanism is given in a companion paper.     

Adsorption of transgenic insecticidal Cry1Ab protein to silica particles. Effects on transport and bioactivity

Bt crops are genetically modified to be resistant against insect pests by expressing insecticidal Cry proteins. The processes governing the fate and bioavailability of the expressed transgenic Cry proteins in soils are poorly understood. We studied adsorption of Cry1Ab to negatively charged silica (SiO(2)) particles, a major soil constituent and a model for negatively charged mineral surfaces, at pH 5 to 10 and ionic strengths I = 10 mM to 250 mM, both in solution depletion and saturated column transport experiments. Cry1Ab-SiO(2) interactions were dominated by patch-controlled electrostatic attraction (PCEA), as evident from increasing Cry1Ab attraction to SiO(2) with decreasing I at pH at which both Cry1Ab and SiO(2) were net negatively charged. Experimental and modeling evidence is provided that the surface heterogeneity of SiO(2) particles modulated PCEA, leading to a fraction of adsorption sites with slow Cry1Ab desorption kinetics. Desorption rates from these sites increased upon increasing the solution pH. In toxicity bioassays, we demonstrated that Cry1Ab retained insecticidal activity when adsorbed to SiO(2), suggesting high protein conformational stability during adsorption-desorption cycles. Models predicting Cry1A protein adsorption in soils therefore need to account for combined effects of the nonuniform protein surface charge distribution and of sorbent surface heterogeneity.     

Adsorption of transgenic insecticidal Cry1Ab protein to SiO2. 2. Patch-controlled electrostatic attraction

Adsorption governs the fate of Cry proteins from genetically modified Bt crops in soils. The effect of ionic strength (I) on the adsorption of Cry1Ab (isoelectric point IEP(Cry1Ab) ≈ 6) to negatively charged quartz (SiO(2)) and positively charged poly-L-lysine (PLL) was investigated at pH 5 to 8, using quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring and optical waveguide lightmode spectroscopy. Cry1Ab adsorbed via positively and negatively charged surface patches to SiO(2) and PLL, respectively. This patch controlled electrostatic attraction (PCEA) explains the observed increase in Cry1Ab adsorption to sorbents that carried the same net charge as the protein (SiO(2) at pH > IEP(Cry1Ab) and PLL at pH < IEP(Cry1Ab)) with decreasing I. In contrast, the adsorption of two reference proteins, BSA and HEWL, with different adsorption mechanism, were little affected by similar changes of I. Consistent with PCEA, Cry1Ab desorption from SiO(2) at pH > IEP(Cry1Ab) increased with increasing I and pH. Weak Cry1Ab-SiO(2) PCEA above pH 7 resulted in reversible, concentration dependent adsorption. Solution depletion experiments showed that PCEA also governed Cry1Ab adsorption to SiO(2) particles at environmentally relevant concentrations (a few ng mL(-1)). These results imply that models describing Cry1Ab adsorption to charged surfaces in soils need to account for the nonuniform surface charge distribution of the protein.     

Immunochemical detection of Cry1A(b) protein in model processed foods made with transgenic maize

Immunoassays are used to screen for the presence of genetically modified organisms in raw materials. However, processing may condition the usefulness of immunoassays to analyse genetically modified foods because it leads to protein denaturation that affects recognition by antibodies. We studied the effect of processing on the detection of Cry1A(b) protein in model foods prepared with transgenic maize using a sandwich ELISA. Nixtamalization at 100 °C for 5 min and at 85 °C for 60 min gave 40 and 70% loss of Cry1A(b) protein. In the preparation of porridge, the concentration of Cry1A(b) protein did not change until the mixture reached 75 °C, but it decreased by 90% after 3 min at that temperature. Concentration of Cry1A(b) protein decreased by 90% in tortillas griddled at 180 °C for 20 s, but no protein was detected in fried tortillas after 10 s at 190 °C. Cry1A(b) protein is rapidly denatured by heat treatment resulting in a marked decline in concentration and decreased detection in processed foods.     

Effects of Cry1F and Cry34Ab1/35Ab1 on storage pests

Two crystalline protoxins from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), Cry1Fa1 and Cry34Ab1/Cry35Ab1 (Cry1F, Cry34/35Ab1), were evaluated for efficacy against lepidopteran and coleopteran storage pests. Cry1F was tested against the lepidopterans Sitotroga cerealella (Angoumois grain moth) and colonies of Plodia interpunctella (Indian mealmoth) that are susceptible or resistant to Bt Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac toxins, Bt subspecies entomocidus, and the commercial formulation Dipel^®. Cry1F was also tested against the coleopterans Cryptolestes pusillus (flat grain beetle) and Tribolium castaneum (red flour beetle). Cry34/35Ab1 was tested against S. cerealella, C. pusillus, and T. castaneum, and against additional coleopteran storage pests, including Tenebrio molitor (yellow mealworm), Trogoderma variabile (warehouse beetle), Oryzaephilus surinamensis (sawtoothed grain beetle), Rhyzopertha dominica (lesser grain borer), and Sitophilus oryzae (rice weevil). Strains of Bt-susceptible or -resistant P. interpunctella generally were more sensitive to Cry1A protoxin or toxin than either Cry1F protoxin or Dipel. Despite difficulties with the bioassay of S. cerealella larvae, the data suggest that Cry1F and Cry34/35Ab1 caused increased larval mortality, and a developmental delay was observed and no pupae emerged with 0.9% Cry1F. Neither Cry1F nor the corn rootworm-active toxin Cry34/35Ab1 significantly affected the biological parameters of the coleopteran species evaluated.     

Development of a multiplex real-time PCR assay for the detection of ruminant DNA

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has previously validated a real-time PCR-based assay that is currently being used by the FDA and several state laboratories as the official screening method. Due to several shortcomings to the assay, a multiplex real-time PCR assay (MRTA) to detect three ruminant species (bovine, caprine, and ovine) was developed using a lyophilized bead design. The assay contained two primer or probe sets: a "ruminant" set to detect bovine-, caprine-, and ovine-derived materials and a second set to serve as an internal PCR control, formatted using a lyophilized bead design. Performance of the assay was evaluated against stringent acceptance criteria developed by the FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine's Office of Research. The MRTA for the detection of ruminant DNA passed the stringent acceptance criteria for specificity, sensitivity, and selectivity. The assay met sensitivity and reproducibility requirements by detecting 30 of 30 complete feed samples fortified with meals at 0.1 % (wt/wt) rendered material from each of the three ruminant species. The MRTA demonstrated 100 % selectivity (0.0 % false positives) for negative controls throughout the assessment period. The assay showed ruggedness in both sample selection and reagent preparation. Second and third analyst trials confirmed the quality of the written standard operating procedure with consistency of results. An external laboratory participating in a peer-verification trial demonstrated 100 % specificity in identifying bovine meat and bone meal, while exhibiting a 0.03 % rate of false positives. The assay demonstrated equal levels of sensitivity and reproducibility compared with the FDA's current validated real-time PCR assay. The assay detected three prohibited species in less than 1.5 h of total assay time, a significant improvement over the current real-time assay. These results demonstrated this assay's suitability for routine regulatory use both as a primary screening tool and as a confirmatory test.     

Rapid real-time PCR detection of transgenic cry1C rice using plasmid molecule as calibrator

Transgenic Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) rice expressing cry1C gene showed a high level of resistance to leaffolders (Cnaphalocrocis medinalis) and stemborers. Till now, no detection method based on the plasmid molecule as the calibrator has been reported. In this study, one plasmid molecule containing the rice root-specific gene (gos9) endogenous sequence and the cry1C rice 5′ event-specific sequence was developed. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method was established using the developed plasmid molecule as the calibrator. Two standard curves for gos9 and the cry1C rice 5′ event-specific sequence showed high PCR efficiency and good linear regression. Limit of quantification of the plasmid molecule in quantitative PCR assays was 40 copies. Biases for 5 and 0.25 % content samples’ quantification were ?6.01 and ?3.55 % with acceptable standard deviation and repeatability standard deviation, respectively. Comparing with genomic DNA, the plasmid molecule was suitable for cry1C rice quantification as the calibrator. Furthermore, the present study provided a reliable and stable identification and quantification system for monitoring cry1C rice.     

Development of nanocolloidal gold based immunochromatographic assay for rapid detection of transgenic vegetative insecticidal protein in genetically modified crops

Vegetative insecticidal protein (Vip) is now being used for transgenic expression in several crops; conferring resistance against lepidopteron pests. A rapid, single step, sensitive and specific immunochromatographic (IC) strip test for the detection of recombinant Vip-S protein in the transgenic samples was developed. Polyclonal rabbit anti-Vip-S IgG conjugated to nanocolloidal gold served as a probe to detect Vip protein in test samples. The detection limit for the developed IC strip was 100 ng/ml (100 ppb) and on addition of gold enhancer the sensitivity increased to 1 ng/ml (1 ppb) of Vip-S protein. The assay was validated with transgenic brinjal samples. The assay time was less than 10 min, suitable for rapid on-site testing. No cross-reactivity was observed with other transgenic plant proteins employed for pest and weed management, i.e. Cry1Ac, Cry1Ab, and CP4-EPSPS. This on-site test offers rapid screening for a genetically modified crops having relatively new transgene (vip) entering the global market.     

Development of a real-time PCR assay for the detection of cow and donkey milk

A real-time PCR allelic discrimination TaqMan assay based on the analysis of a single nucleotide polymorphism enabling the differentiation of cow (Bos taurus) and donkey (Equus asinus) milk was developed. Specific primers and probes were designed on the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene. The primers were designed upstream and downstream the chosen diagnosis site in a conserved region. Two probes were designed to specifically hybridise to B. taurus and E. asinus sequences. The test allowed the discrimination of bovine and donkey DNA in all blood and pure milk samples giving an unambiguous result plot of rapid and easy interpretation. The detection threshold was 2?% of cow milk in donkey milk. The applicability of the method to matrices containing degraded DNA was demonstrated by analysing samples of raw donkey and cow milk autoclave-treated (121?°C for 15?min). Finally, the assay when applied to milk samples collected from the retail trade has confirmed the species indicated in the label. Furthermore, the assay represents a potentially valuable diagnostic tool for species identification in dairy products for allergic people.     

A real-time PCR assay for the detection of Salmonella in a wide variety of food and food-animal matricest

Conventional culture methods have traditionally been considered the "gold standards" for the isolation and identification of foodborne pathogens. However, culture methods are labor-intensive and time-consuming. We have developed a real-time PCR assay for the detection of Salmonella in a variety of food and food-animal matrices. The real-time PCR assay incorporates both primers and hybridization probes based on the sequence of the Salmonella invA gene and uses fluorescent resonance energy transfer technology to ensure highly sensitive and specific results. This method correctly classified 51 laboratory isolates of Salmonella and 28 non-Salmonella strains. The method was also validated with a large number of field samples that consisted of porcine feces and cecal contents, pork carcasses, bovine feces and beef carcasses, poultry cecal contents and carcasses, equine feces, animal feeds, and various food products. The samples (3388) were preenriched in buffered peptone water and then selectively enriched in tetrathionate and Rappaport-Vassiliadis broths. Aliquots of the selective enrichment broths were combined for DNA extraction and analysis by the real-time PCR assay. When compared with the culture method, the diagnostic sensitivity of the PCR assay for the various matrices ranged from 97.1 to 100.0%, and the diagnostic specificity ranged from 91.3 to 100.0%. Kappa values ranged from 0.87 to 1.00, indicating excellent agreement of the real-time PCR assay to the culture method. The reduction in time and labor makes this highly sensitive and specific real-time PCR assay an excellent alternative to conventional culture methods for surveillance and research studies to improve food safety.     

阪崎肠杆菌zpx基因的分子信标一实时PCR技术研究

目的建立分子信标-实时PCR技术检测婴幼儿乳粉中阪崎肠杆菌的快速方法。方法在PCR反应体系中加入分子信标探针,探针的5’端标记FAM,3’端标记TAMRA,建立阪崎肠杆菌zpx基因分子信标-实时PCR技术快速检测方法。结果检测方法特异性强,无非特异性扩增;分子信标-实时PCR反应体系DNA灵敏度为180fg/PCR反应体系,纯阪崎肠杆菌菌液的检出限为102 CFU/ml,无交叉反应;以此反应体系检测23份样品,其中2份为阳性,余未检出,与传统检测方法结果一致。结论分子信标-实时PCR检测体系快速、灵敏度高、特异性强,可用于婴幼儿乳粉中阪崎肠杆菌的快速检测。     

Development of a quantitative real-time PCR assay for the detection of Aspergillus carbonarius in grapes

Aspergillus carbonarius is the main species responsible for the production of ochratoxin A (OTA) in wine grapes. To monitor and quantify A. carbonarious in grapes, a quantitative real-time PCR assay was developed as a possible tool for predicting the potential ochratoxigenic risk. DNA extraction from grape berries was performed by using conventional extraction and clean up through EZNA Hi-bond spin columns. A TaqMan probe was used to quantify A. carbonarius genomic DNA in grape berries samples. An exogenous internal positive control was used to overcome DNA recovery losses due to matrix inhibition. The quantification of fungal genomic DNA in naturally contaminated grape was performed using the TaqMan signal versus spectrophotometrically measured DNA quantities (Log10) calibration curve with a linearity range from 50 to 5 x 10(-4) ng of DNA. A positive correlation (R2=0.92) was found between A. carbonarious DNA content and OTA concentration in naturally contaminated grape samples. This is the first application of TaqMan real-time PCR for identifying and quantifying A. carbonarius genomic DNA occurring in grapes. The rapid DNA extraction method for grapes, together with the commercial availability of reagents and instrumentation, allows to perform a remarkable number of reproducible assays (96-well format) in less than 4 h.     

Development of an innovative immunoassay for CP4EPSPS and Cry1AB genetically modified protein detection and quantification

An innovative immunoassay, called enzyme-linked immunoabsorbant assay (ELISA) Reverse, based on a new conformation of the solid phase, was developed. The solid support was expressly designed to be immersed directly in liquid samples to detect the presence of protein targets. Its application is proposed in those cases where a large number of samples have to be screened simultaneously or when the simultaneous detection of different proteins is required. As a first application, a quantitative immunoassay for Cry1AB protein in genetically modified maize was optimized. The method was tested using genetically modified organism concentrations from 0.1 to 2.0%. The limit of detection and limit of quantitation of the method were determined as 0.0056 and 0.0168 (expressed as the percentage of genetically modified organisms content), respectively. A qualitative multiplex assay to assess the presence of two genetically modified proteins simultaneously was also established for the case of the Cry1AB and the CP4EPSPS (5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase) present in genetically modified maize and soy, respectively.     

转Cry1Ab/Cry1Ac基因大米粉饲喂印度谷螟后的比较转录组分析（网络首发、推荐阅读）

转Cry1Ab/Cry1Ac基因作物可以有效防治害虫。以世界性的储粮害虫印度谷螟Plodia interpunctella (Hübener)为研究对象,借助高通量测序法研究试虫中与Bt毒蛋白密切相关的基因,以期初步揭示转Bt稻谷的杀虫作用机制。结果表明,在对印度谷螟非胁迫种群和转Bt基因大米粉胁迫种群分别进行转录组测序,经De novo组装后共得到37 246个Unigene,其中有23 310个Unigene获得注释。随后,通过比较分析上述两种品系试虫基因表达量,共筛选出34 466条显著差异表达的基因,其中在胁迫品系中有15 741条基因表达量显著上调,另有18 725条基因表达量显著下调。一方面大大扩充了针对该物种的基因信息,另一方面为转基因稻谷抗印度谷螟的相关机理研究提供了新思路。     

Design and validation of a novel multiplex real-time PCR assay for Vibrio pathogen detection

Three species--Vibrio cholerae, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, and Vibrio vulnificus--account for the majority of vibrio infections in humans. Rapid and accurate identification of Vibrio species has been problematic because phenotypic characteristics are variable within species. Additionally, biochemical identification and confirmation require 2 or more days to complete. Rapid and sensitive molecular techniques for the detection of vibrio pathogens would be useful for the surveillance and management of outbreaks. To facilitate the identification of human-pathogenic species, we designed and validated a highly sensitive, specific, and robust multiplex real-time PCR assay to identify V. cholerae, V. parahaemolyticus, and V. vulnificus using a four-dye configuration in a convenient lyophilized format. Multiple Vibrio strains were sequenced to verify candidate target TaqMan sites. Several individual assays within the multiplex contain multiple primers or probes to ensure detection of polymorphic variants. V. cholerae, V. parahaemolyticus, and V. vulnificus were detected either individually or in mixtures at ≤30 genomic copies. V. cholerae was specifically detected in the presence or absence of Vibrio mimicus. The Vibrio multiplex assay showed 100% specificity to all targets analyzed and no detection of nearest neighbor strains. Each assay exhibited 100% ± 10% efficiency. Multiplex real-time PCR can simplify pathogen detection and reduce costs per test since three species can be analyzed in a single reaction tube. Rapid and accurate detection of pathogenic vibrios in shellfish or seawater samples will improve the microbiological safety of seafood for consumers.     

转基因食品中Btcry2Ab/2Ac杀虫蛋白直接竞争ELISA试剂盒的研制

研制了用于检测转基因食品中Btcry2Ab/2Ac杀虫蛋白的直接竞争ELISA试剂盒,研究结果表明:该试剂盒的最低检测限为40ng/mL,线性检测范围为40～2000ng/mL,回收率在98.52%～102.27%之间;板内、板间变异系数分别在1.55%～7.17%和3.78%～7.39%之间;试剂盒在4℃下至少可保存6个月以上。     

Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) method for rapid detection of cry1Ab gene in transgenic rice (Oryza sativa L.)

The cry1Ab gene is a foreign gene which encodes Bt insecticidal Cry1Ab protein and was transferred into genomic DNA of plants to acquire insect resistance. Here a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay with high specificity and rapidity under isothermal conditions was developed for detecting cry1Ab gene in transgenic rice. Partial sequence of cry1Ab gene was used as the target template to design LAMP primers. The reaction conditions were optimized as follows: 60 min of reaction time, 1:3 of outer primer and inner primer concentration ratio, 25 μL of reaction volume and 0.6 μM of betaine. The results of detection could be evaluated by the white precipitate or the fluorescence intensity under ultraviolet irradiation, both visible to naked eyes. The sensitivity and specificity of the LAMP assay were further analyzed in comparison with that of regular PCR and real-time PCR. The results showed that the LAMP assay exhibited high specificity and the sensitivity of 3 × 10² copies number of the positive control plasmid, and of 0.5 % genetically modified (GM) contents. In comparison with real-time PCR method, LAMP showed the same results with simple instruments. The amplified reaction could be accomplished in about 1 h, with the results visible to naked eyes. Hence, the LAMP assay developed by this study can provide a rapid and simple approach for detecting cry1Ab gene from transgenic rice plants and rice ingredients in processed foods aimed at screening the growing transgenic crops in the fields and detecting genetically modified (GM) ingredients in imported and domestic foods.     

Adsorption of Insecticidal Cry1Ab Protein to Humic Substances. 1. Experimental Approach and Mechanistic Aspects

Adsorption is a key process affecting the fate of insecticidal Cry proteins (Bt toxins), produced by genetically modified Bt crops, in soils. However, the mechanisms of adsorption to soil organic matter (SOM) remain poorly understood. This work assesses the forces driving the adsorption of Cry1Ab to Leonardite humic acid (LHA), used as a model for SOM. We studied the effects of solution pH and ionic strength (I) on adsorption using a quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring and optical waveguide lightmode spectroscopy. Initial Cry1Ab adsorption rates were close to diffusion-limited and resulted in extensive adsorption, even at pH >6, at which LHA and Cry1Ab carry negative net charges. Adsorption increased with decreasing I at pH >6, indicating Cry1Ab-LHA patch-controlled electrostatic attraction via positively charged domains of Cry1Ab. Upon rinsing, only a fraction of Cry1Ab desorbed, suggesting a range of interaction energies of Cry1Ab with LHA. Different interaction energies likely resulted from nonuniformity in the LHA surface polarity, with higher Cry1Ab affinities to more apolar LHA regions due to the hydrophobic effect. Contributions from the hydrophobic effect were substantiated by comparison of the adsorption of Cry1Ab and the reference proteins albumin and lysozyme to LHA and to apolar and polar model surfaces.     

铜绿假单胞菌实时荧光重组酶介导链替换核酸扩增方法建立及应用

目的建立一种快速检测铜绿假单胞菌的实时荧光重组酶介导链替换核酸扩增(real-time RAA)方法。方法基于铜绿假单胞菌ecfX基因设计特异性引物和exo探针,通过灵敏性、特异性和疑似菌株检测评估所建立方法的有效性。结果 Real-time RAA方法在39℃等温条件下反应20 min即可实现对铜绿假单胞菌的有效检测;特异性强,仅对铜绿假单胞菌出现特异性扩增;灵敏性高,对铜绿假单胞菌基因组DNA的检出限为3.0×10~3 fg/反应,对纯培养铜绿假单胞菌的检出限为1.0×10~3 CFU/反应。应用所建立的real-time RAA方法对分离的36株疑似铜绿假单胞菌进行检测,结果均为铜绿假单胞菌,同VITEK 2 Compact生化鉴定方法和real-time PCR方法结果一致。结论本试验所建立的real-time RAA方法反应快速、操作简单、可靠性高,可用于不同来源的铜绿假单胞菌的快速检测和鉴定。