Two-stage Nested PCR Effectiveness for Direct Detection of Vibrio vulnificus in Natural Samples

The nested primers designed to amplify a 222-base pair portion of the hemolysin gene, vvhA, were specific for all V. vulnificus strains tested. The nested PCR amplification, coupled with direct extraction of template DNA, revealed improved sensitivity sufficient for detection of 1 to 10 CFU V. vulnificus in 1 mL of seafood homogenates, and eliminated the need for enrichment culturing. Thereby, the nested PCR method achieved a broader applicability, making it effective for extensive use in identification of the pathogen in natural samples such as raw seafoods, seawater and sediments.     

Investigations on Fusarium spp. and their mycotoxins causing Fusarium ear rot of maize in Kosovo

After wheat, maize (Zea mays L.) is the second most important cereal crop in Kosovo and a major component of animal feed. The purpose of this study was to analyse the incidence and identity of the Fusarium species isolated from naturally infected maize kernels in Kosovo in 2009 and 2010, as well as the mycotoxin contamination. The disease incidence of Fusarium ear rot (from 0.7% to 40% diseased ears) on maize in Kosovo is high. The most frequently Fusarium spp. identified on maize kernels were Fusarium subglutinans, F. verticillioides/F. proliferatum and F. graminearum. Maize kernel samples were analysed by LC-MS/MS and found to be contaminated with deoxynivalenol (DON), DON-3-glucoside, 3-acetyl-DON, 15-acetyl-DON, zearalenone, zearalenone-14-sulphate, moniliformin, fumonisin B₁ and fumonisin B₂. This is the first report on the incidence and identification of Fusarium species isolated from naturally infected maize as well as the mycotoxin contamination in Kosovo.     

Relative populations and toxin production by Aspergillus flavus and Fusarium verticillioides in artificially inoculated corn at various stages of development under field conditions

The presence, development and production of mycotoxins by Aspergillus flavus and Fusarium verticillioides were studied in corn ears under field conditions after artificial contamination of corn silks. The planted area was divided into five treatments: T1, inoculated with A. flavus solution containing 1 × 10⁸ spores, ears covered; T2, inoculated with F. verticillioides solution containing 1 × 10⁸ spores, ears covered; T3, inoculated with F. verticillioides plus A. flavus solution containing 1 × 10⁸ spores of each, ears covered; T4, sprayed with sterile phosphate‐buffered saline, ears covered; T5, non‐sprayed silks, uncovered ears. Soil and air samples were also collected and analysed for the occurrence of fungi. Water activity, relative air humidity, rainfall and temperature were determined to assess the correlation between abiotic factors and the presence of fungi in the samples. Contamination with the inoculated fungus predominated in T1 and T2. In the other treatments, F. verticillioides was the most frequently isolated contaminant irrespective of treatment. Considering the production of mycotoxins, a positive relation between the production of fumonisins B₁ and B₂ and the frequency of F. verticillioides was statistically verified in all treatments. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry     

腊肠中的植物成份的PCR检测方法研究

本文建立了应用PCR技术鉴别腊肠中植物成分的方法.通过前处理与酚仿抽提DNA的方法相结合,建立了一种快速简便的从腊肠中提取DNA的方法,整个DNA提取的过程时间为2 h左右,提取的DNA浓度和A260/A280均达到了PCR的要求.通过PCR分析,发现从腊肠中提取DNA完全可以进行PCR检测,并且该方法可定性检测腊肠中的植物成分.     

牛奶中植物成分的PCR检测方法研究

建立了应用PCR技术鉴别牛奶饮料中植物成分的方法.将酚仿抽提DNA的方法与前处理相结合,得到了一种快速简便的从牛奶中提取DNA的方法,整个DNA提取的过程时间为2h左右.分析发现提取的牛奶饮料DNA完全可以进行PCR检测,并且该方法可检测到牛奶中掺入的植物成分低至O.1%.     

Effect of essential oils of cinnamon,clove, lemon grass,oregano and palmarosa on growth of and fumonisin B1 production by Fusarium verticillioides in maize

The ability of cinnamon, clove, lemon grass, oregano and palmarosa essential oils to prevent growth of and fumonisin B₁ (FB₁) production by Fusarium verticillioides at different water activity (0.95 and 0.995 a_w) and temperature (20 and 30 °C) levels in irradiated maize grain was evaluated. All the essential oils inhibited growth of F verticillioides isolates under all conditions tested, but FB₁ production was only inhibited at 30 °C and 0.995 a_w. Moreover, stimulation of toxin production was found under certain environmental conditions. None of the essential oils showed a significantly greater ability to inhibit FB₁ production when compared with the others. At 1000 mg essential oil kg^?1 maize the essential oils showed a greater inhibitory effect on growth of F verticillioides than at 500 mg kg^?1, but there was no difference in FB₁ production between the two levels of essential oil. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

Natural occurrence of Fusarium toxins in peanut,sorghum and maize from Mysore (India)

Peanut, sorghum and maize samples were collected from the wholesale market in Mysore, India, over a period of one year (October 1984 to September 1985). The samples were analysed for the natural occurrence of T-2 toxin (T-2), diacetoxyscirpenol (DAS) and zearalenone by thin-layer chromatography, dermal toxicity test and gas chromatography. Of the total number of peanut samples analysed, 6.9% were positive for the toxic trichothecene(s) (T-2, up to 38.89 mg kg^?1; DAS, up to 2.03 mg kg^?1); 4.8% of total sorghum samples analysed contained T-2 up to 15 mg kg^?1. Zearalenone was not found in any of the samples tested, and no toxins were detected in any of the maize samples. Samples marketed during winter and summer periods were contaminated with the toxins. All the toxin-positive samples except one peanut sample were found in produce stored for more than a week.     

Fumonisin B1, zearalenone and deoxynivalenol production by Fusarium moniliforme,F proliferatum and F graminearum in mixed cultures on irradiated maize kernels

The impact on fungal growth and mycotoxin formation of interactions between fumonisin‐producing isolates of Fusarium moniliforme and F proliferatum and a zearalenone (ZEA)‐ and deoxynivalenol (DON)‐producing isolate of F graminearum inoculated together on irradiated maize at 15 and 25 °C and at 0.98, 0.95 and 0.93 a_w was studied. The presence of F graminearum decreased the fungal populations (CFU g⁻¹ grain) of F moniliforme and F proliferatum under almost all conditions tested. In the presence of F moniliforme, CFUs of F graminearum increased significantly at 25 °C, especially at 0.93 and 0.95 a_w, while the presence of F proliferatum caused them to increase at 15 °C. The presence of F graminearum always inhibited FB₁ production, except at 25 °C and 0.98 a_w where it increased. However, the observed differences were not statistically significant. There was no effect of fungal interaction on ZEA production by F graminearum; however, when paired with F moniliforme and F proliferatum, DON production by F graminearum was significantly stimulated, especially at 0.98 a_w. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry     

玉米及其制品中转基因成分的单一 PCR及多重PCR检测

采用CTAB法提取玉米及其制品的总DNA，用PCR方法检测其中的转基因成分如花椰菜花叶病毒（Cauliflower mosaic virus，CaMV）35S启动子、根癌农杆菌（Agrobacterium tumefaciens）胭脂碱合成酶甚因（nos）终止子、根癌农杆菌CP4菌株的EPSPS基因、吸水链霉菌（Treptomyces hygroscopicus）bar基因及苏云金芽孢杆菌库尔斯塔克亚种（Bacillus thuringiensis subsp．kurstaki）crylA（b）基因，筛选到阳性样品，并建立了几组玉米内源zein基因和转基因成分之间的多重PCR检测方法。结果表明，建立的多重PCR方法用于同时检测玉米内源基因和转基因成分是可行的，值得推广；虽然我国还未有己获准商品化生产的转基因玉米，但国外转基因玉米已流入福建省。     

Fumonisin detection and analysis of potential fumonisin‐producing Fusarium spp. in asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.) in Zhejiang Province of China

BACKGROUND: Fumonisins are mycotoxins produced by a number of Fusarium species, including several pathogens of asparagus plants. China is one of the largest asparagus producers in the world. In this study, we analysed the contamination of fumonisins and fumonisin‐producing fungi in asparagus spear samples from Zhejiang Province, the major asparagus production province in China. RESULTS: The asparagus did not contain a detectable level of fumonisins. However, the recovery of Fusarium in asparagus was 72.7%, including F. proliferatum (40.9%), F. oxysporum (22.7%), F. acuminatum (4.55%) and F. equesti (4.55%). A multiplex PCR targeting the internal transcribed spacer sequence (ITS), translation elongation factor 1‐α (TEF), and key biosynthetic genes FUM1 and FUM8, was used to simultaneously determine the identity and the biosynthetic ability of the fungal isolates. Fungal isolates containing the FUM genes also produced fumonisins in cultures, ranging from 28 to 4204 µg g^?1. F. proliferatum was the only fumonisin‐producing Fusarium species in asparagus. CONCLUSION: Although no fumonisin contamination was detected in asparagus in the current survey, we found that the majority of samples contained Fusarium spp. Because F. proliferatum is a high fumonisin‐producing species, potential health risks for human consumption of asparagus exist, if the appropriate environmental conditions are present for this fungus. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry     

应用PCR快速检测食品中沙门氏杆菌方法的研究

本研究利用沙门氏杆菌属特异的inv A基因序列，设计一对特异性的引物，通过PCR反应来检测多种样品中的沙门氏杆菌；反应的特异性和敏感性以及反应的最适条件等试验的结果显示：此PCR方法检测沙门氏菌属的特异性为100％：样品中活菌的检测限为1．43CFU／10g：反应的最佳退火温度是65℃；最适模板浓度范围在10^4～10^8copies／ml。本方法与传统的沙门氏杆菌检测方法以及最近报道的相关方法比较，具有简单、快速、特异性好和敏感性高、经济等特点，并可满足大批样品沙门氏杆菌筛选检测的要求。     

Evaluating three commonly used growth media for assessing fumonisin analogues FB1, FB2 and FB3 production by nine Fusarium verticillioides isolates

ABSTRACT

Maize is most often infected by the fumonisin-producing Fusarium verticillioides. Total fumonisins of natural infected grain is made up of FB₁, FB₂ and FB₃ with FB₁ occurring naturally at higher levels. A maize plant can be infected with more than one F. verticillioides isolate, and finding a reliable method to elucidate the toxigenic potential of these isolates is important to extrapolate the possible fumonisin risk to consumers of grain. It is not clear whether F. verticillioides produces similar fumonisin levels, as well as fumonisin analogue ratios, across media. In this study, nine F. verticillioides isolates were subjected to three methods of fumonisin testing using liquid media, maize patties and a field trial (silk inoculation of grain) in Potchefstroom, South Africa. Spore concentrations of 1 × 10⁶ conidia ml^–1 of each isolate were used to inoculate the different media and levels fumonisin analogues were measured using HPLC. Fumonisin production per isolate was highly variable and was influenced by the two-way interaction of F. verticillioides isolate × growth media. Total fumonisins produced in the liquid medium ranged from 0 to 21.3 ppm, on maize patties fumonisins they ranged from 0 to 21.5 ppm, and in the silk inoculation technique they ranged from 0 to 15.5 ppm. The fumonisin analogue FB₁ occurred at higher levels followed by FB₃ in both in vitro studies. In the silk inoculation technique, fumonisin analogue FB₂ was the second highest occurring analogue after FB₁. Isolate GCI 282 produced higher FB₂ and FB₃ levels than FB₁ in the patties and grain, respectively. In order not to miscalculate the fumonisin and analogue ratio levels per F. verticillioides isolate, the growth medium will have to be optimised for each isolate and more than one growth medium used.     

Multiplex Real‐Time PCR Method for Detection and Quantification of Mycotoxigenic Fungi Belonging to Three Different Genera

Abstract: Cereal crop plants are colonized by many fungal species such as Aspergillus ochraceus and Penicillium verrucosum, which produce ochratoxins, and Fusarium graminearum, which produces trichothecene mycotoxins. A multiplex real‐time PCR method using TaqMan probes was developed to simultaneously detect and quantify these mycotoxigenic Fusarium, Penicillium and Aspergillus species in cereal grains. Primers and probes used in this method were designed targeting the trichothecene synthase (Tri5) gene in trichothecene‐producing Fusarium, rRNA gene in Penicillium verrucosum, and polyketide synthase gene (Pks) in Aspergillus ochraceus. The method was highly specific in detecting fungal species containing these genes and was sensitive, detecting up to 3 pg of genomic DNA. These PCR products were detectable over five orders of magnitude (3 pg to 30 ng of genomic DNA). The method was validated by evaluating sixteen barley culture samples for the presence of deoxynivalenol (DON) and ochratoxin A (OTA) producing fungi. Among the barley culture samples tested, 9 were positive for Fusarium spp, 5 tested positive for Penicillium spp, and 2 tested positive for Aspergillus spp. Results were confirmed by traditional microbiological methods. These results indicate that DON‐ and OTA‐producing fungi can be detected and quantified in a single reaction tube using this multiplex real‐time PCR method. Practical Application: This method would be helpful in detecting and quantifying the mycotoxin producing fungi such as Fusarium, Aspergillus, and Penicillium in cereal grains and cereal‐based foods.     

A PCR-Based Assay for the Detection and Differentiation of Potential Fumonisin-Producing Fusarium verticillioides Isolated from Indian Maize Kernels

One hundred and three Fusarium isolates from maize samples collected from different districts of Karnataka state, India, were analyzed with genus-specific, species-specific, and potential fumonisin specific oligonucleotide primers. One set of genus-specific primers ITS F and ITS R based on a highly conserved ITS region of the genus Fusarium were used to differentiate Fusarium species from closely related genera. All the Fusarium species tested scored positive with the ITS pair of primers. Detection and identification of Fusarium verticillioides species was done by using a newly designed reverse primer VERT-R (5′- CGA CTC ACG GCC AGG AAA CC ?3′) based on an intergenic spacer sequence (IGS) combined with an already designed forward primer VERTF-1 (5′-GCG GGA ATT CAA AAG TGG CC -3′) published previously. Out of 103 Fusarium species tested, 83 isolates of F. verticillioides scored positive for VERTF-1/ VERT-R species-specific pair of primers. Further to discriminate potential fumonisin-producing and nonproducing strains of F. verticillioides, the VERTF-1/VERTF-2 set of primers [VERTF-1 (5′-GCG GGA ATT CAA AAG TGG CC -3′) and VERTF-2 (5′-GAG GGC GCG AAA CGG ATC GG -3′)] were used. 64 isolates of F. verticillioides scored positive for VERTF-1/ VERTF-2 pair of primers. In total, three primers, one forward primer VERTF-1 and two reverse primers VERT-R and VERTF-2, were used for the confirmation of F. verticillioides up to the species level and the second pair of primers were used to confirm the potential for fumonisin production. The developed PCR assay should provide a powerful tool for the detection and differentiation of potential fumonisin-producing F. verticillioides strains in a population.     

肉中单核细胞增生李斯特菌PCR快速检测方法建立

目的:建立单核细胞增生李斯特菌(Listeria monocytogenes,LM)快速、敏感、特异的PCR诊断方法。方法:采用聚合酶链式反应技术(PCR)特异性扩增单核细胞增生李斯特菌内化素基因(ivlA),并评价该方法的特异性与敏感性。结果:在445bp处出现inlA基因的目的片断,只有单增李斯特菌的目的片段获得扩增,其他菌种扩增均呈阴性;该方法可以检测到DNA的检测限。结论:PCR方法比传统细菌检测方法更特异、快速、灵敏和简便;为肉中单增李斯特菌的快速检测提供了新的手段。     

食源性肠球菌荧光定量PCR检测方法的建立与评价

利用基因组序列比对分析等生物信息学方法发掘肠球菌新的属特异性靶点,根据42个候选靶点序列设计50对引物,结合普通PCR初筛和荧光定量PCR复筛,挑选特异性和灵敏度等检测性能最佳的引物,建立相应的荧光定量PCR检测方法,并对该方法应用于食品中肠球菌检测时的效果作出评价。分析结果显示,特异性最强的引物为EF1902,利用该引物建立的荧光定量体系检测肠球菌时均产生特异性扩增信号,而检测非肠球菌菌株时均无特异性扩增信号形成。经优化PCR体系后,该方法的基因组DNA检测灵敏度为13.78拷贝/PCR,纯培养物灵敏度为38.4 cfu/PCR。以肠球菌人工污染牛奶,当初始接菌量为2.63 cfu/mL时,只需增菌6 h即可用该方法检出肠球菌。对52份食品样品进行检测准确率为94.23%,证实了该方法可应用于食源性肠球菌的快速检测。综上所述,作者建立的肠球菌荧光定量PCR方法,特异性强且灵敏度高,可应用于食品中肠球菌的快速检测。     

Associations of planting date,drought stress,and insects with Fusarium ear rot and fumonisin B1 contamination in California maize

Fusarium ear rot, caused by Fusarium verticillioides, is one of the most common diseases of maize, causing yield and quality reductions and contamination of grain by fumonisins and other mycotoxins. Drought stress and various insects have been implicated as factors affecting disease severity. Field studies were conducted to evaluate the interactions and relative influences of drought stress, insect infestation, and planting date upon Fusarium ear rot severity and fumonisin B₁ contamination. Three hybrids varying in partial resistance to Fusarium ear rot were sown on three planting dates and subjected to four irrigation regimes to induce differing levels of drought stress. A foliar-spray insecticide treatment was imposed to induce differing levels of insect injury. Populations of thrips (Frankliniella spp.), damage by corn earworm (Helicoverpa zeae), Fusarium ear rot symptoms, and fumonisin B₁ levels were assessed. There were significant effects of hybrid, planting date, insecticide treatment, and drought stress on Fusarium ear rot symptoms and fumonisin B₁ contamination, and these factors also had significant interacting effects. The most influential factors were hybrid and insecticide treatment, but their effects were influenced by planting date and drought stress. The more resistant hybrids and the insecticide-treated plots consistently had lower Fusarium ear rot severity and fumonisin B₁ contamination. Later planting dates typically had higher thrips populations, more Fusarium ear rot, and higher levels of fumonisin B₁. Insect activity was significantly correlated with disease severity and fumonisin contamination, and the correlations were strongest for thrips. The results of this study confirm the influence of thrips on Fusarium ear rot severity in California, USA, and also establish a strong association between thrips and fumonisin B₁ levels.     

Subspecies-Specific Nested PCR Assay for Detection of Lactococcus lactis spp. lactis and spp. cremoris

A nested PCR-based assay composed of Lactococcus lactis species-specific primers for the nest 1 amplification and subspecies-specific primers for the nest 2 amplification was validated with the identified strains of L. lactis isolated from dairy and nondairy sources and positive and negative control strains. Forward and reverse primer set was designed for nest 1 amplification targeting the conserved housekeeping gene yueF encoding nonproteolytic protein from peptidase family M16 of L. lactis. Amplicons of 447 bp of yueF were subjected for nest 2 amplification producing amplicons of 372 bp. The designed outer primer set for nest 1 amplification was observed to be specific to L. lactis because the DNA from other bacteria could not be amplified and the inner primer set for nest 2 amplification was found to be specific for the detection of ssp. lactis and cremoris of L. lactis.     

Characterization of Fusarium verticillioides strains isolated from maize in Italy: fumonisin production, pathogenicity and genetic variability

Fusarium verticillioides (teleomorph Gibberella moniliformis) is the main fungal agent of ear and kernel rot of maize (Zea mays L.) worldwide, including Italy. F.verticillioides is a highly toxigenic species since it is able to produce the carcinogenic mycotoxins fumonisins. In this study, 25 F. verticillioides strains, isolated from maize in different regions of Italy were analyzed for their ability to produce fumonisins, their pathogenicity and their genetic variability. A further referenced strain of G. moniliformis isolated from maize in USA was also used as outgroup. The fumonisins B₁, B₂, and B₃ were analyzed by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). Pathogenicity tests were carried out by symptom observation and determination of growth parameters after inoculation of maize seeds, seedlings and wounded detached leaves. Total genomic DNA was used for Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP) analysis. About 20% of the analyzed strains were unable to produce fumonisins in in vitro experiments on inoculated maize flour, while, among fumonisin producers, a great variability was observed, with values ranging from 1 to 115 mg kg⁻¹. The different analyzed strains showed a wide range of pathogenicity in terms of effect on seed germination, seedling development and of symptoms produced on detached leaves, which were not correlated with the different in vitro fumonisin production. AFLP analysis indicated the presence of genetic diversity not only between the Italian strains and the American reference but also among the Italian isolates.     

四重实时荧光PCR快速检测转基因玉米及其加工产品

本研究运用四重实时荧光聚合酶链式反应技术（polymerase chain reaction,PCR）对转基因玉米及其深加工制品进行筛选检测。选定花椰菜花叶病毒35S启动子（pCaMV35S）、农杆菌的胭脂碱合成酶基因终止子（tNOS）以及根癌农杆菌CP4蛋白基因和5-莽草酸-3-磷酸合成酶基因（EPSPS）为外源基因,选定编码玉米淀粉合成酶异构体zSTSII-2 (zSSIIb) 基因作为玉米物种的内参照基因。设计和合成靶标基因特异性引物和多重荧光探针,经特异性、重复性、灵敏性和适用性等方法学验证建立了四重实时荧光PCR检测方法。结果表明该方法检测特异性强,重复性好,扩增效率在90%~110%,标准曲线相关系数R2≥0.99,最低检测限为每20 μL反应13个拷贝,最低定量限为每20 μL反应1.3个拷贝,其检测结果与SN/T 1204-2016标准方法检测结果一致,由于四个目标基因可以在一个反应管中进行扩增反应,且含有内源基因和外源基因,可降低试剂成本,简化操作程序,缩短检测时间,为玉米及其深加工产品转基因成分的快速检测提供参考。