Suppalak Yesaeng. Rapid detection of pathogenic leptospira in serum samples by duplex-PCR and hybridization using two synthetic DNA probes . Master's Degree(Infectious Diseases and Epidemiology). Mahidol University. : Mahidol University, 2007.
Rapid detection of pathogenic leptospira in serum samples by duplex-PCR and hybridization using two synthetic DNA probes
Abstract:
Leptospirosis is recognized as one of the major health problems in Thailand.
A rapid, sensitive, specific and reliable detection method for leptospirosis has become
essential for effective therapy of the patient. In this study, a duplex- polymerase chain
reaction (PCR) and hybridization based method for the rapid and specific detection of
pathogenic leptospires in spiked normal serum samples was developed. Conditions for
extraction of target bacterial DNA, amplification and hybridization were optimized to
increase the sensitivity and specificity of the tests.
The developed method included extraction of bacterial DNA directly from
spiked normal serum with a method using the magnetic-bead method, because not
only is the price lower but the protocol is easier and more rapid than the silica
membrane based method. Finally, duplex-PCR assay with two primer pairs and
hybridization was used with both synthetic LipL32 and 16S rRNA probes. The
developed duplex-PCR allowed detection of two products of 279 bp for the LipL32
gene and 430 bp for the 16S rRNA gene. In spiked serum samples artificially seeded
with L. interrogans sv. Bratislava, the least density of approximately 106 cells per ml
could be analyzed by PCR-Agarose Gel Electrophoresis (AGE) and 10 cells per ml
could be analyzed by PCR-Southern Blot Hybridization (SBH). Thus the detection of
PCR products by SBH using the fluorescein ULS® labeled LipL32 and 16S rRNA
probes and chemiluminescent detection facilitated the detection of low numbers of
pathogenic Leptospira in serum samples. Both synthetic DNA probes were also found
to be specific for confirmation of PCR products by SBH when using single and
combined DNA probes with final detection by chemiluminescence and/or
colorimetric.
This study provides some guidance in the future for application of this
developed molecular technique for detection of pathogenic Leptospira spp. in clinical
patient samples. The author suggests comparing different samples collected from
patients suspected of having leptospirosis, at different stage of the disease, because
using serum samples only may be unsuitable for PCR analysis