demonstrating-multi-drug-resistant-mycobacterium-tuberculosis

Demonstrating a Multi-drug Resistant <em>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</em> Amplification Microarray

Simplifying microarray workflow is a necessary first step for creating MDR-TB microarray-based diagnostics that can be routinely used in lower-resource ...

Akonni Biosystems, Inc.

Protein profiling and characterization of protein interactions in biological samples ultimately require indicator-free methods of signal detection, which likewise offer an opportunity to distinguish specific interactions from nonspecific protein binding. Here we describe a new 3-dimensional protein microchip for detecting biomolecular interactions with matrix-assisted laser desorption-ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS); the microchip comprises a high-density array of methacrylate polymer elements containing immobilized proteins as capture molecules and directly interfaces with a commercially available mass spectrometer. We demonstrated the performance of the chip in three types of experiments by detecting antibody-antigen interactions, enzymatic activity, and enzyme-inhibitor interactions. MALDI-MS biochip-based tumor necrosisfactor alpha (TNF-alpha) immunoassays demonstrated the feasibility of detecting antigens in complex biological samples by identifying molecular masses of bound proteins even at high nonspecific protein binding. By detecting model interactions of trypsin with trypsin inhibitors, we showed that the protein binding capacity of methacrylate polymer elements and the sensitivity of MALDI-MS detection of proteins bound to these elements surpassed that of other 2- and 3-dimensional substrates tested Immobilized trypsin retained functional (enzymatic) activity within the protein microchip and the specificity of macromolecular interactions even in complex biological samples. We believe that the underlying technology should therefore be extensible to whole-proteome protein expression profiling and interaction mapping.

Analysis of protein interaction and function with a 3-dimensional MALDI-MS protein array.

Analysis of 16S rRNA sequences is a commonly used method for the identification and discrimination of microorganisms. However, the high similarity of 16S and 23S rRNA sequences of Bacillus cereus group organisms (up to 99-100%) and repeatedly failed attempts to develop molecular typing systems that would use DNA sequences to discriminate between species within this group have resulted in several suggestions to consider B. cereus and B. thuringiensis, or these two species together with B. anthracis, as one species. Recently, we divided the B. cereus group into seven subgroups, Anthracis, Cereus A and B, Thuringiensis A and B, and Mycoides A and B, based on 16S rRNA, 23S rRNA and gyrB gene sequences and identified subgroup-specific makers in each of these three genes. Here we for the first time demonstrated discrimination of these seven subgroups, including subgroup Anthracis, with a 3D gel element microarray of oligonucleotide probes targeting 16S and 23S rRNA markers. This is the first microarray enabled identification of B. anthracis and discrimination of these seven subgroups in pure cell cultures and in environmental samples using rRNA sequences. The microarray bearing perfect match/mismatch (p/mm) probe pairs was specific enough to discriminate single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and was able to identify targeted organisms in 5min. We also demonstrated the ability of the microarray to determine subgroup affiliations for B. cereus group isolates without rRNA sequencing. Correlation of these seven subgroups with groupings based on multilocus sequence typing (MLST), fluorescent amplified fragment length polymorphism analysis (AFLP) and multilocus enzyme electrophoresis (MME) analysis of a wide spectrum of different genes, and the demonstration of subgroup-specific differences in toxin profiles, psychrotolerance, and the ability to harbor some plasmids, suggest that these seven subgroups are not based solely on neutral genomic polymorphisms, but instead reflect differences in both the genotypes and phenotypes of the B. cereus group organisms.

Discrimination of Bacillus anthracis and closely related microorganisms by analysis of 16S and 23S rRNA with oligonucleotide microarray.

The objective of this study was to develop and validate a simple, field-portable, microarray system for monitoring microbial community structure and dynamics in groundwater and subsurface environments, using samples representing site status before acetate injection, during Fe-reduction, in the transition from Fe- to SO(4)(2-)-reduction, and into the SO(4)(2-)-reduction phase. Limits of detection for the array are approximately 10(2)-10(3) cell equivalents of DNA per reaction. Sample-to-answer results for the field deployment were obtained in 4 h. Retrospective analysis of 50 samples showed the expected progression of microbial signatures from Fe- to SO(4)(2-) -reducers with changes in acetate amendment and in situ field conditions. The microarray response for Geobacter was highly correlated with qPCR for the same target gene (R(2) = 0.84). Microarray results were in concordance with quantitative PCR data, aqueous chemistry, site lithology, and the expected microbial community response, indicating that the field-portable microarray is an accurate indicator of microbial presence and response to in situ remediation of a uranium-contaminated site.

Monitoring microbial community structure and dynamics during in situ U(VI) bioremediation with a field-portable microarray analysis system.

By modifying polymer compositions and cross-linking reagents, we have developed a simple yet effective manufacturing strategy for copolymerized three-dimensional gel element arrays. A new gel-forming monomer, 2-(hydroxyethyl) methacrylamide (HEMAA), was used. HEMAA possesses low volatility and improves the stability of copolymerized gel element arrays to on-chip thermal cycling procedures relative to previously used monomers. Probe immobilization efficiency within the new polymer was 55%, equivalent to that obtained with acrylamide (AA) and methacrylamide (MA) monomers. Nonspecific binding of single-stranded targets was equivalent for all monomers. Increasing cross-linker chain length improved hybridization kinetics and end-point signal intensities relative to N,N-methylenebisacrylamide (Bis). The new copolymer formulation was successfully applied to a model orthopox array. Because HEMAA greatly simplifies gel element array manufacture, we expect it (in combination with new cross-linkers described here) to find widespread application in microarray science.

Nonvolatile copolymer compositions for fabricating gel element microarrays.

We developed a simplified microarray test for detecting and identifying mutations in rpoB, katG, inhA, embB and rpsL, and compared the analytical performance of the test relative to phenotypic DST. The analytical sensitivity was estimated to be at least 110 genome copies per amplification reaction. The microarray test correctly detected 95.2% of those mutations for which there was a sequence-specific probe on the microarray, and 100% of 96 wildtype sequences. In a blinded analysis of 153 clinical isolates, microarray sensitivity for first line drugs relative to phenotypic DST (true resistance) was 100% for RIF (14/14), 90.0% for INH (36/40), 70% for EMB (7/10), and 89.1% (57/64) combined. Microarray specificity (true susceptibility) for first line agents was 95.0% for RIF (132/139), 98.2% for INH (111/113) and 98.6% for EMB (141/143). Overall microarray specificity for RIF, INH, and EMB combined was 97.2% (384/395). The overall positive and negative predictive values for RIF, INH and EMB combined were 84.9% and 98.3%, respectively. For the second-line drug STR, overall concordance between agar proportion and the microarray was 89.5% (137/153). Sensitivity was 34.8% (8/23) because of limited microarray coverage for STR-conferring mutations, and specificity was 99.2% (129/130). All false susceptible discrepants were a consequence of DNA mutations that are not represented by a specific microarray probe. There were zero invalid results from 220 total tests. The simplified microarray system is suitable for detecting resistance-conferring mutations in clinical MTB isolates, and can now be used for prospective trials or integrated into an all-in-one, closed-amplicon consumable.

A simplified microarray system for simultaneously detecting rifampin, isoniazid, ethambutol, and streptomycin resistance markers in Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Alexander Kukhtin

Akonni Biosystems, Inc.

Demonstrating a Multi-drug Resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis Amplification Microarray