This research was supported by Naval Medical Research Center, research work unit 6000.RAD1.J.A0310. The views expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Navy, Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government. Wei-Mei Ching is an employee of the U.S. Government. This work was prepared as part of her official duties. Title 17 U.S.C. &#167;105 provides that &#39;Copyright protection under this title is not available for any work of the United States Government.&#39; Title 17 U.S.C. &#167;101 defines a U.S. Government work as a work prepared by military service member or employee of the U.S. Government as part of that person&#39;s official duties.

1. Prepare Plasmid DNA Dilutions as Standard for LAMP Reaction
<ol>
	<li>Use a spectrophotometer to measure the optical density (O.D.) at 260 nm to determine the plasmid (containing target gene IS1111a of C. burnetii RSA 493) DNA concentration. An O.D.260 of 1 equates to 50 &#181;g/&#181;l of DNA.</li>
	<li>Convert the amount of plasmid DNA into the copy number. Since the size of the plasmid is 6,330 bp, the molecular weight of this plasmid is 4.1 x 106 g (6,330 bp x 649 g/bp). The DNA concentration of the plasmid is 34.2 ng/&#181;l (as determined from step 1.1). 1 &#181;l of this DNA sample contains 34.2 ng of plasmid DNA, equating to 5 x 109 copies (34.2 x 10-9 g / 4.1 x 106 g x 6.02 x 1023) of DNA.</li>
	<li>Add 10 &#181;l of plasmid DNA (5 x 109 copies/&#181;l) to 90 &#181;l of water for a 10-fold dilution to make a DNA sample of 5 x 108 copies/&#181;l.</li>
	<li>Repeat step 1.3 to prepare DNA samples of 5 x 107, 5 x 106, 5 x 105, 5 x 104, 5 x 103, 5 x 102, 5 x 101, and 5 x 100 copies/&#181;l .</li>
</ol>
2. Prepare DNA Template from Samples for LAMP Reaction
<ol>
	<li>Perform DNA extraction from human plasma samples using a commercial DNA mini kit according to manufacturer&#39;s protocol. Use a total of 200 &#181;l&#160;sample for extraction and elute extracted DNA in a 20 &#181;l volume.</li>
</ol>
3. Prepare 2x&#160;LAMP Reaction Buffer
<ol>
	<li>Mix 200 &#181;l of 10x&#160;Pol Buffer, 320 &#181;l of 5 M trimethylglycine, 12 &#181;l of 1 M MgSO4, 280 &#181;l of dNTP mixture (10 mM each) and 188 &#181;l of water to make 1 ml of 2x LAMP buffer. Mix by pulse-vortexing for 10 sec.</li>
</ol>
4. Perform Standard LAMP Reaction
<ol>
	<li>Mix 12.5 &#181;l of 2x LAMP buffer (as prepared in step 3; 40 mM Tris-HCl (pH 8.8), 20 mM KCl, 16 mM MgSO4, 20 mM (NH4)2SO4, 0.2% Triton X-100, 1.6 M trimethylglycine, 1.4 mM dNTP mixture), 1.2 &#181;l of primer mix, 1 &#181;l of Bst DNA polymerase (8 U/&#181;l), and 5.3 &#181;l of water to make reaction mixture (20 &#181;l) in a 0.2 ml PCR tube.</li>
	<li>Add 5 &#181;l of DNA (from step 1 or 2) to the 20 &#181;l reaction mixture and mix well.</li>
	<li>Close tube and incubate at 60 &#176;C for 60 min in a water bath or heating block. This is the optimal reaction temperature determined previously.</li>
	<li>Add 5 &#181;l of 10x gel loading buffer to terminate the reaction.</li>
	<li>Load 5 &#181;l of reaction products to a 2% agarose gel stained with intercalating nucleic acid stain.</li>
	<li>Run gel at 100 V for 35 min in 1x TBE buffer.</li>
	<li>Visualize the results by UV light.</li>
</ol>
5. Perform LAMP Reaction with Reconstituted Reagents
<ol>
	<li>Mix 125 &#181;l of 10x Pol Buffer, 200 &#181;l of 5 M trimethylglycine, 7.5 &#181;l of 1 M MgSO4, 667.5 &#181;l of water to make 1 ml of reconstitution buffer. Mix by pulse-vortexing for 10 sec.</li>
	<li>Remove tubes which contain the lyophilized reagents from the sealed aluminum foil bag. Do not use the tubes if the aluminum foil bag is not sealed or if it is damaged.</li>
	<li>Add 20 &#181;l of reconstitution buffer into each tube to re-suspend lyophilized reagents.</li>
	<li>Mix by pipetting buffer up and down 5 times. Take a look to make sure the lyophilized reagents are completely re-suspended. The white powder should disappear in the tube.</li>
	<li>Add 5 &#181;l of DNA template (from step 1 or 2) to the reconstituted reagents and mix well.</li>
	<li>Close tube and incubate at 60 &#176;C for 60 min in a water bath or heating block.</li>
	<li>Add 5 &#181;l of 10x gel loading buffer to terminate the reaction.</li>
	<li>Load 5 &#181;l of reaction products to a 2% agarose gel stained with intercalating nucleic acid stain.</li>
	<li>Run gel at 100 V for 35 min in 1x TBE buffer.</li>
	<li>Visualize the results by UV light.</li>
</ol>
6. Perform LAMP Reaction with Reconstitution Buffer Containing HNB or Fluorescent Intercalating Dye
<ol>
	<li>Mix 125 &#181;l of 10x Pol Buffer, 200 &#181;l of 5 M trimethylglycine, 7.5 &#181;l of 1 M MgSO4, 7.5 &#181;l of 20 mM HNB (or 12.5 &#181;l of 100x fluorescent intercalating dye) and 660 &#181;l (or 655 &#181;l) of water to make 1 ml of reconstitution buffer. Mix by pulse-vortexing for 10 sec.</li>
	<li>Use the reconstituted buffer prepared in section 6 to repeat the steps 5.2 - 5.6.</li>
	<li>Visualize the results by the naked eye (reaction containing HNB) or a UV light (reaction containing fluorescent intercalating dye).</li>
</ol>
7. Perform Real-time LAMP Reaction with Tube Scanner
<ol>
	<li>Add 5 &#181;l DNA to the reconstituted reagents containing fluorescent intercalating dye, close tube and insert it to the tube scanner.</li>
	<li>Set incubation temperature at 60 &#176;C. Measure the fluorescence at 520 nm for 60 min.</li>
</ol>

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Agents and Chemother. 49 (7), 2673-2676 (2005).</li><li>Fournier, P. E., Raoult, D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Comparison+of+PCR+and+serology+assays+for+early+diagnosis+of+acute+Q+fever.">Comparison of PCR and serology assays for early diagnosis of acute Q fever.</a> J. Clin. Microbiol. 41 (11), 5094-5098 (2003).</li><li>Schneeberger, P. M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Real-time+PCR+with+serum+samples+is+indispensable+for+early+diagnosis+of+acute+Q+fever.">Real-time PCR with serum samples is indispensable for early diagnosis of acute Q fever.</a> Clin. Vaccine Immunol. 17 (2), 286-290 (2010).</li><li>Turra, M., Chang, G., Whybrow, D., Higgins, G., Qiao, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Diagnosis+of+acute+Q+fever+by+PCR+on+sera+during+a+recent+outbreak+in+rural+South+Australia.">Diagnosis of acute Q fever by PCR on sera during a recent outbreak in rural South Australia.</a> Ann. N Y Acad. Sci. 1078, 566-569 (2006).</li><li>Notomi, T., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Loop-mediated+isothermal+amplification+of+DNA.">Loop-mediated isothermal amplification of DNA.</a> Nucleic Acids Res. 28 (12), (2000).</li><li>Paris, D. H., Blacksell, S. D., Newton, P. N., Day, N. 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Commun. 289 (1), 150-154 (2001).</li><li>Qiao, Y. M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Loop-mediated+isothermal+amplification+for+rapid+detection+of+Bacillus+anthracis.spores.">Loop-mediated isothermal amplification for rapid detection of Bacillus anthracis.spores.</a> Biotechnol. Lett. 29 (12), 1939-1946 (2007).</li><li>Tomita, N., Mori, Y., Kanda, H., Notomi, T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Loop-mediated+isothermal+amplification+(LAMP)+of+gene+sequences+and+simple+visual+detection+of+products.">Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) of gene sequences and simple visual detection of products.</a> Nat. Protoc. 3 (5), 877-882 (2008).</li><li>Thekisoe, O. M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Stability+of+Loop-Mediated+Isothermal+Amplification+(LAMP)+reagents+and+its+amplification+efficiency+on+crude+trypanosome+DNA+templates.">Stability of Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) reagents and its amplification efficiency on crude trypanosome DNA templates.</a> J. Vet. Med. Sci. 71 (4), 471-475 (2009).</li><li>Chen, H. W., Ching, W. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Development+of+loop-mediated+isothermal+amplification+assays+for+rapid+and+easy+detection+of+Coxiella+Burnetii.">Development of loop-mediated isothermal amplification assays for rapid and easy detection of Coxiella Burnetii.</a> J. 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The authors have nothing to disclose.

Previously, we developed a sensitive and specific LAMP assay targeting the insertion element IS1111a14. The IS1111 element was selected because it is highly conserved among the different strains of C. burnetii and its high number of copies (7 to 110) in the bacteria (Klee 2006). Our results showed that LAMP can detect about 25 copies of the IS1111 element, which may correlate to as little as one chromosomal copy of Coxiella DNA. In this study, Bst DNA polym...

The small Gram-negative bacterium Coxiella burnetii is the causative agent of Q fever, which is a worldwide zoonosis. Due to Q fever&#39;s worldwide distribution and the high infectivity of C. burnetii, US military and civilian personnel deployed overseas are at risk of being infected in the endemic areas.
Q fever manifests in two forms: acute and chronic infections. Acute Q-fever presents itself with flu-like symptoms, hepatitis, or pneumonia, and is usually a self-limiting disease with a low mortality rate. Chronic Q-fever, while less prevalent, often results in endocarditis, which has a much higher mortality rate if left untreated1,2. Therefore, early diagnosis to guide an appropriate treatment is critical for patient care. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and quantitative real time PCR (qPCR) assays have been developed for detecting C. burnetii DNA in cell cultures and clinical samples3-5. Both PCR and qPCR are costly and often not readily available in resource-constrained areas for routine work.
Originally described by Notomi6, loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) offers an alternative DNA amplification method. LAMP uses Bst DNA polymerase for strand displacement DNA synthesis along with specially designed primer sets that recognize at least six independent regions of the target gene. The most significant advantage of LAMP is that amplification occurs under isothermal conditions. Therefore, only a water bath, heating block or an incubator is required. This method has been used to detect several rickettsial pathogens7-9. Visualization of amplified DNA products by gel electrophoresis is the most accurate method which can differentiate true positives from false positives due to nonspecific amplification. However the procedures involved in gel electrophoresis are not practical for resource-limited areas. Several alternative methods were developed to detect the reaction products. These alternative, such as turbidity derived from magnesium pyrophosphate formation10 or using a fluorescent intercalating dye to be visualized under UV light11,12 are more favorable than running a gel. The LAMP reagents were stable for one month when stored at 25 &#176;C and 37 &#176;C, which are ambient temperatures in tropical and sub-tropical countries where Q fever is endemic13.
A LAMP assay was developed in our laboratory to detect the presence of C. burnetii in plasma samples14. Here we describe a simple protocol for the preparation of the LAMP reaction mixture from the lyophilized reagents. The lyophilized reagents are stable for one month when stored at RT. When combined with an easy visualization method, this is an ideal method to use for detecting C. burnetii in a resource-limited setting.

<table><tbody><tr><td>LAMP primers</td><td>Eurofins MWG operon</td><td>10 nmol, salt free</td><td>Sequence designed by customer</td></tr><tr><td>Bst DNA polymerase</td><td>New England Biolabs</td><td>M0275L</td><td>8 units/ml</td></tr><tr><td>10x Thermo pol buffer</td><td>New England Biolabs</td><td>B9004S</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>dNTP mixture</td><td>New England Biolabs</td><td>N0447L</td><td>10 mM each</td></tr><tr><td>Betaine</td><td>Sigma-Aldrich</td><td>B0300</td><td>5 M, Trimethylglycine</td></tr><tr><td>Magnesium Sulfate</td><td>Sigma-Aldrich</td><td>M3409-1ML</td><td>1 M</td></tr><tr><td>10x Bluejuice</td><td>Invitrogen</td><td>10816-015</td><td>gel loading buffer</td></tr><tr><td>SYBR green</td><td>Invitrogen</td><td>S7585</td><td>10,000x, visualize products in tubes</td></tr><tr><td>GelRed</td><td>Phenix Research Products</td><td>RGB-4103</td><td>10,000x, visualize products in gels</td></tr><tr><td>Lyophilized reagents</td><td>Gene Reach</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Hydroxynaphthol blue</td><td>Fluka</td><td>33936-10G</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>ESEQuant tube scanner</td><td>Qiagen</td><td></td><td>real-time detection</td></tr></tbody></table>

the development of lyophilized loop-mediated isothermal amplification reagents for the detection of coxiella burnetii

Coxiella burnetii, the agent causing Q fever, is an obligate intracellular bacterium. PCR based diagnostic assays have been developed for detecting C. burnetii DNA in cell cultures and clinical samples. PCR requires specialized equipment and extensive end user training, and therefore, it is not suitable for routine work especially in a resource-constrained area. We have developed a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay to detect the presence of C. burnetii in patient samples. This method is performed at a single temperature around 60 &#176;C in a water bath or heating block. The sensitivity of this LAMP assay is very similar to PCR with a detection limit of about 25 copies per reaction. This report describes the preparation of the reaction using lyophilized reagents and visualization of results using hydroxynaphthol blue (HNB) or a UV lamp with fluorescent intercalating dye in the reaction. The LAMP reagents were lyophilized and stored at room temperature (RT) for one month without loss of detection sensitivity. This LAMP assay is particularly robust because the reaction mixture preparation does not involve complex steps. This method is ideal for use in resource-limited settings where Q fever is endemic.

The lyophilized LAMP reagents inside the 0.2 ml tube contains Bst DNA polymerase, primers, and dNTPs. 20 &#181;l of reconstitution buffer is used to re-suspend the lyophilized reagents. Figure 1 shows the LAMP reaction results on agarose gels with freshly prepared reagents and lyophilized reagents. The lyophilized reagent does not reduce its activity. LAMP reactions prepared by both reagents can detect 25 copies of DNA template. Figure 2 shows th...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about The Development of Lyophilized Loop-mediated Isothermal Amplification Reagents for the Detection of Coxiella burnetii at JoVE.com

The Development of Lyophilized Loop-mediated Isothermal Amplification Reagents for the Detection of Coxiella burnetii

We described here a simple loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) method using lyophilized reagents for the detection of C. burnetii in patient samples.

The Development of Lyophilized Loop-mediated Isothermal Amplification Reagents for the Detection of Coxiella burnetii

Coxiella burnetii, the agent causing Q fever, is an obligate intracellular bacterium. PCR based diagnostic assays have been developed for detecting C. ...

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Research

JoVE Journal

Immunology and Infection

10.5K Views.  Naval Medical Research Center. We described here a simple loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) method using lyophilized reagents for the detection of C. burnetii in patient samples.

Video: The Development of Lyophilized Loop-mediated Isothermal Amplification Reagents for the Detection of Coxiella burnetii

Detection of Phytophthora capsici in Irrigation Water using Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification

Phytophthora capsici is a devastating oomycete pathogen that affects many important solanaceous and cucurbit crops causing significant economic losses in vegetable production annually. Phytophthora capsici is soil-borne and a persistent problem in vegetable fields due to its long-lived survival structures (oospores and chlamydospores) that resist weathering and degradation. The main method of dispersal is through the production of zoospores, which are single-celled, flagellated spores that can swim through thin films of water present on surfaces or in water-filled soil pores and can accumulate in puddles and ponds. Therefore, irrigation ponds can be a source of the pathogen and initial points of disease outbreaks. Detection of P. capsici in irrigation water is difficult using traditional culture-based methods because other microorganisms present in the environment, such as Pythium spp., usually overgrow P. capsici making it undetectable. To determine the presence of P. capsici spores in water sources (irrigation water, runoff, etc.), we developed a hand pump-based filter paper (8-10 &#181;m) method that captures the pathogen&#8217;s spores (zoospores) and is later used to amplify the pathogen&#8217;s DNA through a novel loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay designed for the specific amplification of P. capsici. This method can amplify and detect DNA from a concentration as low as 1.2 x 102 zoospores/mL, which is 40 times more sensitive than conventional PCR. No cross-amplification was obtained when testing closely related species. LAMP was also performed using a colorimetric LAMP master mix dye, displaying results that could be read with the naked eye for on-site rapid detection. This protocol could be adapted to other pathogens that reside, accumulate, or are dispersed via contaminated irrigation systems.

Detection of Phytophthora capsici in Irrigation Water using Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification

We developed a method to detect Phytophthora capsici zoospores in water sources using a filter paper DNA extraction method coupled with a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay that can be analyzed in the field or in the lab.

Phytophthora capsici is a devastating oomycete pathogen that affects many important solanaceous and cucurbit crops causing significant economic losses in ...

Environment

Generation and Multi-phenotypic High-content Screening of Coxiella burnetii Transposon Mutants

Invasion and colonization of host cells by bacterial pathogens depend on the activity of a large number of prokaryotic proteins, defined as virulence factors, which can subvert and manipulate key host functions. The study of host/pathogen interactions is therefore extremely important to understand bacterial infections and develop alternative strategies to counter infectious diseases. This approach however, requires the development of new high-throughput assays for the unbiased, automated identification and characterization of bacterial virulence determinants. Here, we describe a method for the generation of a GFP-tagged mutant library by transposon mutagenesis and the development of high-content screening approaches for the simultaneous identification of multiple transposon-associated phenotypes. Our working model is the intracellular bacterial pathogen Coxiellaburnetii, the etiological agent of the zoonosis Q fever, which is associated with severe outbreaks with a consequent health and economic burden. The obligate intracellular nature of this pathogen has, until recently, severely hampered the identification of bacterial factors involved in host pathogen interactions, making of Coxiella the ideal model for the implementation of high-throughput/high-content approaches.

Generation and Multi-phenotypic High-content Screening of Coxiella burnetii Transposon Mutants

Coxiella burnetii is an obligate intracellular Gram-negative bacterium responsible for the zoonotic disease Q fever. Here we describe methods for the generation of Coxiella fluorescent transposon mutants as well as the automated identification and analysis of the resulting internalization, replication and cytotoxic phenotypes.

Invasion and colonization of host cells by bacterial pathogens depend on the activity of a large number of prokaryotic proteins, defined as virulence ...

Ready-To-Use qPCR for Detection of DNA from Trypanosoma cruzi or Other Pathogenic Organisms

Real-time PCR (qPCR) is a remarkably sensitive and precise technique&#160;that allows for amplifying&#160;minute amounts of nucleic acid targets from a multitude of samples. It has been extensively used in many research areas and achieved industrial application in fields such as human diagnostics and trait selection in crops of genetically modified organisms (GMO) crops. However, qPCR is not an error-proof technique. Mixing all reagents into a single master mix subsequently distributed onto 96 wells of a regular qPCR plate might lead to operator mistakes such as incorrect mixing of reagents or inaccurate dispensing into the wells. Here, a technique called gelification is presented, whereby most of the water present in the master mix is substituted by reagents that form a sol-gel mixture when submitted to a vacuum. As a result, qPCR reagents are effectively preserved for a few weeks at room temperature or a few months at 2-8 oC. Details of preparing each solution are shown here along with the expected aspect of a gelified reaction designed to detect&#160;T. cruzi satellite DNA (satDNA). A similar procedure can be applied to detect other organisms. Starting a gelified qPCR run is as simple as removing the plate from the refrigerator, adding the samples to their respective wells, and starting the run, thus decreasing the setup time of a full-plate reaction to the time it takes to load the samples. Additionally, gelified PCR reactions can be produced and controlled for quality in batches, saving time and avoiding common operator mistakes while running routine PCR reactions.

Ready-To-Use qPCR for Detection of DNA from Trypanosoma cruzi or Other Pathogenic Organisms

The present work describes the steps for producing ready-to-use qPCR for T. cruzi DNA detection that can be pre-loaded on the reaction vessel and stored in the refrigerator for several months.

Real-time PCR (qPCR) is a remarkably sensitive and precise technique&#160;that allows for amplifying&#160;minute amounts of nucleic acid targets from a ...

Biochemistry

Applying Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) to Examine Effector Translocation Efficiency by Coxiella burnetii during siRNA Silencing

Coxiella burnetii, the causative agent of Q fever, is an intracellular pathogen that relies on a Type IV Dot/Icm Secretion System to establish a replicative niche. A cohort of effectors are translocated through this system into the host cell to manipulate host processes and allow the establishment of a unique lysosome-derived vacuole for replication. The method presented here involves the combination of two well-established techniques: specific gene silencing using siRNA and measurement of effector translocation using a FRET-based substrate that relies on &#946;-lactamase activity. Applying these two approaches, we can begin to understand the role of host factors in bacterial secretion system function and effector translocation. In this study we examined the role of Rab5A and Rab7A, both important regulators of the endocytic trafficking pathway. We demonstrate that silencing the expression of either protein results in a decrease in effector translocation efficiency. These methods can be easily modified to examine other intracellular and extracellular pathogens that also utilize secretion systems. In this way, a global picture of host factors involved in bacterial effector translocation may be revealed.

Applying Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer FRET to Examine Effector Translocation Efficiency by Coxiella burnetii during siRNA Silencing

Investigating the interactions between bacterial pathogens and their hosts is an important area of biological research. Here, we describe the necessary techniques to measure effector translocation by Coxiella burnetii during siRNA gene silencing using BlaM substrate.

Coxiella burnetii, the causative agent of Q fever, is an intracellular pathogen that relies on a Type IV Dot/Icm Secretion System to establish a ...

Visual Detection of Multiple Nucleic Acids in a Capillary Array

Multi-target, short time, and resource-affordable methodologies for the detection of multiple nucleic acids in a single, easy to operate test are urgently needed in disease diagnosis, microbial monitoring, genetically modified organism (GMO) detection, and forensic analysis. We have previously described the platform called CALM (Capillary Array-based Loop-mediated isothermal amplification for Multiplex visual detection of nucleic acids). Herein, we describe improved fabrication and performance processes for this platform. Here, we apply a small, ready-to-use cassette assembled by capillary array for multiplex visual detection of nucleic acids. The capillary array is pre-treated into a hydrophobic and hydrophilic pattern before fixing loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) primer sets in capillaries. After assembly of the loading adaptor, LAMP reaction mixture is loaded and isolated into each capillary, due to capillary force by a single pipetting step. The LAMP reactions are performed in parallel in the capillaries. The results are visually read out by illumination with a hand-held UV flashlight. Using this platform, we demonstrate monitoring of 8 frequently appearing elements and genes in GMO samples with high specificity and sensitivity. In summary, the platform described herein is intended to facilitate the detection of multiple nucleic acids. We believe it will be widely applicable in fields where high-throughput nucleic acid analysis is required.

This protocol describes the fabrication of a small, ready-to-use cassette that can be applied for visual detection of multiple nucleic acids in a single, test that is easy to operate. In this approach, a capillary array was used for multiplex and highly efficient detection of GMO targets.

Multi-target, short time, and resource-affordable methodologies for the detection of multiple nucleic acids in a single, easy to operate test are urgently ...

Bioengineering

Open-Source Miniature Fluorimeter to Monitor Real-Time Isothermal Nucleic Acid Amplification Reactions in Resource-Limited Settings

Traditional methods to detect and quantify nucleic acids rely on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and require the use of expensive thermocyclers with integrated fluorescence detection of amplicons. Isothermal nucleic acid amplification technologies eliminate the need for thermal cycling; however, fluorescence-based detection of products is still required for real-time, quantitative results. Several portable isothermal heaters with integrated fluorescence detection are now commercially available; however, the cost of these devices remains a significant barrier to widespread adoption in resource-limited settings. Described here is a protocol for the design and assembly of a modular, low-cost fluorimeter constructed from off-the-shelf components. Enclosed in a compact 3D printed housing, the fluorimeter is designed to be placed atop a commercially available heat block holding a PCR tube. The fluorimeter described here was optimized to detect fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) dye, but the system can be modified for use with dyes commonly used as reporters in real-time nucleic acid amplification reactions. Clinical applicability of the system is demonstrated by performing real-time nucleic acid detection with two isothermal amplification technologies: recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) for detection of positive control DNA provided in a commercial kit and reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) for detection of clinically meaningful levels of SARS-CoV-2 RNA.

Detailed instructions are provided to build an open-source, modular fluorimeter that is compatible with many low-cost heaters to perform real-time, quantitative isothermal nucleic acid amplification.

Traditional methods to detect and quantify nucleic acids rely on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and require the use of expensive thermocyclers with ...

Human Respiratory Bacterial Infection Diagnosis Using Isothermal Amplification

Rapid Detection of Bacterial Pathogens Causing Lower Respiratory Tract Infections via Microfluidic-Chip-Based Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification

Respiratory tract infections (RTIs) are among the most common problems in clinical settings. Rapid and accurate identification of bacterial pathogens will provide practical guidelines for managing and treating RTIs. This study describes a method for rapidly detecting bacterial pathogens that cause respiratory tract infections via multi-channel loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP). LAMP is a sensitive and specific diagnostic tool that rapidly detects bacterial nucleic acids with high accuracy and reliability. The proposed method offers a significant advantage over traditional bacterial culturing methods, which are time-consuming and often require greater sensitivity for detecting low levels of bacterial nucleic acids. This article presents representative results of K. pneumoniae infection and its multiple co-infections using LAMP to detect samples (sputum, bronchial lavage fluid, and alveolar lavage fluid) from the lower respiratory tract. In summary, the multi-channel LAMP method provides a rapid and efficient means of identifying single and multiple bacterial pathogens in clinical samples, which can help prevent the spread of bacterial pathogens and aid in the appropriate treatment of RTIs.

Author Spotlight: Advancing Rapid Detection of Respiratory Pathogens Using Microfluidic Chip 

Various bacterial pathogens can cause respiratory tract infections and lead to serious health issues if not detected accurately and treated promptly. Rapid and accurate detection of these pathogens via&#160;loop-mediated isothermal amplification provides effective management and control of respiratory tract infections in clinical settings.

Respiratory tract infections (RTIs) are among the most common problems in clinical settings. Rapid and accurate identification of bacterial pathogens will ...

Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification for Screening Salmonella in Animal Food and Confirming Salmonella from Culture Isolation

Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) has emerged as a powerful nucleic acid amplification test for the rapid detection of numerous bacterial, fungal, parasitic, and viral agents. Salmonella is a bacterial pathogen of worldwide food safety concern, including food for animals. Presented here is a multi-laboratory-validated Salmonella LAMP protocol that can be used to rapidly screen animal food for the presence of Salmonella contamination and can also be used to confirm presumptive Salmonella isolates recovered from all food categories. The LAMP assay specifically targets the Salmonella invasion gene (invA) and is rapid, sensitive, and highly specific. Template DNAs are prepared from enrichment broths of animal food or pure cultures of presumptive Salmonella isolates. The LAMP reagent mixture is prepared by combining an isothermal master mix, primers, DNA template, and water. The LAMP assay runs at a constant temperature of 65 &#176;C for 30 min. Positive results are monitored via real-time fluorescence and can be detected as early as 5 min. The LAMP assay exhibits high tolerance to inhibitors in animal food or culture medium, serving as a rapid, reliable, robust, cost-effective, and user-friendly method for screening and confirming Salmonella. The LAMP method has recently been incorporated into the U.S. Food and Drug Administration&#8217;s Bacteriological Analytical Manual (BAM) Chapter 5.

Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification for Screening Salmonella in Animal Food and Confirming Salmonella from Culture Isolation

Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) is an isothermal nucleic acid amplification test (iNAAT) that has attracted broad interest in the pathogen detection field. Here, we present a multi-laboratory-validated Salmonella LAMP protocol as a rapid, reliable, and robust method for screening Salmonella in animal food and confirming presumptive Salmonella from culture isolation.

Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) has emerged as a powerful nucleic acid amplification test for the rapid detection of numerous bacterial, ...

Biology

Using Colorimetric and RT-LAMP Analysis to Detect SARS-CoV-2 

Detecting SARS-CoV-2 Virus by Reverse Transcription-Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus has dramatically impacted human health. It continues to be a threat to modern society because many people die as a result of infection. The disease is diagnosed using serologic and molecular tests, such as the gold standard real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The last has several disadvantages because it requires specialized infrastructure, costly equipment, and trained personnel. Here, we present a protocol outlining the steps required to detect the SARS-CoV-2 virus using reverse transcription-loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) in human samples. The protocol includes instructions for designing primers in silico, preparing reagents, amplification, and visualization. Once standardized, this method can be easily implemented and adapted to any laboratory or point-of-care within 60 min at a low cost and using inexpensive equipment. It is adaptable to detecting different pathogens. Thus, it can potentially be used in the field and in health centers to carry out timely epidemiological surveillance.

Author Spotlight: Advancing Pathogen Diagnostics with Standardized LAMP

Here we provide a complete protocol to standardize and implement the method for detecting the SARS-CoV-2 virus in human samples by reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP). This method, done within 60 min, could be adapted to any laboratory or point-of-care at a low cost and using inexpensive equipment.

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus has dramatically impacted human health. It continues to be a threat to modern ...

Multiplex RT-qPCR Assay for Respiratory Virus Detection

Development of Multiplex Real-Time RT-qPCR Assays for the Detection of SARS-CoV-2, Influenza A/B, and MERS-CoV

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that causes Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a serious threat to the general public&#39;s health. During influenza seasons, the spread of SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory viruses may cause a population-wide burden of respiratory disease that is difficult to manage. For that, the respiratory viruses SARS-CoV-2, Influenza A, Influenza B, and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS-CoV) will need to be carefully watched over in the upcoming fall and winter seasons, particularly in the case of SARS-CoV-2, Influenza A, and Influenza B, which share similar epidemiological factors like susceptible populations, mode of transmission, and clinical syndromes. Without target-specific assays, it can be challenging to differentiate among cases of these viruses owing to their similarities. Accordingly, a sensitive and targeted multiplex assay that can easily differentiate between these viral targets will be useful for healthcare practitioners. In this study, we developed a real-time reverse transcriptase-PCR-based assay utilizing an in-house developed R3T one-step RT-qPCR kit for simultaneous detection of SARS-CoV-2, Influenza A, Influenza B, and SARS-CoV-2, MERS-CoV. With as few as 10 copies of their synthetic RNAs, we can successfully identify SARS-CoV-2, Influenza A, Influenza B, and MERS-CoV targets simultaneously with 100% specificity. This assay is found to be accurate, reliable, simple, sensitive, and specific. The developed method can be used as an optimized SARS-CoV-2, Influenza A, Influenza B, and SARS-CoV-2, MERS-CoV diagnostic assay in hospitals, medical centers, and diagnostic laboratories as well as for research purposes.

Author Spotlight: Advancements in Multiplex Detection of Respiratory Viruses 

We present two probe-based in-house one-step RT-qPCR kits for common respiratory viruses. The first assay is for SARS-CoV-2 (N), Influenza A (H1N1 and H3N2), and Influenza B. The second is for SARS-Cov-2 (N) and MERS (UpE and ORF1a). These assays can be successfully implemented in any specialized laboratory.

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that causes Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a serious threat to the general ...

The Development of Lyophilized Loop-mediated Isothermal Amplification Reagents for the Detection of Coxiella burnetii

Samenvatting

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