The potential of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry for the identification of biogroups of Cronobacter sakazakii.

RATIONALE: The bacterial genus Cronobacter was established quite recently, in 2008. Therefore, its systematic classification is still in progress as well as the risk assessment of Cronobacter strains. The possibility of rapid identification within the biogroup level has an essential epidemiological significance. We examined the potential of mass spectrometry to accomplish this task on species Cronobacter sakazakii comprising eight different biogroups. METHODS: Members of all Cronobacter sakazakii biogroups were characterized by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) using intact cells. Analyses were performed on a Biflex IV MALDI-TOF mass spectrometer in the range of 2000 to 20 000 Da in linear mode with an accelerated voltage of 19 kV. RESULTS: Optimal conditions for a proper identification of biogroups, such as suitable cultivation media or growth time of bacteria, were investigated. The biomarker patterns characterizing each of the Cronobacter sakazakii biogroups were obtained. The established identification protocol was applied to ten previously non-identified strains and their biogroups were successfully determined. CONCLUSIONS: The presented work is the first report of successful and rapid bacterial biogroup taxonomy classification using MALDI-TOF-MS that could substitute demanding biochemical testing.

Immunochromatographic strip test for detection of genus Cronobacter.

Members of the genus Cronobacter are opportunistic pathogens formerly known as Enterobacter sakazakii, which induce severe meningitis and sepsis in neonates and infants, with a high fatality rate. In this work, a simple and rapid immunochromatographic strip test for the detection of this pathogen was developed. Following the shortened bacteria cultivation and isolation of DNA, a specific gene sequence targeting 16S rRNA from Cronobacter spp. was amplified by PCR using 5'-end labelled specific primers. The PCR product, amplicon labelled with digoxigenin on one side and biotin on the other side, was directly added to the immunochromatographic strip test, composed of nitrocellulose membrane with bound antibody against digoxigenin in the test line. The visualization was mediated by colloidal carbon conjugated to neutravidin, and the appearance of grey/black line was indicative of the presence of specific amplicon. Colour intensity of the test line in pathogen-positive assay was visually distinguishable from that of negative sample within 10 min. The visual detection limit of PCR product was 8 ng. The specificity of the developed method was confirmed by standard microbiological techniques. Whole detection procedure with the incorporated immunostrip was applied to analysis of infant formulae samples, contaminated with less than 10 cells of Cronobacter spp. per 10 g. The results from immunochromatographic test indicated the absolute agreement with those from standard microbiological methods. Moreover, the developed procedure considerably reduced the total analysis time to 16 h whereas the reference microbiological method needs 6-7 days.

Strip-based immunoassay for rapid detection of thiabendazole.

There is increased interest in the investigation and implementation of rapid screening methods for detection of pesticide residues. This study reports development of an immunostrip test for thiabendazole detection based on indirect competitive principle using carbon particles as a label. Nitrocellulose membrane strip was coated with a thiabendazole-protein conjugate in the defined test zone. In flow of an antibody-carbon complex and thiabendazole along the strip, the intensity of black colour formed in the test line reflected the thiabendazole concentration and semi-quantitative estimation could be carried out visually. The optimized test was accomplished within 10 min and the visual detection limit was achieved 0.25 ng mL(-1) of standard sample. Moreover, immunostrip was evaluated quantitatively using scanning densitometry. Based on standard curve, the detection limit of the proposed test was as low as 0.08+/-0.03 ng mL(-1) with an IC(50) value of 0.60+/-0.08 ng mL(-1) and a linear working range of 0.11-4.13 ng mL(-1). Results of testing precision, stability, and specificity demonstrated that the assay provided a reliable performance. This immunostrip was applied to analysis of spiked fruit juices in range of 0.05-5 mg L(-1). Matrix interferences were avoided by simple dilution of samples. Both visual and instrumental evaluations indicated a good agreement with results obtained by ELISA. Recoveries from juices were from 81.9 to 123.6% and relative standard deviations ranged from 9.9 to 19.3%. The developed strip offers potential as a useful rapid and simple method for screening of thiabendazole in fruit juices at levels far below the maximum residue limits.

Immunochromatographic colloidal carbon-based assay for detection of methiocarb in surface water.

A simple and rapid immunochromatographic assay for a sensitive and inexpensive monitoring of methiocarb in surface water was developed using a binding inhibition format on a membrane strip. In the assay, detection reagent consisted of anti-methiocarb antibody and colloidal carbon-labelled secondary antibody. Methiocarb-ovalbumin conjugate was immobilized in a test line of the strip as a capture reagent. Colour intensity of the test line in methiocarb-positive assay was visually distinguishable from that of negative sample within 10min. The optimized semi-quantitative method provided a visual detection limit of 0.5ngmL(-1). Cross-reactions with other carbamate pesticides were not found (<1%). Only a negligible matrix effect of surface water was recognized. In parallel analyses of spiked water samples, the assay results were in a good agreement with those of ELISA. The stability test indicated the strips could be used at least 2 months without change in performance. All characteristics of the visually evaluated assay mentioned above were verified by instrumental quantification of colour intensity in test lines. The developed immunochromatographic assay offers potential as a useful on-site screening tool for environmental analysis.

Development of chemiluminescent ELISAs to DDT and its metabolites in food and environmental samples.

Two enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) with chemiluminescent (CL) detection for the insecticide DDT and the group of DDT-related compounds have been optimized and characterized. Both conjugate-coated ELISAs are based on monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) of different specificity and homologous protein conjugates. Effects of several physicochemical factors (ionic strength, pH, Tween-20 and Bovine serum albumin (BSA) concentrations) and solvents (methanol, ethanol, acetone and N,N'-dimethylformamide) on the performance of the assays were studied and optimized. For the DDT-selective assay, the sensitivity, estimated as the I(50) value, was 0.6 microg/l, with a linear working range between 0.1 and 2 microg/l and a limit of detection of 0.06 microg/l. For the DDT group-selective assay, the sensitivity was 0.2 microg/l, with a linear working range between 0.07 and 1 microg/l and a limit of detection of 0.04 microg/l. CL-ELISAs were four times more sensitive compared to colorimetric ELISAs. Finally, both immunoassays were applied to the detection of DDT and group of DDT-related compounds in spiked real water, soil and food samples.

Coenzyme Q releases the inhibitory effect of free fatty acids on mitochondrial glycerophosphate dehydrogenase.

Data presented in this paper show that the size of the endogenous coenzyme Q (CoQ) pool is not a limiting factor in the activation of mitochondrial glycerophosphate-dependent respiration by exogenous CoQ(3), since successive additions of succinate and NADH to brown adipose tissue mitochondria further increase the rate of oxygen uptake. Because the inhibition of glycerophosphate-dependent respiration by oleate was eliminated by added CoQ(3), our data indicate that the activating effect of CoQ(3) is related to the release of the inhibitory effect of endogenous free fatty acids (FFA). Both the inhibitory effect of FFA and the activating effect of CoQ(3) could be demonstrated only for glycerophosphate-dependent respiration, while succinate- or NADH-dependent respiration was not affected. The presented data suggest differences between mitochondrial glycerophosphate dehydrogenase and succinate or NADH dehydrogenases in the transfer of reducing equivalents to the CoQ pool.