Visual and Real-Time Event-Specific Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification Based Detection Assays for Bt Cotton Events MON531 and MON15985.

Bt cotton events MON531 and MON15985 are authorized for commercial cultivation in more than 18 countries. In India, four Bt cotton events have been commercialized; more than 95% of total area under genetically modified (GM) cotton cultivation comprises events MON531 and MON15985. The present study reports on the development of efficient event-specific visual and real-time loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assays for detection and identification of cotton events MON531 and MON15985. Efficiency of LAMP assays was compared with conventional and real-time PCR assays. Real-time LAMP assay was found time-efficient and most sensitive, detecting up to two target copies within 35 min. The developed real-time LAMP assays, when combined with efficient DNA extraction kit/protocol, may facilitate onsite GM detection to check authenticity of Bt cotton seeds.

Multiplex, construct-specific, and real-time PCR-based analytical methods for Bt rice with cry1Ac gene.

Qualitative and quantitative analytical methods based on PCR for Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) rice hybrid, namely, MRP 5401 Bt expressing a modified version of the Bt cry1Ac gene, are reported here. Multiplex PCR assays were developed to target the cry1Ac transgene, Cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) 35S promoter, Agrobacterium tumefaciens nopaline synthase (nos) terminator, the neomycin phosphotransferase II (nptLL) marker gene, and an endogenous a-tubulin (TubA) gene in Bt rice. The 3.178 kb region of inserted gene construct comprising the region of the CaMV 35S promoter and cry1Ac gene was amplified, and the construct integrity was confirmed by the nested PCR. The LOD for cry1Ac gene-specific simplex PCR was 0.01%, as established using Bt rice DNA dilutions with 100, 10, 1.0, 0.1, 0.05, 0.01, and 0.001% genetically modified trait. A real-time PCR assay was also developed to quantify the cry1Ac gene. The method performance of the reported real-time PCR assay was in line with the acceptance criteria of Codex Alimentarius Commission ALINORM 10/33/23, with LOD and LOQ values of 0.05%. The reliable PCR assays prior to commercial release of Bt rice would facilitate efficient regulatory compliance for identification of genetic trait, labeling requirements, and effective risk assessment and management. They could also address consumers' concerns and legal disputes that may arise.

Qualitative and event-specific real-time PCR detection methods for Bt brinjal event EE-1.

Bt brinjal event EE-1 with cry1Ac gene, expressing insecticidal protein against fruit and shoot borer, is the first genetically modified food crop in the pipeline for commercialization in India. Qualitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) along with event-specific conventional as well as real-time PCR methods to characterize the event EE-1 is reported. A multiplex (pentaplex) PCR system simultaneously amplifying cry1Ac transgene, Cauliflower Mosaic Virus (CaMV) 35S promoter, nopaline synthase (nos) terminator, aminoglycoside adenyltransferase (aadA) marker gene, and a taxon-specific beta-fructosidase gene in event EE-1 has been developed. Furthermore, construct-specific PCR, targeting the approximate 1.8 kb region of inserted gene construct comprising the region of CaMV 35S promoter and cry1Ac gene has also been developed. The LOD of developed EE-1 specific conventional PCR assay is 0.01%. The method performance of the reported real-time PCR assay was consistent with the acceptance criteria of Codex Alimentarius Commission ALINORM 10/33/23, with the LOD and LOQ values of 0.05%. The developed detection methods would not only facilitate effective regulatory compliance for identification of genetic traits, risk assessment, management, and postrelease monitoring, but also address consumer concerns and resolution of legal disputes.

Multitarget real-time PCR-based system: monitoring for unauthorized genetically modified events in India.

A multitarget TaqMan real-time PCR (RTi-PCR) based system was developed to monitor unauthorized genetically modified (GM) events in India. Most of the GM events included in this study are either authorized for commercial cultivation or field trials, which were indigenously developed or imported for research purposes. The developed system consists of a 96-well prespotted plate with lyophilized primers and probes, for simultaneous detection of 47 targets in duplicate, including 21 event-specific sequences, 5 construct regions, 15 for transgenic elements, and 6 taxon-specific targets for cotton, eggplant, maize, potato, rice, and soybean. Limit of detection (LOD) of assays ranged from 0.1 to 0.01% GM content for different targets. Applicability, robustness, and practical utility of the developed system were verified with stacked GM cotton event, powdered samples of proficiency testing and two unknown test samples. This user-friendly multitarget approach can be efficiently utilized for monitoring the unauthorized GM events in an Indian context.

Qualitative and Quantitative PCR-Based Detection Methods for Authorized Genetically Modified Cotton Events in India.

Qualitative diagnostics for all five commercialized genetically modified (GM) cotton events for insect resistance in India is being reported for the first time in this paper. The cost-effective and robust multiplex PCR (MPCR)-based detection assay, distinguishing the insect resistant transgenic Bt cotton events, viz., MON531, MON15985, Event 1, GFM-cry1A, and MLS-9124, has been developed. This decaplex PCR assay targets nine transgenic elements, viz., sequences of four transgenes, three transgene constructs, and two event-specific sequences along with one endogenous reference gene. The LOD of the qualitative MPCR assay was up to 0.1%. A quantitative detection method for four widely commercially cultivated GM cotton events, namely, MON531, MON15985, Event 1, and GFM-cry1A, covering 99.5% of the total area under GM cultivation in the country, is also reported. A construct-specific real-time PCR assay has been developed for quantification of these GM cotton events with LOQ <0.05% and LOD <0.025%. The developed assays will be of great use to screen for the presence/absence of authorized GM cotton events in unknown samples and to check the authenticity of GM cotton seed samples.

Genetically modified cotton in India and detection strategies.

India is one of the largest cotton-growing countries. Cotton is a fiber crop with varied applications from making tiny threads to fashionable clothing in the textile sector. In the near future, cotton crop will gain popularity as a multipurpose crop in India. The commercialization of Bt cotton in 2002 and consequently the fast adoption of Bt cotton hybrids by cotton farmers have enhanced the cotton production in India. Presently, genetically modified (GM) cotton has occupied 21.0 million hectares (mha) that comprise 14% of the global area under GM cultivation. In the coming years, improved cotton hybrids, with stacked and multiple gene events for improved fiber quality, insect resistance, drought tolerance, and herbicide tolerance, would further significantly improve the cotton production in India. With the dramatic increase in commercialization of GM crops, there is an urgent need to develop cost-effective and robust GM detection methods for effective risk assessment and management, post release monitoring, and to solve the legal disputes. DNA-based GM diagnostics are most robust assays due to their high sensitivity, specificity, and stability of DNA molecule.

DNA-based diagnostics for genetically modified cotton: decaplex PCR assay to differentiate MON531 and MON15985 Bt cotton events.

The adoption rate and global area under cultivation of genetically modified (GM) crops is dramatically increasing in recent past. GM cotton has occupied 25.0 million hectares (mha) comprising 15.6% of the global area under GM cultivation. Bt cotton, expressing delta-endotoxins from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), is the only commercialized crop in India that is planted on an area of 10.6 mha. With the increase in development and commercialization of GM crops, it is necessary to develop appropriate qualitative and quantitative methods for detection of different GM events. Robust diagnostics for GM detection need to be developed and implemented to monitor and detect different events of GM cotton in India. This chapter summarizes the methods based on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) being employed for detection of different GM events of cotton. We describe a decaplex PCR method for identification and differentiation of two major commercialized events of Bt cotton, i.e., MON531 and MON15985, in India.

Loop-mediated isothermal amplification: rapid visual and real-time methods for detection of genetically modified crops.

A rapid, reliable, and sensitive loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) system was developed for screening of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). The optimized LAMP assays using designed primers target commonly employed promoters, i.e., Cauliflower Mosaic Virus 35S (P-35S) and Figwort Mosaic Virus promoter (P-FMV), and marker genes, i.e., aminoglycoside 3'-adenyltransferase (aadA), neomycin phosphotransferase II (nptII), and ß-glucuronidase (uidA). The specificity and performance of the end-point and real-time LAMP assays were confirmed using eight genetically modified (GM) cotton events on four detection systems, employing two chemistries. LAMP assays on the isothermal real-time system were found to be most sensitive, detecting up to four target copies, within 35 min. The LAMP assays herein presented using alternate detection systems can be effectively utilized for rapid and cost-effective screening of the GM status of a sample, irrespective of the crop species or GM trait. These assays coupled with a fast and simple DNA extraction method may further facilitate on-site GMO screening.

Bioinformatic analysis for allergenicity assessment of Bacillus thuringiensis Cry proteins expressed in insect-resistant food crops.

The novel proteins introduced into the genetically modified (GM) crops need to be evaluated for the potential allergenicity before their introduction into the food chain to address the safety concerns of consumers. At present, there is no single definitive test that can be relied upon to predict allergic response in humans to a new protein; hence a composite approach to allergic response prediction is described in this study. The present study reports on the evaluation of the Cry proteins, encoded by cry1Ac, cry1Ab, cry2Ab, cry1Ca, cry1Fa/cry1Ca hybrid, being expressed in Bt food crops that are under field trials in India, for potential allergenic cross-reactivity using bioinformatics search tools. The sequence identity of amino acids was analyzed using FASTA3 of AllergenOnline version 10.0 and BLASTX of NCBI Entrez to identify any potential sequence matches to allergen proteins. As a step further in the detection of allergens, an independent database of domains in the allergens available in the AllergenOnline database was also developed. The results indicated no significant alignment and similarity of Cry proteins at domain level with any of the known allergens revealing that there is no potential risk of allergenic cross-reactivity.

Decaplex and real-time PCR based detection of MON531 and MON15985 Bt cotton events.

The genetically modified (GM) Bt crops expressing delta-endotoxins from Bacillus thuringiensis provide protection against a wide range of lepidopteron insect pests throughout the growing season of the plant. Bt cotton is the only commercialized crop in India that is planted on an area of 7.6 million hectares. With the increase in development and commercialization of transgenic crops, it is necessary to develop appropriate qualitative and quantitative methods for detection of different transgenic events. The present study reports on the development of a decaplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for simultaneous detection of transgene sequences, specific transgene constructs, and endogenous stearoyl acyl desaturase (Sad1) gene in two events of Bt cotton, i.e., MON531 and MON15985. The decaplex PCR assay is an efficient tool to identify and discriminate the two major commercialized events of Bt cotton, i.e., MON531 and MON15985, in India. Real-time PCR assays were also developed for quantification of cry1Ac and cry2Ab genes being employed in these two events. The quantitative method was developed using seven serial dilutions containing different levels of Bt cotton DNA mixed with a non-Bt counterpart ranging from 0.01 to 100%. The results revealed that the biases from the true value and the relative standard deviations were all within the range of ±20%. The limit of quantification (LOQ) of the developed real-time PCR method has also been established up to 0.01%.

Multiplex PCR-based simultaneous amplification of selectable marker and reporter genes for the screening of genetically modified crops.

The development and commercialization of genetically modified (GM) crops with enhanced insect and herbicide resistance, abiotic stress tolerance, and improved nutritional quality has expanded dramatically. Notwithstanding the huge potential benefits of GM crops, the perceived environmental risks associated with these crops need to be addressed in proper perspective. One critical concern is the adventitious presence or unintentional mixing of GM seed in non-GM seed lots, which can seriously affect the global seed market. It would therefore be necessary though a challenging task to develop reliable, efficient, and economical assays for GM detection, identification, and quantification in non-GM seed lots. This can be systematically undertaken by preliminary screening for control elements and selectable or scorable (reporter) marker genes. In this study, simplex and multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays individually as well as simultaneously amplifying the commonly used selectable marker genes, i.e., aadA, bar, hpt, nptII, pat encoding, respectively, for aminoglycoside-3'-adenyltransferase, Streptococcus viridochromogenes phosphinothricin-N-acetyltransferase, hygromycin phosphotransferase, neomycin phosphotransferase, Streptococcus hygroscopicus phosphinothricin-N-acetyltransferase, and a reporter gene uidA encoding beta-d-glucuronidase, were developed as a reliable tool for qualitative screening of GM crops. The efficiency of the assays was also standardized in the test samples prepared by artificial mixing of transgenic seed samples in different proportions. The developed multiplex PCR assays will be useful in verifying the GM status of a sample irrespective of the crop and GM trait.