Longjiao Zhu

Development of a double-antibody sandwich ELISA for rapid detection of Bacillus Cereus in food.

Bacillus cereus is increasingly recognized as one of the major causes of food poisoning in the industrialized world. In this paper, we describe a sensitive double-antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) that was developed for rapid detection of B. cereus in food to minimize the risk of contamination. The polyclonal antibody (pAb) and monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) specific to B. cereus were generated from rabbit antiserum and mouse ascites, respectively, using the octanoic acid/saturated ammonium sulfate precipitation method and protein A-sepharose columns. IgG-isotype mAbs were specially developed to undergo a novel peripheral multiple sites immunization for rapid gain of hybridomas and a subtractive screen was used to eliminate cross reactivity with closely related species such as Bacillus thuringiensis, B. subtilis, B. licheniformis and B. perfringens. The linear detection range of the method was approximately 1 × 104–2.8 × 106 cells/mL with a detection limit (LOD) of 0.9 × 103 cells/mL. The assay was able to detect B. cereus when the samples were prepared in meat with various pathogens. The newly developed analytical method provides a rapid method to sensitively detect B. cereus in food specimens.

A rapid and visual aptasensor for Lipopolysaccharides detection based on the bulb-like triplex turn-on switch coupled with HCR-HRP nanostructures.

For previously reported aptasensor, the sensitivity and selectivity of aptamers to targets were often suppressed due to the reporter label of single-stranded molecular beacon or hindrance of the duplex DNA strand displacement. To solve the affinity declining of aptamers showed in traditional way and realize on-site rapid detection of Lipopolysaccharides (LPS), we developed an ingenious structure-switching aptasensor based on the bulb-like triplex turn-on switch (BTTS) as the effective molecular recognition and signal transduction element and streptavidin-horseradish peroxidase modified hybridization chain reaction (HCR-HRP) nanocomposites as the signal amplifier and signal report element. In the presence of LPS, the bulb-like LPS-aptamer (BLA) and LPS formed the LPS/aptamer complex, while the BTTS disassembled and liberated the dissociative bridge probes (BP) to achieve molecular recognition and signal transduction. Immobilized BP, captured by immobilized capture probes (CP), triggered hybridization chain reactions (HCR) to amplify the switching signal, and the HCR products were then modified with streptavidin-horseradish peroxidase (SA-HRP) to form HCR-HRP nanostructures to output colorimetric signals. In less than four hours, the proposed biosensor showed a detection limit of 50pg/mL of LPS quantitatively with the portable spectrophotometer and the observation limit of 20ng/mL semi-quantitatively with the naked eye, opening up new opportunities for LPS detection in future clinical diagnosis, food security and environment monitoring.

Highly sensitive detection of lipopolysaccharides using an aptasensor based on hybridization chain reaction

Lipopolysaccharides (LPS), integral components of the outer membrane of all gram-negative bacteria, are closely associated with foodborne diseases such as fever, diarrhea and hypotension, and thus, the early and sensitive detection of LPS is necessary. In this study, an aptasensor assay based on hybridization chain reaction (HCR) was developed to detect LPS. Briefly, two complementary stable species of biotinylated DNA hairpins coexisted in solution until the introduction of a detection probe triggered a hybridization chain reaction cascade. The DNA conjugates specifically reacted with the LPS, which were captured by the ethanolamine aptamer attached to the reaction well surface. After optimizing the key reaction conditions, such as the reaction time of HCR, the amount of the capture probe and detection probes, the increase in the LPS concentration was readily measured by the optical density value, and a relatively low detection limit (1.73 ng/mL) was obtained, with a linear response range of 1–105 ng/mL. The approach presented herein introduced the use of an aptasensor for LPS discrimination and HCR for signal amplification, offering a promising option for detecting LPS.

Accurate and easy-to-use assessment of contiguous DNA methylation sites based on proportion competitive quantitative-PCR and lateral flow nucleic acid biosensor.

Many types of diagnostic technologies have been reported for DNA methylation, but they require a standard curve for quantification or only show moderate accuracy. Moreover, most technologies have difficulty providing information on the level of methylation at specific contiguous multi-sites, not to mention easy-to-use detection to eliminate labor-intensive procedures. We have addressed these limitations and report here a cascade strategy that combines proportion competitive quantitative PCR (PCQ-PCR) and lateral flow nucleic acid biosensor (LFNAB), resulting in accurate and easy-to-use assessment. The P16 gene with specific multi-methylated sites, a well-studied tumor suppressor gene, was used as the target DNA sequence model. First, PCQ-PCR provided amplification products with an accurate proportion of multi-methylated sites following the principle of proportionality, and double-labeled duplex DNA was synthesized. Then, a LFNAB strategy was further employed for amplified signal detection via immune affinity recognition, and the exact level of site-specific methylation could be determined by the relative intensity of the test line and internal reference line. This combination resulted in all recoveries being greater than 94%, which are pretty satisfactory recoveries in DNA methylation assessment. Moreover, the developed cascades show significantly high usability as a simple, sensitive, and low-cost tool. Therefore, as a universal platform for sensing systems for the detection of contiguous multi-sites of DNA methylation without external standards and expensive instrumentation, this PCQ-PCR-LFNAB cascade method shows great promise for the point-of-care diagnosis of cancer risk and therapeutics.

Two-Way Gold Nanoparticle Label-Free Sensing of Specific Sequence and Small Molecule Targets Using Switchable Concatemers

A two-way colorimetric biosensor based on unmodified gold nanoparticles (GNPs) and a switchable double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) concatemer have been demonstrated. Two hairpin probes (H1 and H2) were first designed that provided the fuels to assemble the dsDNA concatemers via hybridization chain reaction (HCR). A functional hairpin (FH) was rationally designed to recognize the target sequences. All the hairpins contained a single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) loop and sticky end to prevent GNPs from salt-induced aggregation. In the presence of target sequence, the capture probe blocked in the FH recognizes the target to form a duplex DNA, which causes the release of the initiator probe by FH conformational change. This process then starts the alternate-opening of H1 and H2 through HCR, and dsDNA concatemers grow from the target sequence. As a result, unmodified GNPs undergo salt-induced aggregation because the formed dsDNA concatemers are stiffer and provide less stabilization. A light purple-to-blue color variation was observed in the bulk solution, termed the light-off sensing way. Furthermore, H1 ingeniously inserted an aptamer sequence to generate dsDNA concatemers with multiple small molecule binding sites. In the presence of small molecule targets, concatemers can be disassembled into mixtures with ssDNA sticky ends. A blue-to-purple reverse color variation was observed due to the regeneration of the ssDNA, termed the light-on way. The two-way biosensor can detect both nucleic acids and small molecule targets with one sensing device. This switchable sensing element is label-free, enzyme-free, and sophisticated-instrumentation-free. The detection limits of both targets were below nanomolar.

A rapid and visual turn-off sensor for detecting copper (II) ion based on DNAzyme coupled with HCR-based HRP concatemers.

To solve the requirement of on-site, rapid, and visual detection of copper (II) (Cu2+) in aqueous solution, a turn-off sensor for detecting copper (II) ion was developed based on Cu2+-dependent DNAzyme as the recognition element and hybridization chain reaction (HCR)-based horseradish peroxidase (HRP) concatemers as the signal amplifier and the signal report element. The detection unit, which was composed of the immobilized Cu2+-dependent DNAzyme coupled with HCR-based HRP concatemers via Waston-Crick base pairing, could catalyze hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) via TMB, generating obvious green color and turning yellow after sulfuric acid termination with optical absorption at 450 nm. Upon Cu2+ addition, the substrate strand of the Cu2+-dependent DNAzyme concatenated with the HCR-based HRP complex was irreversibly cleaved, efficiently causing dramatic reduction of the detection signal. Under optimal conditions, the detection signal decreased with the concentration of Cu2+ in 5 min, exhibiting a linear calibration from 0.05 to 3 μM with a detection limit of 8 nM. The sensor also displayed a high selectivity for Cu2+ given the specificity and anti-interference of the detection unit, and this system was applicable for monitoring Cu2+ in real water samples. Generally speaking, the proposed sensor exhibits good potential in environment surveys.

Colorimetric biosensor based on a DNAzyme primer and its application in logic gate operations for DNA screening

A colorimetric biosensor for DNA screening was designed based on the conformational changes of the horseradish peroxidase (HRP)-mimicking DNAzyme. The scheme of DNA biosensing was designed based on the base pairing of DNAzyme sequence to inhibit the formation of HRP-mimicking hemin/G-quadruplex structures in the process of amplification. DNA could be amplified via the universal primer multiplex polymerase chain reaction (UP-M-PCR) and innovatively detected as color disappear in the reaction visible to the naked eye. The input of key factors and the output of optical characteristics in the reaction inspired the development of an OR logic gate operation for DNA detection. This biosensor overcomes self-inhibition and amplification disparity with the help of UP-M-PCR, thereby exhibiting high specificity and high-throughput without the requirement of gel analysis work. This biosensing system also presented 1% sensitivity and approximately 180 copy numbers in triplicate. The biosensor was used to screen elements from genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and covered more than 90% of all globally authorized events in the world. The designed colorimetric biosensor is a rapid, portable and versatile tool for nucleic acids detection and diagnosis in the field.

An electrochemical biosensor based on nucleic acids enzyme and nanochannels for detecting copper (II) ion

An electrochemical biosensor based on Cu2+-dependent cleavage DNAzyme (cDNAzyme), Exponential Amplification Reaction (EXPAR), and single-strand triggered DNA hybridization chain reaction (HCR) was developed for detecting the copper (II) ions. This method capitalizes on the specific recognition of cDNAzyme, the single strand accumulated isothermal amplification of EXPAR, and the enzyme-free isothermal DNA assembly of HCR. In the presence of Cu2+, the catalytic chain of cDNAzyme split the substrate chain to produce single-stranded DNA (Oligo X). With the help of the EXPAR, the trace Oligo X was amplified and converted to the initiator DNA (Oligo Y). After adding the initiator DNA (Oligo Y) into nanochannel, massive DNA superstructures grew from the capture probe (CP) that were pre-immobilized on the nanochannel wall, resulting in a sharp decrease of the effective diameter of the nanochannel. As a result, the transmembrane ionic current significantly decreased due to the effective closing of the nanochannel. Finally, the copper (II) ion was detected by monitoring the changes of transmembrane ionic current. The developed electrochemical biosensor also displayed high selectivity for Cu2+, which could be useful for monitoring Cu2+ above ten picomole.

Preparation of a Monoclonal Antibody against a Kallikrein-Like Enzyme from Agkistrodon halys pallas Venom and Its Application in a Pharmacokinetic Study

Snake venom contains bioactive materials for drug development, diagnosis, and treatment. After separating and purifying the kallikrein-like enzyme (AHP-Ka) from Agkistrodon halys pallas venom for the first time, a monoclonal antibody against AHP-Ka was prepared and characterized. An indirect sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) based on the monoclonal antibody was developed and validated for the pharmacokinetic analysis of AHP-Ka in rat plasma. The method was calibrated using rat plasma and 1:100 dilution of plasma was selected to prepare a calibration curve to validate the precision, accuracy, and stability of the ELISA method. A good linear relationship was obtained in a working range from 3.9 ng/mL to 62.5 ng/mL with a limit of detection of 2.94 ng/mL. Intra- and inter-batch precision were less than 10%. The average recovery ranged from 94.6% to 104.4% in rat plasma at the concentrations of 5 ng/mL, 15 ng/mL, and 45 ng/mL, respectively. The ELISA method was successfully used for the pharmacokinetic study of AHP-Ka in Sprague-Dawley rat plasma after intravenous administration. The work is expected to contribute to future preclinical development of AHP-Ka.