Nuo Duan

Selection and Characterization of Aptamers against Salmonella typhimurium Using Whole-Bacterium Systemic Evolution of Ligands by Exponential Enrichment (SELEX)

In this paper, a high-affinity ssDNA aptamer binding to Salmonella typhimurium was obtained by a whole-bacterium-based Systemic Evolution of Ligands by Exponential Enrichment (SELEX) procedure. After nine rounds of selection with S. typhimurium as the target, a highly enriched oligonucleotide pool was sequenced and then grouped into different families based on primary sequence homology and secondary structure similarity. Eleven sequences from different families were selected for further characterization via flow cytometry analysis. The results showed that the sequence ST2P demonstrates affinity for S. typhimurium much more strongly and specifically than other sequences tested. The estimated Kd value of this particularly promising aptamer was 6.33 ± 0.58 nM. To demonstrate the potential use of the aptamers in the quantitative determination of S. typhimurium, a fluorescent bioassay with the aptamer ST2P was prepared. Under optimal conditions, the correlation between the concentration of S. typhimurium and fluorescent signal was found to be linear within the range of 50-10(6) cfu/mL (R(2) = 0.9957). The limit of detection (LOD) of the developed method was found to be 25 cfu/mL. This work demonstrates that this aptamer could potentially be used to improve the detection of S. typhimurium.

Selection and Identification of a DNA Aptamer Targeted to Vibrio parahemolyticus

A whole-bacterium systemic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX) method was applied to a combinatorial library of FAM-labeled single-stranded DNA molecules to identify DNA aptamers demonstrating specific binding to Vibrio parahemolyticus . FAM-labeled aptamer sequences with high binding affinity to V. parahemolyticus were identified by flow cytometric analysis. Aptamer A3P, which showed a particularly high binding affinity in preliminary studies, was chosen for further characterization. This aptamer displayed a dissociation constant (K(d)) of 16.88 ± 1.92 nM. Binding assays to assess the specificity of aptamer A3P showed a high binding affinity (76%) for V. parahemolyticus and a low apparent binding affinity (4%) for other bacteria. Whole-bacterium SELEX is a promising technique for the design of aptamer-based molecular probes for microbial pathogens that does not require the labor-intensive steps of isolating and purifying complex markers or targets.

A dual-color flow cytometry protocol for the simultaneous detection of Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Salmonella typhimurium using aptamer conjugated quantum dots as labels.

A sensitive, specific method for the collection and detection of pathogenic bacteria was demonstrated using quantum dots (QDs) as a fluorescence marker coupled with aptamers as the molecular recognition element by flow cytometry. The aptamer sequences were selected using a bacterium-based SELEX strategy in our laboratory for Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Salmonella typhimurium that, when applied in this method, allows for the specific recognition of the bacteria from complex mixtures including shrimp samples. Aptamer-modified QDs (QD-apt) were employed to selectively capture and simultaneously detect the target bacteria with high sensitivity using the fluorescence of the labeled QDs. The signal intensity is amplified due to the high photostability of QDs nanoparticles, resulting in improved sensitivity over methods using individual dye-labeled probes. This proposed method is promising for the sensitive detection of other pathogenic bacteria in food stuff if suitable aptamers are chosen. The method may also provide another potential platform for the application of aptamer-conjugated QDs in flow cytometry.

A sensitive gold nanoparticle-based colorimetric aptasensor for Staphylococcus aureus

In this study, a gold nanoparticle-based colorimetric aptasensor for Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) using tyramine signal amplification (TSA) technology has been developed. First, the biotinylated aptamer specific for S. aureus was immobilized on the surface of the wells of the microtiter plate via biotin-avidin binding. Then, the target bacteria (S. aureus), biotinylated-aptamer-streptavidin-HRP conjugates, biotinylated tyramine, hydrogen peroxide and avidin-catalase were successively introduced into the wells of the microtiter plate. After that, the existing catalase consumed the hydrogen peroxide. Finally, the freshly prepared gold (III) chloride trihydrate was added, the color of the reaction production would be changed and the absorbance at 550 nm could be measured with a plate reader. Under optimized conditions, there was a linear relationship between the absorbance at 550 nm and the concentration of S. aureus over the range from 10 to 10(6) cfu mL(-1) (with an R² of 0.9947). The limit of the developed method was determined to be 9 cfu mL(-1).

Dual fluorescence resonance energy transfer assay between tunable upconversion nanoparticles and controlled gold nanoparticles for the simultaneous detection of Pb2+ and Hg2+

In this work, we presented a novel dual fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) system for the simultaneous detection of Pb(2+) and Hg(2+). This system employed two color upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) as the donors, and controlled gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) as the acceptors. The two donor-acceptor pairs were fabricated by hybridizing the aptamers and their corresponding complementary DNA. Thus, the green and red upconversion fluorescence could be quenched because of a good overlap between the UCNPs fluorescence emission and the AuNPs absorption spectrum. In the presence of Pb(2+) and Hg(2+), the aptamers preferred to bind to their corresponding analytes and formed a G-quadruplexes structure for Pb(2+) and the hairpin-like structure for Hg(2+). As a result, the dual FRET was disrupted, and the green and red upconversion fluorescence was restored. Under optimized experimental conditions, the relative fluorescence intensity increased as the metal ion concentrations were increased, allowing for the quantification of Pb(2+) and Hg(2+). The relationships between the fluorescence intensity and plotting logarithms of ion concentrations were linear in the range from 0.1 to 100 nM for Pb(2+) and 0.5 to 500 nM for Hg(2+), and the detection limits of Pb(2+) and Hg(2+) were 50 pM and 150 pM, respectively. As a practical application, the aptasensor was used to monitor Pb(2+) and Hg(2+) levels in naturally contaminated samples and human serum samples. Ultimately, this type of dual FRET could be used to detect other metal ions or contaminants in food safety analysis and environment monitoring.

Selection and characterization of DNA aptamers against Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin C1

Enterotoxins from pathogenic bacteria are known as the main reason that can cause the bacterial foodborne diseases. In this study, aptamers that bound to Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin C1 (SEC1) with high affinity and selectivity were generated in vitro by twelve rounds of selection based on magnetic separation technology, with a low-level dissociation constant (Kd) value of 65.14 ± 11.64 nmol/L of aptamer C10. Aptamer-based quantification of SEC1 in the food sample by a graphene oxide (GO)-based method was implemented to investigate the potential of the aptamer against SEC1 with a limit of detection of 6 ng/mL. On the basis of this work, biosensors using the selected SEC1 aptamers as new molecular recognition elements could be applied for innovative determinations of SEC1.

Salmonella typhimurium detection using a surface-enhanced Raman scattering-based aptasensor

Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) has been used in a variety of biological applications due to its high sensitivity and specificity. Here, we report a SERS-based aptasensor approach for quantitative detection of pathogenic bacteria. A SERS substrate bearing Au@Ag core/shell nanoparticles (NPs) is functionalized with aptamer 1 (apt 1) for the capture of target molecules. X-rhodamine (ROX)-modified aptamer 2 (apt 2) is used as recognition element and Raman reporter. Salmonella typhimurium specifically interacted with the aptamers to form Au@Ag-apt 1-target-apt 2-ROX sandwich-like complexes. As a result, the concentration of S. typhimurium was determined using this developed aptasensor structure, and a calibration curve is obtained in the range of 15 to 1.5 × 10(6) cfu/mL with a limit of detection of 15 cfu/mL. Our method was successfully applied to real food samples, and the results are consistent with the results obtained using plate counting methods. We believe that the developed method shows potential for the rapid and sensitive detection of pathogenic bacteria in food safety assurance.

A Review of the Methods for Detection of Staphylococcus aureus Enterotoxins

Food safety has attracted extensive attention around the world, and food-borne diseases have become one of the major threats to health. Staphylococcus aureus is a major food-borne pathogen worldwide and a frequent contaminant of foodstuffs. Staphylococcal enterotoxins (SEs) produced by some S. aureus strains will lead to staphylococcal food poisoning (SFP) outbreaks. The most common symptoms caused by ingestion of SEs within food are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and cramps. Children will suffer SFP by ingesting as little as 100 ng of SEs, and only a few micrograms of SEs are enough to cause SPF in vulnerable populations. Therefore, it is a great challenge and of urgent need to detect and identify SEs rapidly and accurately for governmental and non-governmental agencies, including the military, public health departments, and health care facilities. Herein, an overview of SE detection has been provided through a comprehensive literature survey.

Selection, identification and application of a DNA aptamer against Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin A

In recent years, staphylococcal food poisoning (SFP) caused by the ingestion of food contaminated with Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxins (SEs) has been one of the most common foodborne illnesses worldwide. As a result, rapid, sensitive and reliable detection methods are crucial for routine observations of SEs. However, current detection methods are primarily antibody-dependent, and the development of methods is limited by the preparation and instability of fresh antibodies during testing. In this study, aptamers that bind to Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin A (SEA) with high affinity and selectivity were generated in vitro by a twelve-round selection process based on magnetic separation technology with a dissociation constant (Kd) value as low as 48.57 ± 6.52 nM. The optimal aptamer A15 was successfully used in the fluorescent bioassay to detect SEA in the food sample with a detection limit of 8.7 × 10−3 μg mL−1. Based on this study, the selected aptamers can be expected to be new molecular recognition elements that can be used in innovative biosensors for SEA detections.

In vitro selection of a DNA aptamer targeted against Shigella dysenteriae

To identify DNA aptamers demonstrating binding specificity for Shigella dysenteriae, a whole-bacterium Systemic Evolution of Ligands by Exponential enrichment (SELEX) method was applied to a combinatorial library of single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) molecules. After several rounds of selection using S. dysenteriae as the target, the highly enriched oligonucleotide pool was sequenced and then grouped into different families based on primary sequence homologies and similarities in the secondary structures. Aptamer S 1, which showed particularly high binding affinity in preliminary studies, was chosen for further characterisation. This aptamer displayed a dissociation constant (Kd value) of 23.47 ± 2.48 nM. Binding assays to assess the specificity of aptamer S 1 showed high binding affinity for S. dysenteriae and low apparent binding affinity for other bacteria. The ssDNA aptamers generated may serve as a new type of molecular probe for microbial pathogens, as it has the potential to overcome the tedious isolation and purification requirements for complex targets.