Tetra-primer ARMS-PCR combined with GoldMag lateral flow assay for genotyping: simultaneous visual detection of both alleles

Rapid and simple detection of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) is vital for individualized diagnosis and eventual treatment in the current clinical setting. In this study, we developed a tetra-primer ARMS-PCR combined lateral flow assay (T-ARMS-PCR-LFA) method for simultaneous visual detection of two alleles. By using four primers labeled with digoxin, biotin and Cy5 separately in one PCR reaction, the amplified allele-specific products could be captured by streptavidin and the anti-Cy5 antibody on two separated test lines of a LFA strip, which allows the presentation of both alleles within the single LFA strip. Both DNA and whole blood can be used as templates in this genotyping method in which the whole detection process is completed within 75 minutes. The performance assay of T-ARMS-PCR-LFA demonstrates the accuracy, specificity and sensitivity of this method. One hundred human whole blood samples were used for MTHFR C677T genotyping in T-ARMS-PCR-LFA. The concordance rate of the results detected was up to 100% when compared with that of the sequencing results. Collectively, this newly developed method is highly applicable for SNP screening in clinical practices.

Advances in ligase chain reaction and ligation-based amplifications for genotyping assays: Detection and applications

Genetic variants have been reported to cause several genetic diseases. Various genotyping assays have been developed for diagnostic and screening purposes but with certain limitations in sensitivity, specificity, cost effectiveness and/or time savings. Since the discovery of ligase chain reaction (LCR) in the late nineties, it became one of the most favored platforms for detecting these variants and also for genotyping low abundant contaminants. Recent and powerful modifications with the integration of various detection strategies such as electrochemical and magnetic biosensors, nanoparticles (NPs), quantum dots, quartz crystal and leaky surface acoustic surface biosensors, DNAzyme, rolling circle amplification (RCA), strand displacement amplification (SDA), surface enhanced raman scattering (SERS), chemiluminescence and fluorescence resonance energy transfer have been introduced to both LCR and ligation based amplifications to enable high-throughput and inexpensive multiplex genotyping with improved robustness, simplicity, sensitivity and specificity. In this article, classical and up to date modifications in LCR and ligation based amplifications are critically evaluated and compared with emphasis on points of strength and weakness, sensitivity, cost, running time, equipment needed, applications and multiplexing potential. Versatile genotyping applications such as genetic diseases detection, bacterial and viral pathogens detection are also detailed. Ligation based gold NPs biosensor, ligation based RCA and ligation mediated SDA assays enhanced detection limit tremendously with a discrimination power approaching 1.5aM, 2aM and 0.1fM respectively. MLPA (multiplexed ligation dependent probe amplification) and SNPlex assays have been commercialized for multiplex detection of at least 48 SNPs at a time. MOL-PCR (multiplex oligonucleotide ligation) has high-throughput capability with multiplex detection of 50 SNPs/well in a 96 well plate. Ligase detection reaction (LDR) is one of the most widely used LCR versions that have been successfully integrated with several detection strategies with improved sensitivity down to 0.4fM.

Gold nanoparticle-based lateral flow biosensor for rapid visual detection of Leishmania-specific DNA amplification products

Leishmaniasis is a disease, caused by Leishmania parasites, which infect humans and animals, posing a major social and economic burden worldwide. The need for accurate and sensitive disease diagnosis led to the widespread adoption of PCR amplification. Detection of the amplification products (i.e. gel electrophoresis) require time-consuming protocols performed by trained personnel, with high cost. Aim of the present study was the simplification of PCR product detection, using a nucleic acid lateral flow, combined with functionalized gold nanoparticles. Amplification reactions targeting kinetoplastid DNA of Leishmania spp were performed on canine blood samples and a positive signal was formed as a red test zone. The visual detection was completed in 20min. Extensive optimization enabled the detection of 100fmol of target DNA. Clinical samples of infected dog blood were analyzed with high specificity. Overall, the proposed lateral flow biosensor can be considered an appealing alternative platform for Leishmania-specific amplification products detection with low cost and attractive simplicity.

Dipstick test for DNA-based food authentication. Application to coffee authenticity assessment

This paper reports DNA-based food authenticity assays, in which species identification is accomplished by the naked eye without the need of specialized instruments. Strongly colored nanoparticles (gold nanoparticles) are employed as reporters that enable visual detection. Furthermore, detection is performed in a low-cost, disposable, dipstick-type device that incorporates the required reagents in dry form, thereby avoiding multiple pipetting and incubation steps. Due to its simplicity, the method does not require highly qualified personnel. The procedure comprises the following steps: (i) PCR amplification of the DNA segment that flanks the unique SNP (species marker); (ii) a 15 min extension reaction in which DNA polymerase extends an allele-specific primer only if it is perfectly complementary with the target sequence; (iii) detection of the products of the extension reaction within a few minutes by the naked eye employing the dipstick. No purification is required prior to application of the extension products to the dipstick. The method is general and requires only a unique DNA sequence for species discrimination. The only instrument needed is a conventional thermocycler for PCR, which is common equipment in every DNA laboratory. As a model, the method was applied to the discrimination of Coffea robusta and arabica species in coffee authenticity assessment. As low as 5% of Robusta coffee can be detected in the presence of Arabica coffee.

A nanoparticle-based sensor for visual detection of multiple mutations

Disposable dipstick-type DNA biosensors in the form of lateral flow strips are particularly useful for genotyping in a small laboratory or for field testing due to their simplicity, low cost and portability. Their unique advantage is that they enable visual detection in minutes without the use of instruments. In addition, the dry-reagent format minimizes the pipetting, incubation and washing steps. In this work, we significantly enhance the multiplexing capabilities of lateral flow strip biosensors without compromising their simplicity. Multiplex genotyping is carried out by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by a single primer extension reaction for all target alleles, in which a primer is extended and biotin is incorporated only if it is perfectly complementary to the target. Multiallele detection is achieved by multiple test spots on the membrane of the sensor, each comprising a suspension of polystyrene microspheres functionalized with capture probes. The products of the primer extension reaction hybridize, through specific sequence tags, to the capture probes and are visualized by using antibiotin-conjugated gold nanoparticles. This design enables accommodation of multiple spots in a small area because the microspheres are trapped in the fibres of the membrane and remain fixed in site without any diffusion. Furthermore, the detectability is improved because the hybrids are exposed on the surface of the trapped microspheres rather than inside the pores of the membrane. We demonstrate the specificity and performance of the biosensor for multiallele genotyping.

Bioluminescence and its impact on bioanalysis

There is an increasing need for versatile yet sensitive labels, posed by the demands for low detection in bioanalysis. Bioluminescent proteins have many desirable characteristics, including the ability to be detected at extremely low concentrations; no background interference from autofluorescent compounds present in samples; and compatibility with many miniaturized platforms, such as lab-on-a-chip and lab-on-a-CD systems. Bioluminescent proteins have found a plethora of analytical applications in intracellular monitoring, genetic regulation and detection, immuno- and binding assays, and whole-cell biosensors, among others. As new bioluminescent organisms are discovered and new bioluminescence proteins are characterized, use of these proteins will continue to dramatically improve our understanding of molecular and cellular events, as well as their applications for detection of environmental and biomedical samples.

Visual genotyping of SNPs of drug-metabolizing enzymes by tetra-primer PCR coupled with a dry-reagent DNA biosensor

BACKGROUND

SNP-typing strategies involve an exponential amplification step, an allele discrimination reaction and detection of the products. Usually, allele discrimination is performed after amplification. Tetra-primer PCR allows allele discrimination during the amplification step, thereby avoiding additional genotyping reactions. However, to date, electrophoresis is the only method used for detection of tetra-primer PCR products. We report a dipstick test that enables visual detection of tetra-primer PCR products within minutes without instruments. The method is applied to the genotyping of CYP2C19*2 (c.681G>A) and CYP2D6*4 (g.3465G>A).

MATERIALS & METHODS

A pair of external primers amplifies a segment encompassing the SNPs. Biotinylated inner primers have a 3 -mismatch and pair off with the external primers to guide a bidirectional amplification that generates allele-specific fragments. The products are hybridized briefly with poly(dA)-tailed probes and applied to the DNA biosensor, which is then immersed in the appropriate buffer. As the buffer migrates along the biosensor, the hybrids are captured from streptavidin at the test zone and interact with oligo(dT)-functionalized gold nanoparticles leading to the formation of a red line. Another red line is formed at the control zone to indicate proper function of the sensor.

RESULTS

We genotyped 55 samples for CYP2C19*2 and 49 samples for CYP2D6*4. The accuracy of this method was confirmed by sequencing and electrophoresis.

CONCLUSIONS

The unique advantages of the proposed method are its simplicity and low cost. Contrary to electrophoresis, hybridization provides sequence confirmation of amplified fragments. The dry-reagent dipstick format minimizes the requirements for highly qualified personnel.

Multianalyte, dipstick-type, nanoparticle-based DNA biosensor for visual genotyping of single-nucleotide polymorphisms

DNA biosensors involve molecular recognition of the target sequence by hybridization with specific probes and detection by electrochemical, optical or gravimetric transduction. Disposable, dipstick-type biosensors have been developed recently, which enable visual detection of DNA without using instruments. In this context, we report a multianalyte DNA biosensor for visual genotyping of two single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). As a model, the biosensor was applied to the simultaneous genotyping of two SNPs, entailing the detection of four alleles. A PCR product that flanks both polymorphic sites is subjected to a single primer extension (PEXT) reaction employing four allele-specific primers, each containing a region complementary to an allele and a characteristic segment that enables subsequent capture on a test zone of the biosensor. The primers are extended with dNTPs and biotin-dUTP only if there is perfect complementarity with the interrogated sequence. The PEXT mixture is applied to the biosensor. As the developing buffer migrates along the strip, all the allele-specific primers are captured by immobilized oligonucleotides at the four test zones of the biosensor and detected by antibiotin-functionalized gold nanoparticles. As a result, the test zones are colored red if extension has occurred denoting the presence of the corresponding allele in the original sample. The excess nanoparticles are captured by immobilized biotinylated albumin at the control zone of the sensor forming another red zone that indicates the proper performance of the system. The assay was applied successfully to the genotyping of twenty clinical samples for two common SNPs of MBL2 gene.

Dipstick-type biosensor for visual detection of DNA with oligonucleotide-decorated colored polystyrene microspheres as reporters

In recent years, there is a continuously growing interest in the development of biosensors for rapid, simple and inexpensive DNA tests suitable for the small laboratory or for on-site testing. Detection is accomplished through electrochemical, optical or gravimetric transduction. We report on the development of disposable dipstick-type DNA biosensors that employ oligonucleotide-decorated colored polystyrene microspheres as reporters and enable visual detection of DNA sequences without the use of instrumentation. The biosensors have been designed to detect DNA molecules that contain both, a biotin moiety and a segment that is complementary to the oligonucleotide attached on the surface of blue or red microspheres. Capture of the hybrids by immobilized streptavidin at the test zone results in the formation of a colored line. The biosensors were applied to: (a) detection of single-stranded DNA, (b) detection of PCR-amplified double-stranded DNA and (c) genotyping of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP). The results were compared with sensors based on gold nanoparticle reporters. It is also demonstrated that the microspheres offer the potential for multicolor detection of specific DNA sequences.