Application of rapid enzyme assay techniques for monitoring of microbial water quality

Gastrointestinal response to the early administration of antimicrobial agents in growing turkeys infected with Escherichia coli

This study investigated the effects of the early administration of enrofloxacin (E) or doxycycline (D) for the first 5 consecutive days of life, or the continuous administration of the coccidiostat monensin (M) throughout the rearing period on gastrointestinal function in turkeys infected with avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) in an early or later stage of rearing. Experiment 1 lasted 21 d, and turkeys in groups E, D, and M were infected with APEC on d 15. Experiment 2 lasted 56 d, and it had a factorial arrangement of treatments where birds in groups E, D, and M were infected with APEC on d 15 or d 50. In both experiments, control groups (C) consisted of infected and uninfected birds without antibiotic or coccidiostat administration. On d 21 (Experiment 1) and d 56 (Experiment 2), 8 birds from each subgroup were killed, and the ileal and cecal digesta were sampled to analyze the activity of bacterial enzymes and the concentrations of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA). The experimental treatments did not affect the final body weight or body weight gain of birds. Both experiments demonstrated that APEC contributed to an increase in ammonia levels of the cecal digesta (means from 2 experiments: 0.311 vs. 0.225 mg/g in uninfected birds) and ileal pH (6.79 vs. 6.00) and viscosity (2.43 vs. 1.83 mPa⋅s). Moreover, the E. coli challenge enhanced the extracellular activity of several cecal bacterial enzymes, especially in older turkeys infected with APEC in a later stage of life. The continuous administration of monensin throughout the rearing period resulted in a weaker gastrointestinal response in older birds, compared with the other 2 antibiotics administered for the first 5 d of life. The results of the study are inconclusive as both desirable and undesirable effects of preventive early short-term antibiotic therapy were observed in turkeys, including normalization of ileal viscosity and cecal ammonia concentration (positive effect), and disruption in cecal SCFA production (negative effect).

Progress in methods for the detection of viable Escherichia coli

Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a prevalent enteric bacterium and a necessary organism to monitor for food safety and environmental purposes. Developing efficient and specific methods is critical for detecting and monitoring viable E. coli due to its high prevalence. Conventional culture methods are often laborious and time-consuming, and they offer limited capability in detecting potentially harmful viable but non-culturable E. coli in the tested sample, which highlights the need for improved approaches. Hence, there is a growing demand for accurate and sensitive methods to determine the presence of viable E. coli. This paper scrutinizes various methods for detecting viable E. coli, including culture-based methods, molecular methods that target DNAs and RNAs, bacteriophage-based methods, biosensors, and other emerging technologies. The review serves as a guide for researchers seeking additional methodological options and aiding in the development of rapid and precise assays. Moving forward, it is anticipated that methods for detecting E. coli will become more stable and robust, ultimately contributing significantly to the improvement of food safety and public health.

Label-free E. coli detection based on enzyme assay and a microfluidic slipchip

An enzyme assay based method in a microfluidic slipchip was proposed for the rapid and label-free detection of E. coli. The specific target analyte of E. coli was β-d-glucuronidase (GUS) which could catalyze the substrate 6-chloro-4-methyl-umbelliferyl-β-d-glucuronide (6-CMUG) to release the fluorescent molecule 6-chloro-4-methyl-umbelliferyl (6-CMU). E. coli culture, lysis and enzymatic reaction steps could be conducted in a microfluidic slipchip without any pumps and valves, which was tailored for fluorescence detection using a commercial plate reader, to achieve a rapid E. coli test. A mixture of the culture broth, enzyme inducer and E. coli was injected into the chambers on the top layer. A mixture of the substrate and lysis solution was injected into the chambers on the bottom layer. Then, the slipchip was slid to make each chamber independent. E. coli was cultured in the chamber in the LB broth for 2.5 h. After that, the slipchip was slid again to introduce the lysis solution into the culture solution for GUS release and enzyme reaction, and then incubated in the plate reader at 42 °C for another 2.5 h. During incubation, the fluorescence intensity of each chamber was recorded. This proposed label-free method can directly detect E. coli with a low concentration of 8 CFU per chamber within 5 h, thus showing great potential in on-site E. coli detection.

Demonstrating the reduction of enteric viruses by drinking water treatment during snowmelt episodes in urban areas

This study investigates short-term fluctuations in virus concentrations in source water and their removal by full-scale drinking water treatment processes under different source water conditions. Transient peaks in raw water faecal contamination were identified using in situ online β-d-glucuronidase activity monitoring at two urban drinking water treatment plants. During these peaks, sequential grab samples were collected at the source and throughout the treatment train to evaluate concentrations of rotavirus, adenovirus, norovirus, enterovirus, JC virus, reovirus, astrovirus and sapovirus by reverse transcription and real-time quantitative PCR. Virus infectivity was assessed through viral culture by measurement of cytopathic effect and integrated cell culture qPCR. Virus concentrations increased by approximately 0.5-log during two snowmelt/rainfall episodes and approximately 1.0-log following a planned wastewater discharge upstream of the drinking water intake and during a β-d-glucuronidase activity peak in dry weather conditions. Increases in the removal of adenovirus and rotavirus by coagulation/flocculation processes were observed during peak virus concentrations in source water, suggesting that these processes do not operate under steady-state conditions but dynamic conditions in response to source water conditions. Rotavirus and enterovirus detected in raw and treated water samples were predominantly negative in viral culture. At one site, infectious adenoviruses were detected in raw water and water treated by a combination of ballasted clarification, ozonation, GAC filtration, and UV disinfection operated at a dose of 40 mJ cm^-2. The proposed sampling strategy can inform the understanding of the dynamics associated with virus concentrations at drinking water treatment plants susceptible to de facto wastewater reuse.

Near real-time notification of water quality impairments in recreational freshwaters using rapid online detection of β-D-glucuronidase activity as a surrogate for Escherichia coli monitoring

Waterborne disease outbreaks associated with recreational waters continue to be reported around the world despite existing microbiological water quality monitoring frameworks. Most regulations resort to the use of culture-based enumeration of faecal indicator bacteria such as Escherichia coli to protect bathers from gastrointestinal illness risks. However, the long sample-to-result time of standard culture-based assays (minimum 18-24 h) and infrequent regulatory sampling (weekly or less) do not enable detection of episodic water quality impairments and associated public health risks. The objective of this study was to assess the suitability of an autonomous online technology measuring β-D-glucuronidase (GLUC) activity for near real-time monitoring of microbiological water quality in recreational waters and for the resulting beach management decisions. GLUC activity and E. coli concentrations were monitored at three freshwater sites in Quebec, Canada (sites Qc1-3) and one site in New Zealand (site NZ) between 2016 and 2018. We found site-dependent linear relationships between GLUC activity and E. coli concentrations and using confusion matrices, we developed site-specific GLUC activity beach action values (BAVs) matching the regulatory E. coli BAVs. Using the regulatory E. coli BAV as the gold standard, rates of false alarms (unnecessary beach advisories using GLUC activity BAV) and failures to act (failure to trigger advisories using GLUC activity) ranged between 0 and 32% and between 3 and 10%, respectively, which is comparable to the rates reported in other studies using qPCR-defined BAVs. However, a major benefit of the autonomous enzymatic technology is the real-time reporting of threshold exceedances, while temporal trends in GLUC activity can assist in understanding the underlying dynamics of faecal pollution and potential health risks. Our study is the first to describe the applicability of online near real-time monitoring of microbiological water quality as a tool for improved beach management and public health protection.

Demonstration of an optical biosensor for the detection of faecal indicator bacteria in freshwater and coastal bathing areas

ColiSense, an early warning system developed for Escherichia coli detection, is assessed using environmental samples. The system relies on the detection of β-glucuronidase (GUS), a biomarker enzyme for E. coli. In contrast with other rapid GUS-based methods, ColiSense is the only method that uses 6-chloro-4-methyl-umbelliferyl-β-D-glucuronide (6-CMUG) as a fluorogenic substrate. The system measures a direct kinetic response of extracted GUS, and the detection was carried out in the absence of particles or bacteria. It is necessary to evaluate the system with environmental samples to establish the relationship between faecal indicator bacteria E. coli and the response measured by the ColiSense. This paper presents the results of tests carried out with the ColiSense system for 2 trials, one conducted with freshwater samples collected from rivers in the Dublin area and a second conducted with seawater samples from coastal areas collected over the bathing season. A positive linear correlation was found between E. coli (MPN 100 mL^-1) and ColiSense response (R² = 0.85, N = 125, p < 0.01) for the seawater sample. A ColiSense response threshold was identified as 0-1.8 pmol min^-1 100 mL^-1, equivalent to 0-500 E. coli 100 mL^-1. Using this threshold, 96.8% of the samples were correctly classified as being above or below 500 E. coli 100 mL^-1 by the ColiSense system. Results presented demonstrate that the ColiSense system can be used as an early warning tool with potential for active management of bathing areas by providing results in 75 min from sample collection.

Tracking the contribution of multiple raw and treated wastewater discharges at an urban drinking water supply using near real-time monitoring of β-d-glucuronidase activity

Past waterborne outbreaks have demonstrated that informed vulnerability assessment of drinking water supplies is paramount for the provision of safe drinking water. Although current monitoring frameworks are not designed to account for short-term peak concentrations of fecal microorganisms in source waters, the recent development of online microbial monitoring technologies is expected to fill this knowledge gap. In this study, online near real-time monitoring of β-d-glucuronidase (GLUC) activity was conducted for 1.5 years at an urban drinking water intake impacted by multiple point sources of fecal pollution. Parallel routine and event-based monitoring of E. coli and online measurement of physico-chemistry were performed at the intake and their dynamics compared over time. GLUC activity fluctuations ranged from seasonal to hourly time scales. All peak contamination episodes occurred between late fall and early spring following intense rainfall and/or snowmelt. In the absence of rainfall, recurrent daily fluctuations in GLUC activity and culturable E. coli were observed at the intake, a pattern otherwise ignored by regulatory monitoring. Cross-correlation analysis of time series retrieved from the drinking water intake and an upstream Water Resource Recovery Facility (WRRF) demonstrated a hydraulic connection between the two sites. Sewage by-passes from the same WRRF were the main drivers of intermittent GLUC activity and E. coli peaks at the drinking water intake following intense precipitation and/or snowmelt. Near real-time monitoring of fecal pollution through GLUC activity enabled a thorough characterization of the frequency, duration and amplitude of peak contamination periods at the urban drinking water intake while providing crucial information for the identification of the dominant upstream fecal pollution sources. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first characterization of a hydraulic connection between a WRRF and a downstream drinking water intake across hourly to seasonal timescales using high frequency microbial monitoring data. Ultimately, this should help improve source water protection through catchment mitigation actions, especially in a context of de facto wastewater reuse.

Autonomous online measurement of β-D-glucuronidase activity in surface water: is it suitable for rapid E. coli monitoring?

Microbiological water quality is traditionally assessed using culture-based enumeration of faecal indicator bacteria such as Escherichia coli. Despite their relative ease of use, these methods require a minimal 18-24 h-incubation step before the results are obtained. This study aimed to assess the suitability of an autonomous online fluorescence-based technology measuring β-glucuronidase (GLUC) activity for rapid near-real time monitoring of E. coli in water. The analytical precision was determined and compared to an automated microbial detection system, two culture-based assays and quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). Using replicate measurements of grab samples containing E. coli concentrations between 50 and 2330 CFU.100 mL^-1, the autonomous GLUC activity measurement technology displayed an average coefficient of variation (CV) of less than 5% that was 4-8-fold lower than other methods tested. Comparable precision was observed during online in situ monitoring of GLUC activity at a drinking water intake using three independent instruments. GLUC activity measurements were not affected by sewage or sediments at concentrations likely to be encountered during long-term monitoring. Furthermore, significant (p < 0.05) correlations were obtained between GLUC activity and the other assays including defined substrate technology (r = 0.77), membrane filtration (r = 0.73), qPCR (r = 0.55) and the automated microbial detection system (r = 0.50). This study is the first to thoroughly compare the analytical performance of rapid automated detection technologies to established culture and molecular-based methods. Results show that further research is required to correlate GLUC activity to the presence of viable E. coli as measured in terms of CFU.100 mL^-1. This would allow the use of autonomous online GLUC activity measurements for rapid E. coli monitoring in water supplies used for drinking water production and recreation.

Spatial patterns of enzymatic activity in large water bodies: Ship-borne measurements of beta-D-glucuronidase activity as a rapid indicator of microbial water quality

This study used automated enzymatic activity measurements conducted from a mobile research vessel to detect the spatial variability of beta‑d‑glucuronidase (GLUC) activity in large freshwater bodies. The ship-borne observations provided the first high-resolution spatial data of GLUC activity in large water bodies as rapid indication of fecal pollution and were used to identify associations with hydrological conditions and land use. The utility of this novel approach for water quality screening was evaluated by surveys of the Columbia River, the Mississippi River and the Yahara Lakes, covering up to a 500 km river course and 50 km² lake area. The ship-borne measurements of GLUC activity correlated with standard E. coli analyses (R² = 0.71) and revealed the effects of (1) precipitation events and urban run-off on GLUC activity in surface waters, (2) localized point inlets of potential fecal pollution and (3) increasing GLUC signals along gradients of urbanization. We propose that this ship-borne water quality screening to be integrated into future water inventory programs as an initial or complementary tool (besides established fecal indicator parameters), due to its ability to provide near real-time spatial information on potential fecal contamination of large surface water resources and therefore being helpful to greatly reduce potential human health risks.

Ratiometric electrochemical detection of β-galactosidase

A novel ferrocene-based substrate for the ratiometric electrochemical detection of β-galactosidase was designed and synthesised. It was demonstrated to be an excellent electrochemical substrate for β-Gal detection with sensitivity as low as 0.1 U mL^-1.

Synthesis of precipitating chromogenic/fluorogenic β-glucosidase/β-galactosidase substrates by a new method and their application in the visual detection of foodborne pathogenic bacteria

We developed a new efficient method for the synthesis of important indoxyl glycoside substrates for β-glucosidase and β-galactosidase by using 1-acetylindol-3-ones as intermediates. This method was used to synthesise novel precipitating fluorogenic substrates for β-glucosidase based on 2-(benzothiazol-2'-yl)-phenols. We also assessed the application of these substrates in the detection of foodborne pathogenic bacteria.

Culture-dependent enumeration methods failed to simultaneously detect disinfectant-injured and genetically modified Escherichia coli in drinking water

Underestimation of Escherichia coli in drinking water, an indicator microorganism of sanitary risk, may result in potential risks of waterborne diseases. However, the detection of disinfectant-injured or genetically modified (GM) E. coli has been largely overlooked so far. To evaluate the accuracy of culture-dependent enumeration with regard to disinfectant-injured and GM E. coli, chlorine- or ozone-injured wild-type (WT) and GM E. coli were prepared and characterized. Then, water samples contaminated with these E. coli strains were assayed by four widely used methods, including lactose tryptose broth-based multiple-tube fermentation (MTF), m-endo-based membrane filtration method (MFM), an enzyme substrate test (EST) known as Colilert, and Petrifilm-based testing slip method (TSM). It was found that MTF was the most effective method to detect disinfectant-injured WT E. coli (with 76.9% trials detecting all these bacteria), while this method could not effectively detect GM E. coli (with uninjured bacteria undetectable and a maximal detection rate of 21.5% for the injured). The EST was the only method which enabled considerable enumeration of uninjured GM E. coli, with a detection rate of over 93%. However, the detection rate declined to lower than 45.4% once the GM E. coli was injured by disinfectants. The MFM was invalid for both disinfectant-injured and GM E. coli. This is the first study to report the failure of these commonly used enumeration methods to simultaneously detect disinfectant-injured and GM E. coli. Thus, it highlights the urgent requirement for the development of a more accurate and versatile enumeration method which allows the detection of disinfectant-injured and GM E. coli on the assessment of microbial quality of drinking water.

Evaluation of β-d-glucuronidase and particle-size distribution for microbiological water quality monitoring in Northern Vietnam

In many karst regions in developing countries, the populations often suffer from poor microbial water quality and are frequently exposed to bacterial pathogens. The high variability of water quality requires rapid assays, but the conventional cultivation-based analysis of fecal indicator bacteria, such as Escherichia coli (E. coli), is very time-consuming. In this respect, the measurement of the enzymatic activity of E. coli could prove to be a valuable tool for water quality monitoring. A mobile automated prototype device was used for the investigation of β-d-glucuronidase (GLUC) activity at a remote karst spring, connected to a sinking surface stream, in Northern Vietnam. To assess the relationship between GLUC activity, discharge dynamics and contamination patterns, multiple hydrological, hydrochemical, physicochemical and microbiological parameters, including discharge, turbidity, particle-size distributions, and E. coli, were measured with high temporal resolution during ten days of on-site monitoring. A complex contamination pattern due to anthropogenic and agricultural activities led to high E. coli concentrations (270 to >24,200 MPN/100ml) and a GLUC activity between 3.1 and 102.2 mMFU/100ml. A strong daily fluctuation pattern of GLUC activity and particle concentrations within small size classes (<10μm) could be observed, as demonstrated by autocorrelations. A Spearman's rank correlation analysis resulted in correlation coefficients of rs=0.56 for E. coli and GLUC activity and rs=0.54 for GLUC activity and the concentration of 2-3μm particles. On an event scale, correlations were found to be higher (rs=0.69 and 0.87, respectively). GLUC activity and E. coli displayed a general contamination pattern, but with significant differences in detail, which may be explained by interferences of e. g. viable but non-culturable cells. Although further evaluations are recommended, GLUC activity is a promising, complementary parameter for on-site and near real-time water quality monitoring.

A nitrocefin-based amperometric assay for the rapid quantification of extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli in wastewaters

A sensitive and inexpensive amperometric assay based on the electrochemical detection of the β-lactamase activity using the nitrocefin as substrate was developed for the rapid and quantitative detection of extended spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli (ESBL-EC) in urban wastewaters. The specific detection of ESBL-EC was achieved by culturing the filtered sample in a medium containing the cefotaxime supplemented or not with the potassium clavulanate inhibitor. This step was followed by the incubation of each subculture filtrate with the nitrocefin substrate which hydrolysis was monitored by amperometry using disposable carbon screen-printed sensors. Current intensities i_Cef and i_Clav correspond to the intensity of the anodic current measured (∼+ 0.2 V vs. Ag/AgCl) for the sample incubated with the cefotaxime without and with potassium clavulanate, respectively. The intensity value i = i_Cef - i_Clav was chosen as the analytical response. ESBL-EC calibration plots were established with artificially contaminated wastewater samples. This assay allowed the detection of ESBL-EC amounts as low as 10 cfu in treated effluents and 100 cfu in raw wastewaters with short time analysis of 5.5 h and 4.5 h, respectively. The amperometric method was applied to the analysis of 38 wastewater samples and the results were in good agreement with CFU counts on a selective chromogenic medium for 24 h. Owing to its rapidity, convenience, low-cost and portability, this assay is a promising tool to obtain quantitative data on antimicrobial-resistant E. coli in wastewater effluents. Furthermore, this assay might be used to improve wastewater treatment plant processes in order to minimize the release of antibiotic resistant bacteria into the aquatic environment.

A Strategy to Establish a Quality Assurance/Quality Control Plan for the Application of Biosensors for the Detection of E. coli in Water

Rapid bacterial detection using biosensors is a novel approach for microbiological testing applications. Validation of such methods is an obstacle in the adoption of new bio-sensing technologies for water testing. Therefore, establishing a quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) plan is essential to demonstrate accuracy and reliability of the biosensor method for the detection of E. coli in drinking water samples. In this study, different reagents and assay conditions including temperatures, holding time, E. coli strains and concentrations, dissolving agents, salinity and pH effects, quality of substrates of various suppliers of 4-methylumbelliferyl glucuronide (MUG), and environmental water samples were included in the QA/QC plan and used in the assay optimization and documentation. Furthermore, the procedural QA/QC for the monitoring of drinking water samples was established to validate the performance of the biosensor platform for the detection of E. coli using a culture-based standard technique. Implementing the developed QA/QC plan, the same level of precision and accuracy was achieved using both the standard and the biosensor methods. The established procedural QA/QC for the biosensor will provide a reliable tool for a near real-time monitoring of E. coli in drinking water samples to both industry and regulatory authorities.

Escherichia coli in marine water: Comparison of methods for the assessment of recreational bathing water samples

Bathing Water Directive (2006/7/EC) specifies two reference methods for Escherichia coli detection: ISO 9308-1 and 9308-3. The revised ISO 9308-1 is recommended only for waters with a low bacterial background flora. Considering the extended time needed for analysis and, generally, the lack of experience in using ISO 9308-3 in the Mediterranean, the suitability of ISO 9308-1 for the examination of E. coli in bathing water was evaluated. The present study was aimed at a comparison of data obtained by the reference method in seawater samples (110 beaches, N=477) with data received from six alternative methods. Results show that recently used TSA/TBA method may overestimate E. coli numbers in marine waters. The temperature modified ISO 9308-1 (44°C) did not significantly alter the results, but outperformed the antibiotic supplemented agar at reducing non-E. coli bacteria on the plates, allowing the use of the respective method for monitoring coastal water.

Real-time monitoring of beta-d-glucuronidase activity in sediment laden streams: A comparison of prototypes

Detection of enzymatic activities has been proposed as a rapid surrogate for the culture-based microbiological pollution monitoring of water resources. This paper presents the results of tests on four fully automated prototype instruments for the on-site monitoring of beta-d-glucuronidase (GLUC) activity. The tests were performed on sediment-laden stream water in the Hydrological Open Air Laboratory (HOAL) during the period of March 2014 to March 2015. The dominant source of faecal pollution in the stream was swine manure applied to the fields within the catchment. The experiments indicated that instrument pairs with the same construction design yielded highly consistent results (R(2) = 0.96 and R(2) = 0.94), whereas the results between different designs were less consistent (R(2) = 0.71). Correlations between the GLUC activity measured on-site and culture-based Escherichia coli analyses over the entire study period yielded R(2) = 0.52 and R(2) = 0.47 for the two designs, respectively. The correlations tended to be higher at the event scale. The GLUC activity was less correlated with suspended sediment concentrations than with E. coli, which is interpreted in terms of indicator applicability and the time since manure application. The study shows that this rapid assay can yield consistent results over a long period of on-site operation in technically challenging habitats. Although the use of GLUC activity as a proxy for culture-based assays could not be proven for the observed habitat, the study results suggest that this biochemical indicator has high potential for implementation in early warning systems.

Rapid amperometric detection of Escherichia coli in wastewater by measuring β-D glucuronidase activity with disposable carbon sensors

An assay on the indirect amperometric quantification of the β-D-Glucuronidase (GLUase) activity was developed for the rapid and specific detection of Escherichia coli (E. coli) in complex environmental samples. The p-aminophenyl β-D-glucopyranoside (PAPG) was selected as an electrochemical substrate for GLUase measurement and the p-aminophenol (PAP) released during the enzymatic hydrolysis was monitored by cyclic voltammetry with disposable carbon screen-printed sensors. The intensity of the measured anodic peak current was proportional to the amount of GLUase, and therefore to the number of E. coli in the tested sample. Once the substrate concentration and pH values optimized, a GLUase detection limit of 10 ng mL(-1) was achieved. Using a procedure involving a filtration step of the bacteria followed by their incubation with the substrate solution containing both the nonionic detergent Triton X-100 as permeabilization agent and the culture media Luria broth to monitor the growth, filtered bacterial cells ranging from 5 × 10(4) to 10(8) UFC/membrane were detected within 3 h. The amperometric assay was applied to the determination of fecal contamination in raw and treated wastewater samples and it was successfully compared with conventional bacterial plating methods and uidA gene quantitative PCR. Owing to its ability to perform measurements in turbid media, the GLUase amperometric method is a reliable tool for the rapid and decentralized quantification of viable but also nonculturable E. coli in complex environmental samples.

Ketamine-induced ulcerative cystitis and bladder apoptosis involve oxidative stress mediated by mitochondria and the endoplasmic reticulum

Ketamine abusers develop severe lower urinary tract symptoms. The major aims of the present study were to elucidate ketamine-induced ulcerative cystitis and bladder apoptosis in association with oxidative stress mediated by mitochondria and the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Sprague-Dawley rats were distributed into three different groups, which received normal saline or ketamine for a period of 14 or 28 days, respectively. Double-labeled immunofluorescence experiments were performed to investigate tight junction proteins for urothelial barrier functions. A TUNEL assay was performed to evaluate the distribution of apoptotic cells. Western blot analysis was carried out to examine the expressions of urothelial tight junction proteins, ER stress markers, and apoptosis-associated proteins. Antioxidant enzymes, including SOD and catalase, were investigated by real-time PCR and immunofluorescence experiments. Ketamine-treated rats were found to display bladder hyperactivity. This bladder dysfunction was accompanied by disruptions of epithelial cadherin- and tight junction-associated proteins as well as increases in the expressions of apoptosis-associated proteins, which displayed features of mitochondria-dependent apoptotic signals and ER stress markers. Meanwhile, expressions of mitochondria respiratory subunit enzymes were significantly increased in ketamine-treated bladders. Conversely, mRNA expressions of the antioxidant enzymes Mn-SOD (SOD2), Cu/Zn-SOD (SOD1), and catalase were decreased after 28 days of ketamine treatment. These results demonstrate that ketamine enhanced the generation of oxidative stress mediated by mitochondria- and ER-dependent pathways and consequently contributed to bladder apoptosis and urothelial lining defects. Such oxidative stress-enhanced bladder cell apoptosis and urothelial barrier defects are potential factors that may play a crucial role in bladder overactivity and ulceration.

Improved detection of Escherichia coli and coliform bacteria by multiplex PCR

BACKGROUND

The presence of coliform bacteria is routinely assessed to establish the microbiological safety of water supplies and raw or processed foods. Coliforms are a group of lactose-fermenting Enterobacteriaceae, which most likely acquired the lacZ gene by horizontal transfer and therefore constitute a polyphyletic group. Among this group of bacteria is Escherichia coli, the pathogen that is most frequently associated with foodborne disease outbreaks and is often identified by β-glucuronidase enzymatic activity or by the redundant detection of uidA by PCR. Because a significant fraction of essential E. coli genes are preserved throughout the bacterial kingdom, alternative oligonucleotide primers for specific E. coli detection are not easily identified.

RESULTS

In this manuscript, two strategies were used to design oligonucleotide primers with differing levels of specificity for the simultaneous detection of total coliforms and E. coli by multiplex PCR. A consensus sequence of lacZ and the orphan gene yaiO were chosen as targets for amplification, yielding 234 bp and 115 bp PCR products, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The assay designed in this work demonstrated superior detection ability when tested with lab collection and dairy isolated lactose-fermenting strains. While lacZ amplicons were found in a wide range of coliforms, yaiO amplification was highly specific for E. coli. Additionally, yaiO detection is non-redundant with enzymatic methods.

A new electrochemical substrate for rapid and sensitive in vivo monitoring of β-galactosidase gene expressions

An electrochemical assay platform based on 4-MPGal for the monitoring of β-galactosidase expressions.

Continuous fluorometric method for measuring β-glucuronidase activity: comparative analysis of three fluorogenic substrates

A new continuous fluorometric method for measuring GUS activity shows a superior analytical performance to the established discontinuous method.

Synthesis and application of resorufin β-D-glucuronide, a low-cost chromogenic substrate for detecting Escherichia coli in drinking water

The development of low-cost tests for Escherichia coli is hampered by the expense and limited choice of enzyme substrates. Most chromogenic substrates are required in costly amounts, while fluorogenic substrates require an additional apparatus (e.g., an ultraviolet lamp) to be detected. Herein, we propose an alternative chromogenic substrate, resorufin β-d-glucuronide (REG), which is exceptionally sensitive and may be employed in very small amounts. We show that REG can be produced similarly to other simple glucuronides and should therefore be no more expensive. The compound is used by both healthy and injured E. coli, resulting in a pronounced color change from orange to a bright pink. Because the released dye (resorufin) has a high extinction coefficient, substantially lower amounts are needed than for commercially available substrates. The potential of this substrate is demonstrated by a presence/absence test requiring just 0.1 mg of REG/100 mL of water sample, one hundredth of the quantity needed for common chromogenic substrates, with an estimated bulk cost of ≤0.1 U.S. cents/test. REG shows promise as a chromogenic substrate for E. coli detection and should be considered in the development of new water tests, especially for low-income settings.

Fast detection and quantification of Escherichia coli using the base principle of the microbial fuel cell

Escherichia coli is an important microbial indicator of fecal contamination, making accurate quantitative detection of E. coli a key to ensuring public health. In this study, a microbial fuel cell (MFC) was used as a detection unit of an E. coli sensor, and specific enzymes expressed in E. coli, such as β-D-galactosidase (GAL) and β-D-glucuronidase (GUS), were exploited as biological detection elements. As substrates, 4-aminophenyl-β-D-galactopyranoside (4-APGal) were used for GAL detection, whereas 8-hydroxyquinoline glucuronide (8-HQG) and 4-nitrophenyl β-D-glucuronide (PNPG) were used for GUS detection. Once these substrates were hydrolyzed by GAL or GUS, they became electrochemically active products, which were, in turn, oxidized on the anode of the MFC reactor. The power output of the MFC reactor increased sharply when E. coli in the reactor reached the critical concentration. Accordingly, the time required to reach the highest voltage output was recorded as a detection time (DT), and a negative linear relationship was established between DT and the logarithm of the initial concentration of E. coli in the samples studied. The DTs of laboratory samples were 140 min and 560 min for initial concentrations of 1.9 × 10(7) CFU/mL and 42 CFU/mL at 44.5 °C. Moreover, the DTs for GUS assays were further shortened by induction with methyl β-D-glucuronide sodium salt (MetGlu). The quantitative relationship between DTs and initial E. coli concentrations established from replicate laboratory sample assays allowed estimation of the E. coli concentration in environmental samples, but with approximately 100 min of lag time. The lag time was also observed with E. coli samples that were prepared by starving cells in a laboratory.

Propidium monoazide-quantitative polymerase chain reaction for viable Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa detection from abundant background microflora

Nucleic acid-based techniques represent a promising alternative to cultivation-based microbial water quality assessment methods. However, their application is hampered by their innate inability to differentiate between living and dead organisms. Propidium monoazide (PMA) treatment was proposed as an efficient approach for alleviating this limitation. In this study, we demonstrate the performance of PMA-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) for the detection of indicator organisms (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) in a background of a highly abundant and complex microflora. Treatment with 10 μM PMA resulted in the complete or significant reduction of the false positive signal arising from the amplification of DNA from dead cells.

Characterization and validation of a chemiluminescent assay based on a 1,2-dioxetane for rapid detection of enterococci in contaminated water and comparison with standard methods and qPCR

AIMS

To evaluate the potential for using a novel chemiluminescence-based enzyme assay for rapid detection of enterococci in water contaminated with faecal waste.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The novel assay (EntLight) was based on the enzymatic hydrolysis of the chemiluminescent 1,2-dioxetane [(4-methoxy-4(3-β-d-glucoside-4-chlorophenyl)]spiro[1,2-dioxetane-3-1,3-tricyclo[7·3·1·0(2,7) ]tridec-2,7-ene] specific for β-d-glucosidase. The specificity of the proposed EntLight assay was characterized using 26 different Enterococcus strains and 10 bacterial genera other than Enterococcus. With an analysis time of ≤8 h, the assay was found to be sensitive and specific. Validation experiments were carried out using water samples contaminated with raw municipal wastewater in comparison with qPCR and ISO standard methods. EntLight was successfully applied to detect enterococci in contaminated water within ≤8 h, and the proposed assay correlated well with both qPCR and ISO standard methods (R(2) > 0·776).

CONCLUSIONS

EntLight can be applied to rapid and simple detection of viable enterococci in water contaminated with faecal matter.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

The novel EntLight assay and qPCR have the potential to be used as methods for early warning (1-7 h) of faecal pollutions in different water types.

Defining established and emerging microbial risks in the aquatic environment: current knowledge, implications, and outlooks

This timely review primarily addresses important but presently undefined microbial risks to public health and to the natural environment. It specifically focuses on current knowledge, future outlooks and offers some potential alleviation strategies that may reduce or eliminate the risk of problematic microbes in their viable but nonculturable (VBNC) state and Cryptosporidium oocysts in the aquatic environment. As emphasis is placed on water quality, particularly surrounding efficacy of decontamination at the wastewater treatment plant level, this review also touches upon other related emerging issues, namely, the fate and potential ecotoxicological impact of untreated antibiotics and other pharmaceutically active compounds in water. Deciphering best published data has elucidated gaps between science and policy that will help stakeholders work towards the European Union's Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC), which provides an ambitious legislative framework for water quality improvements within its region and seeks to restore all water bodies to "good ecological status" by 2015. Future effective risk-based assessment and management, post definition of the plethora of dynamic inter-related factors governing the occurrence, persistence and/or control of these presently undefined hazards in water will also demand exploiting and harnessing tangential advances in allied disciplines such as mathematical and computer modeling that will permit efficient data generation and transparent reporting to be undertaken by well-balanced consortia of stakeholders.

Amperometric detection of Enterobacteriaceae in river water by measuring β-galactosidase activity at interdigitated microelectrode arrays

Two simple methodologies are compared for the detection of faecal contamination in water using amperometry at gold interdigitated microelectrodes. They rely on the detection of β-galactosidase (β-gal) by redox cycling amperometry of the p-aminophenol (PAP) produced by the enzyme from the 4-aminophenyl β-d-galactopyranoside (PAPG) substrate. The use of phages as specific agents for the release of the bacteria-enclosed enzyme allowed the detection of 6×10(5) CFU mL(-1)Escherichia coli in 2 h without any pre-enrichment or preconcentration steps. Better limits of detection were achieved for the second strategy in the absence of phages. In this case, bacteria were enriched in the presence of both β-d-1-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG) and substrate but in the absence of phages. Under such experimental conditions, 5×10(4) CFU mL(-1) E. coli could be detected after 2 h of incubation, while 7 h of incubation were enough to detect down to 10 CFU mL(-1) in river water samples. This represents a straightforward one-step method for the detection of faecal contamination that can be conducted in a single working day with minimal sample manipulation by the user.

Rapid detection of Escherichia coli in water using a hand-held fluorescence detector

The quantification of pathogenic bacteria in an environmental or clinical sample commonly involves laboratory-based techniques and results are not obtained for 24-72 h after sampling. Enzymatic analysis of microbial activity in water and other environmental samples using fluorescent synthetic substrates are well-established and highly sensitive methods in addition to providing a measure of specificity towards indicative bacteria. The enzyme beta-d-glucuronidase (GUD) is a specific marker for Escherichia coli and 4-methylumbelliferone-beta-D-glucuronide (MUG) a sensitive substrate for determining the presence of E. coli in a sample. However, currently used procedures are laboratory-based and require bench-top fluorimeters for the measurement of fluorescence resulting from the enzyme-substrate reaction. Recent developments in electronic engineering have led to the miniaturisation of fluorescence detectors. We describe the use of a novel hand-held fluorimeter to directly analyse samples obtained from the River Thames for the presence of E. coli. The results obtained by the hand-held detector were compared with those obtained with an established fluorescent substrate assay and by quantifying microbial growth on a chromogenic medium. Both reference methods utilised filtration of water samples. The miniaturised fluorescence detector was used and incubation times reduced to 30 min making the detection system portable and rapid. The developed hand-held system reliably detected E. coli as low as 7 cfu/mL river water sample. Our study demonstrates that new hand-held fluorescence measurement technology can be applied to the rapid and convenient detection of bacteria in environmental samples. This enables rapid monitoring to be carried out on-site. The technique described is generic and it may, therefore, be used in conjunction with different fluorescent substrates which allows the assessment of various target microorganisms in biological samples.

A rapid method for the detection of representative coliforms in water samples: polymerase chain reaction-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (PCR-ELISA)

Methods to detect the presence of coliform bacteria in drinking water usually involve a series of complex cultivating steps that are time-consuming and subject to external influences. For this reason, the new 16S rRNA probe has been developed in this study as an alternative detector PCR-ELISA technique that does not involve the culture of bacteria and that is able to detect, identify, and quantify the representative coliform species present in water samples. Our results indicate that this technique is both rapid (detection time of 4 h) and accurate (1.4% error rate). The limit of detection (LOD) was 5 CFU/100 ml for total coliforms, which meets the standards set by most countries for drinking water. Our comparative study demonstrated that this PCR-ELISA method is superior to current conventional methods in terms of detection time, LOD, and accuracy.

Evaluation of new chromogenic substrates for the detection of coliforms

AIMS

To evaluate a new range of chromogenic substrates for the detection of beta-galactosidase activity in coliforms and to compare their performance in agar media and broths.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Sixteen novel galactoside substrates were prepared and incorporated into agar and broth. Their performance was compared using Escherichia coli (five strains), Salmonella (two strains), Enterobacter (two strains), Klebsiella, Pseudomonas, Listeria, Serratia, Shigella, Citrobacter, Proteus and Staphylococcus as well as pathological urine samples. The six substrates out of the initial 16 that showed the greatest sensitivity were VQE-gal, VQM-gal, VLPr-gal, VLE-gal, VLM-gal and VBzTM-gal, whose released chromophores were red, brown or purple. VQE-gal and VLPr-gal were studied in greater detail and were incorporated into agar medium. Coliform colonies appeared red and brown respectively, following incubation at 37 degrees C for 24 h; however, positive results were obtained within a working day. The VQE-gal medium was compared with some commercially available media.

CONCLUSIONS

The range of substrates described can be used in broths as well as in agars. The VQE agar allows the detection of coliforms within a working day. VQE-gal medium proved to be more sensitive when compared to other available chromogenic media and allows the unambiguous detection of coliforms.