A real-time PCR assay for detection and quantification ofLactococcus garvieae

Comparison of SYBR® Green qPCR assay and plate count method to describe growth of Weissella viridescens and Leuconostoc mesenteroides in pure and mixed cultivation

The current study was conducted to statistically compare the SYBR® Green quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assay and the conventional plate counting (PC) method to construct growth curves of a cocktail of Weissella viridescens in pure culture under different isothermal storage conditions (4, 8, 14, and 30 °C) and in mixed culture with Leuconostoc mesenteroides at 8 °C. The efficiency and specificity of the qPCR standard curves were confirmed, and both methods were adequate to quantify the growth kinetics of W. viridescens at all isothermal temperatures, demonstrating a good correlation and agreement. The efficiencies of the standard curves varied between 98% and 102%. The SYBR® Green qPCR assay was also able to differentiate the growth curves of W. viridescens and L. mesenteroides in the mixed culture at 8 °C. Additionally, the SYBR® Green qPCR method was considered a faster and more sensitive alternative to construct growth curves under different isothermal conditions and differentiate morphologically similar lactic acid bacteria. Overall, the results suggest that the SYBR® Green qPCR method is a reliable and efficient tool to study microbial growth kinetics in pure and mixed cultures.

A multifaceted investigation of lactococcal strain diversity in undefined mesophilic starter cultures

The dairy fermentation industry relies on the activity of lactic acid bacteria in robust starter cultures to accomplish milk acidification. Maintenance of the composition of these starter cultures, whether defined or undefined, is essential to ensure consistent and high-quality fermentation end products. To date, limited information exists regarding the microbial composition of undefined starter culture systems. Here, we describe a culture-based analysis combined with a metagenomics approach to evaluate the composition of two undefined mesophilic starter cultures. In addition, we describe a qPCR-based genotype detection assay, which is capable of discerning nine distinct lactococcal genotypes to characterize these undefined starter cultures, and which can be applied to monitor compositional changes in an undefined starter culture during a fermentation.

IMPORTANCE

This study reports on the development of a combined culture-based analysis and metagenomics approach to evaluate the composition of two undefined mesophilic starter cultures. In addition, a novel qPCR-based genotype detection assay, capable of discerning nine distinct lactococcal genotypes (based on lactococcal cell wall polysaccharide biosynthesis gene clusters), was used to monitor compositional changes in an undefined starter culture following phage attack. These analytical approaches facilitate a multifaceted assessment of starter culture compositional stability during milk fermentation, which has become an important QC aspect due to the increasing demand for consistent and high-quality dairy products.

Improvement of the Gut Microbiota In Vivo by a Short-Chain Fatty Acids-Producing Strain Lactococcus garvieae CF11

Gut microbiota has strong connections with health. Regulating and enhancing gut microbiota and increasing the population of beneficial microorganisms constitutes a new approach to increasing the efficiency of health status. Although it has been shown that Lactococcus can adjust gut microbiota and be beneficial for the host, little is known about whether strains of Lactococcus petauri can improve the gut microbiota. This study focused on the influence of Lactococcus petauri CF11 on the gut microbiome composition and the levels of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in vivo in healthy Sprague Dawley rats. The present results showed that strain CF11 was able to induce a higher amount of fecal acetic acid and propionic acid and enhance species richness. Moreover, strain CF11 improved the gut microbiota community structure. In the experimental group, the genera Oscillospira, Coprococcus, and Ruminococcus, which are reported to be able to produce SCFAs, are significantly increased when compared with the control group (p < 0.05). Finally, the functions of genes revealed that 180 pathways were upregulated or downregulated in comparison with the control group. Among them, the top-five clearly enriched pathways regarding metabolism included porphyrin and chlorophyll metabolism; C5-Branched dibasic acid metabolism; valine, leucine, and isoleucine biosynthesis; phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan biosynthesis; and ascorbate and aldarate metabolism. Our data suggest that the SCFAs-producing strain CF11 is a potential probiotic.

High-throughput identification and quantification of Vagococcus salmoninarum by SYBR Green I-based real-time PCR combined with melting curve analysis

This work describes a primer pair and a high-throughput SYBR Green I-based real-time PCR protocol combined with melting curve analysis for identification and quantification of Vagococcus salmoninarum in bacterial cultures and infected fish tissues. The 16S rRNA gene was selected for the design of the primer pair (SalF and SalR). The sensitivity and specificity of this primer pair were compared with other previously designed for conventional PCR. Although both primer pairs showed 100% specificity using pure bacterial cultures or DNA extracted from bacteria or fish tissues, the primer pairs designed in this study showed the highest sensitivity with a detection limit of 0.034 × 10⁰ amplicon copies per assay (equivalent to 2 × 10^-11  ng/µl, C_q value of 30.49 ± 1.71). The developed qPCR protocol allowed the detection of V. salmoninarum in non-lethal and lethal fish samples with detection levels of 0.17 × 10⁰ gene copies in tissues artificially infected and 0.02 × 10⁰ in tissues of fish experimentally infected with V. salmoninarum. The high sensitivity of the developed method suggests that it could be considered as a useful tool for diagnosis of vagococcosis and the detection of V. salmoninarum in asymptomatic or carrier fish.

Identification and typing of Vagococcus salmoninarum using genomic and proteomic techniques

This study reports on the characterization of Vagococcus salmoninarum using phenotypic, serological, antigenic, genetic and proteomic methods. All strains of V. salmoninarum were resistant to most of the antimicrobials tested, and only 10% of strains were sensitive to florfenicol. Serological analysis demonstrated a high antigenic homogeneity within the species. No cross-reaction was detected with other fish pathogenic species causing streptococcosis (Lactococcus garvieae, Streptococcus parauberis, Streptococcus iniae, Streptococcus agalactiae, Carnobacterium maltaromaticum) using serum against V. salmoninarum CECT 5810. Electrophoretic analysis of cell surface proteins and immunoblot supported the antigenic homogeneity within V. salmoninarum strains. Moreover, limited diversity was detected using genomic (RAPD, ERIC-PCR and REP-PCR) and MALDI-TOF-MS analyses. The phenotypic, genomic and proteomic methods tested allowed the rapid differentiation of V. salmoninarum from the other species causing streptococcosis. However, MALDI-TOF-MS is the most promising method for typing and characterization of V. salmoninarum.

Development of a SYBR green I real-time PCR assay for specific identification of the fish pathogen Aeromonas salmonicida subspecies salmonicida

A SYBR Green I real-time polymerase chain reaction protocol for specific detection of the fish pathogen Aeromonas salmonicida subsp. salmonicida was developed and validated for rapid diagnosis of typical furunculosis. The sequence of the aopO gene of A. salmonicida subsp. salmonicida, which encodes for a serine/threonine protein kinase linked to virulence, was chosen for primer design. The selected primers amplified a 119-bp internal fragment of the aopO gene. The specificity test proved that 100 % (40/40) of the A. salmonicida subsp. salmonicida strains tested showed a positive amplification with subspecies-specific melting temperatures (Tm) of 80.75 ± 0.35 °C. Atypical A. salmonicida subspecies and other non-related bacterial fish pathogens did not amplify or showed unspecific melting profiles, except for one strain of A. salmonicida subsp. achromogenes and one strain of A. salmonicida subsp. smithia. The detection sensitivity was 21 fg of purified bacterial DNA per reaction, corresponding to 1-2 bacterial cells and 6-60 bacteria per reaction for seeded kidney and blood. The assay was highly reproducible with low variation coefficient values for intra-run and inter-run assays. The assay also allowed the specific detection of A. salmonicida subsp. salmonicida in tissues of fish naturally and experimentally infected. No amplification was detected when tissues from healthy fish or fish affected by other diseases were tested. The SYBR Green real-time PCR and melt curve analysis developed in this study is a rapid and accurate method for the specific identification of A. salmonicida subsp. salmonicida isolates and its detection on tissues of fish affected by furunculosis.

Emphysematous pyometra secondary to Enterococcus avium infection in a dog

A 5-year-old female intact Mastiff dog was presented with a history of vaginal discharge for 1 day. Physical examination revealed a sanguineo-purulent vaginal discharge and systemic inflammatory response syndrome. Abdominal radiographs showed several dilated and gas- filled tubular loops. The differential diagnoses included emphysematous pyometra or small intestinal mechanical ileus. Surgical exploration of the abdomen demonstrated a severely dilated and gas-filled uterus, and emphysematous pyometra was confirmed. The patient's clinical signs resolved after ovariohysterectomy. Histopathology revealed mild endometrial cystic hyperplasia with infiltration of inflammatory cells in the superficial endometrial epithelia. Enterococcus avium, an α-hemolytic gram-positive coccus, was isolated from the uterus. This paper highlights the radiographic features of emphysematous pyometra and a pathogen that has never been reported to be associated with canine pyometra previously.

A novel real-time PCR assay for the specific identification and quantification of Weissella viridescens in blood sausages

Weissella viridescens has been identified as one of the lactic acid bacteria (LAB) responsible for the spoilage of "morcilla de Burgos". In order to identify and quantify this bacterium in "morcilla de Burgos", a new specific PCR procedure has been developed. The primers and Taqman probe were designed on the basis of a sequence from the gene recN. To confirm the specificity of the primers, 77 strains from the genera Carnobacterium, Enterococcus, Lactobacillus, Leuconostoc, Pediococcus, Streptococcus, Vagococcus and Weissella were tested by conventional PCR. The specificity of the primers and the correct functioning of the probe was confirmed by performing real-time PCR (qPCR) with 21 W. viridescens strains and 27 strains from other LAB genera. The levels of detection and quantification for the qPCR procedure proposed herein were determined for a pure culture of W. viridescens CECT 283(T) and for "morcilla de Burgos" artificially inoculated with this species. The primers were specific for W. viridescens, with only one product of 91 bp being observed for this species. Similarly, the qPCR reactions were found to be specific, amplifying at a mean CT of 15.0±0.4 only for W. viridescens strains. The limit of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) for this procedure was established in 0.082 pg for genomic DNA from W. viridescens. With regard to the artificially inoculated "morcilla", the limit of quantification was established in 80 CFU/reaction and the limit of detection in 8 CFU/reaction. Consequently, the qPCR developed herein can be considered to be a good, fast, simple and accurate tool for the specific detection and quantification of W. viridescens in meat samples.

PCR protocol for detection of Vibrio ordalii by amplification of the vohB (hemolysin) gene

Vibrio ordalii is the causative agent of atypical vibriosis and has the potential to cause severe losses in salmonid aquaculture. To prevent and control outbreaks, a rapid, reproducible, sensitive, and effective diagnostic method is needed. We evaluated a new conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and real-time PCR (qPCR) protocol using a primer set (VohB_Fw-VohB_Rv) designed to amplify a 112 bp fragment flanking the vohB gene (coding for hemolysin production), against 24 V. ordalii strains isolated from different fish species, the V. ordalii type strain, and 42 representative related and unrelated bacterial species. The primer set was species-specific, recognizing all V. ordalii strains evaluated, with no cross-reaction with the other bacterial species. A sensitivity of 103 copies of the vohB gene was obtained with a standard curve. When the VohB_Fw-VohB_Rv qPCR protocol was applied to Atlantic salmon seeded tissues (kidney, liver, spleen, and muscle), the detection limit ranged from 5.27 × 102 to 4.13 × 103 V. ordalii CFU ml-1, i.e. 62 to 145 copies of the vohB gene, using the previously calculated standard curve. The conventional PCR also detected V. ordalii, but the total reaction time was 1 h longer. When the qPCR protocol was applied to naturally infected cage-cultured Atlantic salmon samples, 5 of 8 fish tested positive for V. ordalii, but only one of them was diagnosed as positive by direct cultivation on agar. We conclude that the PCR protocol evaluated is fast, specific, and sensitive enough to detect V. ordalii in infected tissues and is an important tool for secure diagnosis of atypical vibriosis, and is therefore helpful for the control of the disease through the prompt detection within fish populations.

Development of a sensitive and specific LAMP PCR assay for detection of fish pathogen Lactococcus garvieae

Based on use of a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) identification protocol, this study attempted to detect Lactococcus garvieae in fish by using primer sets designed from an L. garvieae alpha/beta fold family hydrolase gene. Reaction time and temperatures were optimized for 60 min at 60°C with the resulting amplicons visualized by adding SYBR Green I to the reaction tube. The assay specificity was assessed using 45 different bacterial strains. Positive results were observed in all 30 L. garvieae isolates from various aquatic animals. No false-positive results were observed in 15 non-L. garvieae strains. The detection limit of the LAMP assay was 10-fold more sensitive than the conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting 16S rDNA when using purified L. garvieae DNA. The detection limit of the LAMP assay was approximately 300 colony-forming units (CFU) using crude bacterial lysates, 100-fold more sensitive than PCR. Furthermore, L. garvieae in spleen, kidney and brain of experimentally challenged tilapia and grey mullet were detected using this optimized LAMP assay. Results of this study demonstrate the effectiveness of LAMP in providing a rapid yet simple test for detecting L. garvieae in fish.

Development of a 16S-23S rRNA intergenic spacer-based quantitative PCR assay for improved detection and enumeration of Lactococcus garvieae

Lactococcus garvieae is an important foodborne pathogen causing lactococcosis associated with hemorrhagic septicemia in fish worldwide. A real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) protocol targeting the 16S-23S rRNA intergenic spacer (ITS) region was developed for the detection and enum-eration of L. garvieae. The specificity was evaluated using genomic DNAs extracted from 66 cocci strains. Fourteen L. garvieae strains tested were positive, whereas 52 other strains including Lactococcus lactis ssp. lactis, Lactococcus lactis ssp. hordniae and Lactococcus lactis ssp. cremoris did not show a specific signal. The minimal limit of detection was 2.63 fg of purified genomic DNA, equivalent to 1 genome of L. garvieae. The optimized protocol was applied for the survey of L. garvieae in naturally contaminated fish samples. Our results suggest that the qPCR protocol using ITS is a sensitive and efficient tool for the rapid detection and enumeration of L. garvieae in fish and fish-containing foods.

Development of a novel PCR assay based on the 16S-23S rRNA internal transcribed spacer region for the detection of Lactococcus garvieae

Lactococcus garvieae is recognized as an emerging pathogen in fish. Several PCR-based methods have been developed for the detection and identification of L. garvieae; however, the sensitivity of these methods is still in question regarding the discrimination of this organism from other closely related species. Two primers, ITSLg30F and ITSLg319R, were designed from the sequence in the 16S-23S internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and used for the specific detection of L. garvieae. L. garvieae strains including fish isolates were positive by this method. In contrast, previously developed PCR methods showed false-positive results with non-L. garvieae species. Our results indicate that a PCR method using the newly designed ITS primer set provides a sensitive and efficient tool for the detection of L. garvieae in fish and aquaculture environments.

Comparative genome analysis of Lactococcus garvieae using a suppression subtractive hybridization library: discovery of novel DNA signatures

Lactococcus garvieae, the pathogenic species in the genus Lactococcus, is recognized as an emerging pathogen in fish, animals, and humans. Despite the widespread distribution and emerging clinical significance of L. garvieae, little is known about the genomic content of this microorganism. Suppression subtractive hybridization was performed to identify the genomic differences between L. garvieae and Lactococcus lactis ssp. lactis, its closest phylogenetic neighbor, and the type species of the genus Lactococcus. Twenty-seven clones were specific to L. garvieae and were highly different from Lactococcus lactis in their nucleotide and protein sequences. Lactococcus garvieae primer sets were subsequently designed for two of these clones corresponding to a pyrH gene and a novel DNA signature for application in the specific detection of L. garvieae. The primer specificities were evaluated relative to three previously described 16S rRNA gene-targeted methods using 32 Lactococcus and closely related strains. Both newly designed primer sets were highly specific to L. garvieae and performed better than did the existing primers. Our findings may be useful for developing more stable and accurate tools for the discrimination of L. garvieae from other closely related species.

A quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction assay for the seagrass pathogen Labyrinthula zosterae

The protist Labyrinthula zosterae (Phylum Bigyra, sensu Tsui et al. 2009) has been identified as a causative agent of wasting disease in eelgrass (Zostera marina), of which the most intense outbreak led to the destruction of 90% of eelgrass beds in eastern North America and western Europe in the 1930s. Outbreaks still occur today, albeit at a smaller scale. Traditionally, L. zosterae has been quantified by measuring the necrotic area of Z. marina leaf tissue. This indirect method can however only lead to a very rough estimate of pathogen load. Here, we present a quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) approach to directly detect and quantify L. zosterae in eelgrass tissue. Based on the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences of rRNA genes, species-specific primers were designed. Using our qPCR, we were able to quantify accurately and specifically L. zosterae load both from culture and eelgrass leaves using material from Europe and North America. Our detection limit was less than one L. zosterae cell. Our results demonstrate the potential of this qPCR assay to provide rapid, accurate and sensitive molecular identification and quantification of L. zosterae. In view of declining seagrass populations worldwide, this method will provide a valuable tool for seagrass ecologists and conservation projects.