Monoclonal antibodies for use in detection of Bacillus and Clostridium spores

Food Sensing: Detection of Bacillus cereus Spores in Dairy Products

Milk is a source of essential nutrients for infants and adults, and its production has increased worldwide over the past years. Despite developments in the dairy industry, premature spoilage of milk due to the contamination by Bacillus cereus continues to be a problem and causes considerable economic losses. B. cereus is ubiquitously present in nature and can contaminate milk through a variety of means from the farm to the processing plant, during transport or distribution. There is a need to detect and quantify spores directly in food samples, because B. cereus might be present in food only in the sporulated form. Traditional microbiological detection methods used in dairy industries to detect spores show limits of time (they are time consuming), efficiency and sensitivity. The low level of B. cereus spores in milk implies that highly sensitive detection methods should be applied for dairy products screening for spore contamination. This review describes the advantages and disadvantages of classical microbiological methods used to detect B. cereus spores in milk and milk products, related to novel methods based on molecular biology, biosensors and nanotechnology.

Novel technology for rapid species-specific detection of Bacillus spores

There is an urgent need for a small, inexpensive sensor that can rapidly detect bio-warfare agents with high specificity. Bacillus anthracis, the causative agent of anthrax, would be a perilous disease-causing organism in the event of a release. Currently, most anthrax detection research is based on nucleic acid detection, immunoassays and mass spectrometry, with few detection levels reported below 10(5) spores. Here, we show the ability to distinguish Bacillus spores to a level approaching 10(3) spores, below the reported median infectious dose of B. anthracis, using pyrolysis--micromachined differential mobility spectrometry and novel pattern recognition algorithms that combine lead cluster mapping with genetic algorithms.

Architecture and high-resolution structure of Bacillus thuringiensis and Bacillus cereus spore coat surfaces

We have utilized atomic force microscopy (AFM) to visualize the native surface topography and ultrastructure of Bacillus thuringiensis and Bacillus cereus spores in water and in air. AFM was able to resolve the nanostructure of the exosporium and three distinctive classes of appendages. Removal of the exosporium exposed either a hexagonal honeycomb layer (B. thuringiensis) or a rodlet outer spore coat layer (B. cereus). Removal of the rodlet structure from B. cereus spores revealed an underlying honeycomb layer similar to that observed with B. thuringiensis spores. The periodicity of the rodlet structure on the outer spore coat of B. cereus was approximately 8 nm, and the length of the rodlets was limited to the cross-patched domain structure of this layer to approximately 200 nm. The lattice constant of the honeycomb structures was approximately 9 nm for both B. cereus and B. thuringiensis spores. Both honeycomb structures were composed of multiple, disoriented domains with distinct boundaries. Our results demonstrate that variations in storage and preparation procedures result in architectural changes in individual spore surfaces, which establish AFM as a useful tool for evaluation of preparation and processing "fingerprints" of bacterial spores. These results establish that high-resolution AFM has the capacity to reveal species-specific assembly and nanometer scale structure of spore surfaces. These species-specific spore surface structural variations are correlated with sequence divergences in a spore core structural protein SspE.

Bacillus globigii Bugbeads: A Model Simulant of a Bacterial Spore

Nonpathogenic microorganisms are often used as simulants of biological pathogens during the initial phase of detection method development. While these simulants approximate the size, shape, and cellular organization of the microorganism of interest, they do not resemble its surface protein content, a factor particularly important in methods based on immunorecognition. Here, we develop and detect an artificial bacterial spore--B. globigii (BG) Bugbead-a particle mimicking the antigenic surface of BG spores. Two methods of spore protein extraction were compared both quantitatively (by protein concentration assay) and qualitatively (by SDS-PAGE and Western blot): extraction by mechanical disruption and extraction by chemical decoating. The former method was more efficient in producing more protein and a greater number of antigens. BG Bugbeads were made by conjugating the extracted proteins to 0.8-microm carboxyl-coated polystyrene particles via carbodiimide coupling. BG Bugbeads were successfully detected by a bead-based enzyme-labeled immunoassay with fluorescence detection with a detection limit of 6.9 x 10(3) particles/mL. Formation of the Bugbead-capture bead complex was confirmed by ESEM. The concept of a harmless artificial spore can be applied to developing improved simulants for pathogenic spore-forming microorganisms such as B. anthracis, C. botulinum, and B. cereus, which can to be used for method validation, instrument calibration, and troubleshooting.

Carbohydrates and glycoproteins of Bacillus anthracis and related bacilli: targets for biodetection

The spore is the form released in a bioterrorism attack. There is a real need for definition of new targets for Bacillus anthracis that might be incorporated into emerging biodetection technologies. Particularly of interest are macromolecules found in B. anthracis that are (1) spore-specific, (2) readily accessible on the spore surface and (3) distinct from those present in related organisms. One of the few biochemical methods to identify the spores of B. anthracis is based on the presence of rhamnose and 3-O-methyl rhamnose as determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Related organisms additionally contain 2-O-methyl rhamnose and fucose. Carbohydrates and glycoproteins of the B. cereus group of organisms and the related B. subilis group are reviewed here. It is hypothesized that the spore-specific carbohydrate is a component of the newly described glycoprotein of the exosporium of B. anthracis. Further work to define the protein and carbohydrate components of the glycoprotein of B. anthracis could be highly useful in developing new technologies for rapid biodetection.

Detection of anthrax simulants with microcalorimetric spectroscopy: Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus cereus spores

Recent advances in the development of ultrasensitive micromechnical thermal detectors have led to the advent of novel subfemtojoule microcalorimetric spectoscopy (CalSpec). On the basis of principles of photothermal IR spectroscopy combined with efficient thermomechanical transduction, CalSpec provides acquisition of vibrational spectra of microscopic samples and absorbates. We use CalSpec as a method of identifying nanogram quantities of biological micro-organisms. Our studies focus on Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus cereus spores as simulants for Bacillus anthracis spores. Using CalSpec, we measured IR spectra of B. subtilis and B. cereus spores present on surfaces in nanogram quantities (approximately 100-1,000 spores). The spectra acquired in the wavelength range of 690-4000 cm(-1) (2.5-14.5 microm) contain information-rich vibrational signatures that reflect the different ratios of biochemical makeup of the micro-organisms. The distinctive features in the spectra obtained for the two types of microorganism can be used to distinguish between the spores of the Bacillus family. As compared with conventional IR and Fourier-transform IR microscopic spectroscopy techniques, the advantages of the present technique include significantly improved sensitivity (at least a full order of magnitude), absence of expensive IR detectors, and excellent potential for miniaturization.

Human antibodies against spores of the genus Bacillus: a model study for detection of and protection against anthrax and the bioterrorist threat

A naive, human single-chain Fv (scFv) phage-display library was used in bio-panning against live, native spores of Bacillus subtilis IFO 3336 suspended in solution. A direct in vitro panning and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay-based selection afforded a panel of nine scFv-phage clones of which two, 5B and 7E, were chosen for further study. These two clones differed in their relative specificity and affinity for spores of B. subtilis IFO 3336 vs. a panel of spores from 11 other Bacillus species/strains. A variety of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay protocols indicated these scFv-phage clones recognized different spore epitopes. Notably, some spore epitopes markedly changed between the free and microtiter-plate immobilized state as revealed by antibody-phage binding. An additional library selection procedure also was examined by constructing a Fab chain-shuffled sublibrary from the nine positive clones and by using a subtractive panning strategy to remove crossreactivity with B. licheniformis 5A24. The Fab-phage clone 52 was improved compared with 5B and was comparable to 7E in binding B. subtilis IFO 3336 vs. B. licheniformis 5A24, yet showed a distinctive crossreactivity pattern with other spores. We also developed a method to directly detect individual spores by using fluorescently labeled antibody-phage. Finally, a variety of "powders" that might be used in deploying spores of B. anthracis were examined for antibody-phage binding. The strategies described provide a foundation to discover human antibodies specific for native spores of B. anthracis that can be developed as diagnostic and therapeutic reagents.

Molecular recognition specificity of Bacillus globigii spore antibodies

Western blotting methods have been used to assess the specificity of polyclonal antibodies raised against Bacillus globigii spore and vegetative cell preparations. None of the antibodies studied were completely species-specific in their recognition of spore surface epitopes. One polyclonal serum recognized several spore surface epitopes and demonstrated limited cross-reaction with the spore surface of the near-neighbour species B. subtilis. A second polyclonal serum, raised against aged spore antigens, recognized damaged spore epitopes primarily. Both of these antibodies also cross-reacted with vegetative cell epitopes present in all four Bacillus species (B. globigii, B. subtilis, B. cereus and B. anthracis) studied.

Production and characterization of monoclonal antibodies against vegetative cells of Bacillus cereus

Two monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against Bacillus cereus were produced. The MAbs (8D3 and 9B7) were selected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for their reactivity with B. cereus vegetative cells. They reacted with B. cereus vegetative cells while failing to recognize B. cereus spores. Immunoblotting revealed that MAb 8D3 recognized a 22-kDa antigen, while MAb 9B7 recognized two antigens with molecular masses of approximately 58 and 62 kDa. The use of MAbs 8D3 and 9B7 in combination to develop an immunological method for the detection of B. cereus vegetative cells in foods was investigated.

Identification of Bacillus spores by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-mass spectrometry

Unique patterns of biomarkers were reproducibly characterized by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI)-mass spectrometry and were used to distinguish Bacillus species members from one another. Discrimination at the strain level was demonstrated for Bacillus cereus spores. Lipophilic biomarkers were invariant in Bacillus globigii spores produced in three different media and in B. globigii spores stored for more than 30 years. The sensitivity was less than 5,000 cells deposited for analysis. Protein biomarkers were also characterized by MALDI analysis by using spores treated briefly with corona plasma discharge. Protein biomarkers were readily desorbed following this treatment. The effect of corona plasma discharge on the spores was examined.

Development of a streptavidin-conjugated single-chain antibody that binds Bacillus cereus spores

Control of microorganisms such as Bacillus cereus spores is critical to ensure the safety and a long shelf life of foods. A bifunctional single chain antibody has been developed for detection and binding of B. cereus T spores. The genes that encode B. cereus T spore single-chain antibody and streptavidin were connected for use in immunoassays and immobilization of the recombinant antibodies. A truncated streptavidin, which is smaller than but has biotin binding ability similar to that of streptavidin, was used as the affinity domain because of its high and specific affinity with biotin. The fusion protein gene was expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) with the T7 RNA polymerase-T7 promoter expression system. Immunoblotting revealed an antigen specificity similar to that of its parent native monoclonal antibody. The single-chain antibody-streptavidin fusion protein can be used in an immunoassay of B. cereus spores by applying a biotinylated enzyme detection system. The recombinant antibodies were immobilized on biotinylated magnetic beads by taking advantage of the strong biotin-streptavidin affinity. Various liquids were artificially contaminated with 5 x 10(4) B. cereus spores per ml. Greater than 90% of the B. cereus spores in phosphate buffer or 37% of the spores in whole milk were tightly bound and removed from the liquid phase by the immunomagnetic beads.

Construction and expression of a bifunctional single-chain antibody against Bacillus cereus p6ores

The variable-region genes of monoclonal antibody against Bacillus cereus spores were cloned from mouse hybridoma cells by reverse transcription-PCR. The heavy- and light-chain variable-region genes were connected by a 45-base linker DNA to allow folding of the fusion protein into a functional tertiary structure. For detection of protein expression, a 10-amino-acid strep tag (biotin-like peptide) was attached to the C terminus of recombinant antibody as the reporter peptide. The single-chain antibody construct was inserted into the expression vector and expressed in Escherichia coli under the control of the T7 RNA polymerase-T7 promoter expression system. The expressed single-chain antibody was detected on Western blots by using a streptavidin-conjugated enzyme system. This small recombinant antibody fragment (ca. 28,000 Da by calculation) had B. cereus spore binding ability and antigen specificity similar to those of its parent native monoclonal antibody.