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Hoon KS, Holt DC, Auburn S, Shaw P, Giffard PM. minSNPs: an R package for the derivation of resolution-optimised SNP sets from microbial genomic data. PeerJ 2023; 11:e15339. [PMID: 37250706 PMCID: PMC10224671 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.15339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Here, we present the R package, minSNPs. This is a re-development of a previously described Java application named Minimum SNPs. MinSNPs assembles resolution-optimised sets of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from sequence alignments such as genome-wide orthologous SNP matrices. MinSNPs can derive sets of SNPs optimised for discriminating any user-defined combination of sequences from all others. Alternatively, SNP sets may be optimised to determine all sequences from all other sequences, i.e., to maximise diversity. MinSNPs encompasses functions that facilitate rapid and flexible SNP mining, and clear and comprehensive presentation of the results. The minSNPs' running time scales in a linear fashion with input data volume and the numbers of SNPs and SNPs sets specified in the output. MinSNPs was tested using a previously reported orthologous SNP matrix of Staphylococcus aureus and an orthologous SNP matrix of 3,279 genomes with 164,335 SNPs assembled from four S. aureus short read genomic data sets. MinSNPs was shown to be effective for deriving discriminatory SNP sets for potential surveillance targets and in identifying SNP sets optimised to discriminate isolates from different clonal complexes. MinSNPs was also tested with a large Plasmodium vivax orthologous SNP matrix. A set of five SNPs was derived that reliably indicated the country of origin within three south-east Asian countries. In summary, we report the capacity to assemble comprehensive SNP matrices that effectively capture microbial genomic diversity, and to rapidly and flexibly mine these entities for optimised marker sets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kian Soon Hoon
- Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia
| | - Deborah C. Holt
- Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia
- CDU Menzies School of Medicine, Faculty of Health, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia
| | - Sarah Auburn
- Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia
- Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Peter Shaw
- Oujian Laboratory, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Philip M. Giffard
- Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia
- CDU Menzies School of Medicine, Faculty of Health, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia
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Buddhachat K, Paenkaew S, Sripairoj N, Gupta YM, Pradit W, Chomdej S. Bar-cas12a, a novel and rapid method for plant species authentication in case of Phyllanthus amarus Schumach. & Thonn. Sci Rep 2021; 11:20888. [PMID: 34686666 PMCID: PMC8536675 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-00006-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2021] [Accepted: 10/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Rapid and accurate species diagnosis accelerates performance in numerous biological fields and associated areas. However, morphology-based species taxonomy/identification might hinder study and lead to ambiguous results. DNA barcodes (Bar) has been employed extensively for plant species identification. Recently, CRISPR-cas system can be applied for diagnostic tool to detect pathogen's DNA based on the collateral activity of cas12a or cas13. Here, we developed barcode-coupled with cas12a assay, "Bar-cas12a" for species authentication using Phyllanthus amarus as a model. The gRNAs were designed from trnL region, namely gRNA-A and gRNA-B. As a result, gRNA-A was highly specific to P. amarus amplified by RPA in contrast to gRNA-B even in contaminated condition. Apart from the large variation of gRNA-A binding in DNA target, cas12a- specific PAM's gRNA-A as TTTN can be found only in P. amarus. PAM site may be recognized one of the potential regions for increasing specificity to authenticate species. In addition, the sensitivity of Bar-cas12a using both gRNAs gave the same detection limit at 0.8 fg and it was 1,000 times more sensitive compared to agarose gel electrophoresis. This approach displayed the accuracy degree of 90% for species authentication. Overall, Bar-cas12a using trnL-designed gRNA offer a highly specific, sensitive, speed, and simple approach for plant species authentication. Therefore, the current method serves as a promising tool for species determination which is likely to be implemented for onsite testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kittisak Buddhachat
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok, 65000, Thailand.
- Department of Agricultural Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment, Center of Excellence in Research for Agricultural Biotechnology, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok, 65000, Thailand.
| | - Suphaporn Paenkaew
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok, 65000, Thailand
| | - Nattaporn Sripairoj
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok, 65000, Thailand
| | - Yash Munnalal Gupta
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok, 65000, Thailand
| | - Waranee Pradit
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Research Center in Bioresources for Agriculture, Industry and Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, 50200, Thailand
| | - Siriwadee Chomdej
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Research Center in Bioresources for Agriculture, Industry and Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, 50200, Thailand.
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Pilo S, Zizelski Valenci G, Rubinstein M, Pichadze L, Scharf Y, Dveyrin Z, Rorman E, Nissan I. High-resolution multilocus sequence typing for Chlamydia trachomatis: improved results for clinical samples with low amounts of C. trachomatis DNA. BMC Microbiol 2021; 21:28. [PMID: 33461496 PMCID: PMC7814548 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-020-02077-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2020] [Accepted: 12/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Several Multilocus Sequence Typing (MLST) schemes have been developed for Chlamydia trachomatis. Bom's MLST scheme for MLST is based on nested PCR amplification and sequencing of five hypervariable genes and ompA. In contrast to other Chlamydia MLST schemes, Bom's MLST scheme gives higher resolution and phylogenetic trees that are comparable to those from whole genome sequencing. However, poor results have been obtained with Bom's MLST scheme in clinical samples with low concentrations of Chlamydia DNA. RESULTS In this work, we present an improved version of the scheme that is based on the same genes and MLST database as Bom's MLST scheme, but with newly designed primers for nested-1 and nested-2 steps under stringent conditions. Furthermore, we introduce a third primer set for the sequencing step, which considerably improves the performance of the assay. The improved primers were tested in-silico using a dataset of 141 Whole Genome Sequences (WGS) and in a comparative analysis of 32 clinical samples. Based on cycle threshold and melting curve analysis values obtained during Real-Time PCR of nested-1 & 2 steps, we developed a simple scoring scheme and flow chart that allow identification of reaction inhibitors as well as to predict with high accuracy amplification success. The improved MLST version was used to obtain a genovars distribution in patients attending an STI clinic in Tel Aviv. CONCLUSIONS The newly developed MLST version showed great improvement of assay results for samples with very low concentrations of Chlamydia DNA. A similar concept could be applicable to other MLST schemes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shlomo Pilo
- Ministry of Health, National Public Health Laboratory, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | | | - Mor Rubinstein
- Ministry of Health, National Public Health Laboratory, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Lea Pichadze
- Ministry of Health, National Public Health Laboratory, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Yael Scharf
- Ministry of Health, National Public Health Laboratory, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Zeev Dveyrin
- Ministry of Health, National Public Health Laboratory, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Efrat Rorman
- Ministry of Health, National Public Health Laboratory, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Israel Nissan
- Ministry of Health, National Public Health Laboratory, Tel Aviv, Israel.
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Sweeney EL, Bletchly C, Gupta R, Whiley DM. False-negative Chlamydia polymerase chain reaction result caused by a cryptic plasmid-deficient Chlamydia trachomatis strain in Australia. Sex Health 2020; 16:394-396. [PMID: 31270010 DOI: 10.1071/sh18205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2018] [Accepted: 03/25/2019] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Background The 7.5-kb chlamydial cryptic plasmid remains a widely used sequence target for Chlamydia trachomatis nucleic acid amplification tests, but sequence variation in this plasmid, particularly a previously reported 377-bp deletion, can cause false-negative results. Here we report the presence in Australia of a C. trachomatis strain lacking the cryptic plasmid. METHODS A rectal swab from a male in his 50s provided a positive result for C. trachomatis using the Roche Cobas 4800 test, but a negative result in our confirmatory in-house polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method targeting the chlamydial cryptic plasmid. This result was unexpected given our in-house PCR assay targeted a region of sequence outside the recognised 377-bp deletion. To further investigate this discrepancy, the sample was retested using a second in-house PCR targeting a chromosomal (ompA) gene as well as six primer sets flanking various regions of the cryptic plasmid. RESULTS The sample provided positive results in the second in-house method, confirming the presence of C. trachomatis DNA. All other primer sets targeting the cryptic plasmid failed to amplify, indicating a lack of the chlamydial cryptic plasmid in this sample. CONCLUSIONS The recognition of a plasmid-deficient strain of C. trachomatis within Australia highlights further limitations of using the chlamydial cryptic plasmid for C. trachomatis diagnostics and re-emphasises the benefits of using multitarget assays to avoid false-negative results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma L Sweeney
- University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research (UQ-CCR), The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld 4029, Australia; and Corresponding author.
| | - Cheryl Bletchly
- Pathology Queensland, Central Laboratory, Brisbane, Qld 4006, Australia
| | - Rita Gupta
- Pathology Queensland, Central Laboratory, Brisbane, Qld 4006, Australia
| | - David M Whiley
- University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research (UQ-CCR), The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld 4029, Australia; and Pathology Queensland, Central Laboratory, Brisbane, Qld 4006, Australia
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Smit PW, Cornelissen AR, Bruisten SM. Reduction of non-typeable results using a plasmid oriented Lymfogranuloma venereum PCR for typing of Chlamydia trachomatis positive samples. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0233990. [PMID: 32497069 PMCID: PMC7271987 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0233990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2020] [Accepted: 05/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives Typing of Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) is traditionally performed by characterising the ompA gene, resulting in more than a dozen different genovars, A to L. Type L is associated with Lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) and commonly screened for using PCR, targeting the chromosomal pmpH gene. We aimed to develop and validate a new CT/LGV plasmid-based typing assay targeting the pgp3 gene, to increase sensitivity and thus reduce the number of non-typeable results. Methods The new pgp3 PCR assay using LNA probes to detect point mutations was analytically and prospectively validated in a routine diagnostic laboratory setting. For the analytical tests, quantified nucleotide constructs (gBlocks) were used to perform limit of detection analyses. Quality control panel samples from 2018 and 2019 for CT were also tested. For the clinical study patient samples which were collected in two months in 2018 were tested simultaneously using the pmpH PCR and the pgp3 PCR. Results Analytically, the assay proved to be 100% specific relative to the previously used LGV typing assay targeting the single copy pmpH gene but it was much more sensitive to detect non-LGV CT. In the quality control panel 2 nonLGV samples and 7 LGV samples were solely positive with the pgp3 PCR and not with the pmpH PCR. None of the samples from analytical specificity panels were positive, indicating 100% specificity. In a prospective panel of 152 clinical samples, 142 (93%) were successfully typed with the pgp3 PCR compared to 78% with the pmpH PCR. The pgp3 PCR was fully concordant with the pmpH PCR to identify all LGV subtypes and detected an increased number of clinical samples of non-LGV subtype. Conclusion We developed and validated a sensitive and specific plasmid-based typing assay to discriminate LGV from non-LGV CT subtypes. This is useful in a clinical setting to quickly determine the optimal treatment for Chlamydia trachomatis infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pieter Willem Smit
- Public Health Laboratory (GGD) Amsterdam, Department of infectious diseases, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Medical Microbiology Laboratory, Maasstad ziekenhuis, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Akke Rosanne Cornelissen
- Public Health Laboratory (GGD) Amsterdam, Department of infectious diseases, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Sylvia Maria Bruisten
- Public Health Laboratory (GGD) Amsterdam, Department of infectious diseases, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Infection & Immunity Institute (AI&II), Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- * E-mail:
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Jelocnik M. Chlamydiae from Down Under: The Curious Cases of Chlamydial Infections in Australia. Microorganisms 2019; 7:microorganisms7120602. [PMID: 31766703 PMCID: PMC6955670 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms7120602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2019] [Revised: 11/16/2019] [Accepted: 11/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In Australia, the most researched and perhaps the most successful chlamydial species are the human pathogen Chlamydia trachomatis, animal pathogens Chlamydia pecorum and Chlamydia psittaci. C. trachomatis remains the leading cause of sexually transmitted infections in Australians and trachoma in Australian Indigenous populations. C. pecorum is globally recognised as the infamous koala and widespread livestock pathogen, whilst the avian C. psittaci is emerging as a horse pathogen posing zoonotic risks to humans. Certainly not innocuous, the human infections with Chlamydia pneumoniae seem to be less prevalent that other human chlamydial pathogens (namely C. trachomatis). Interestingly, the complete host range for C. pecorum and C. psittaci remains unknown, and infections by other chlamydial organisms in Australian domesticated and wildlife animals are understudied. Considering that chlamydial organisms can be encountered by either host at the human/animal interface, I review the most recent findings of chlamydial organisms infecting Australians, domesticated animals and native wildlife. Furthermore, I also provide commentary from leading Australian Chlamydia experts on challenges and future directions in the Chlamydia research field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Jelocnik
- Genecology Research Centre, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs 4557, Australia
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Zhu C, Wu X, Li Z, Zhao J, Liu Y, Wang A, Deng G, Zhu L. A microfluidic system integrated one-step PCR and high-resolution melting analysis for rapid rice mutant detection. BIOTECHNOL BIOTEC EQ 2019. [DOI: 10.1080/13102818.2019.1644196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Cancan Zhu
- Institute of Applied Technology, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, PR China
- Science Island Branch, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, PR China
| | - Xiaosong Wu
- Institute of Applied Technology, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, PR China
- Science Island Branch, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, PR China
| | - Zhigang Li
- Institute of Applied Technology, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, PR China
- Science Island Branch, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, PR China
| | - Jun Zhao
- Institute of Applied Technology, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, PR China
- Science Island Branch, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, PR China
| | - Yong Liu
- Institute of Applied Technology, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, PR China
| | - An Wang
- Institute of Applied Technology, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, PR China
| | - Guoqing Deng
- Institute of Applied Technology, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, PR China
| | - Ling Zhu
- Institute of Applied Technology, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, PR China
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Identification and Discrimination of Chlamydia trachomatis Ocular and Urogenital Strains and Major Phylogenetic Lineages by CtGEM Typing, A Double-Locus Genotyping Method. Methods Mol Biol 2019; 2042:87-122. [PMID: 31385272 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-9694-0_8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
CtGEM typing was developed to subdivide the bacterial species Chlamydia trachomatis on the basis of genome phylogeny and anatomical tropism. The rationale was facilitation of surveillance for ocular strains, although the method is applicable to essentially any C. trachomatis surveillance application that does not require high resolution. CtGEM is a double-locus genotyping method. The loci included in the assay were identified by computerized analysis of 65 complete genomes for resolution optimized sets of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). From this, two PCR amplifiable fragments were defined. One, rg1, is within a hypothetical gene annotated as Jali-1891 within the C. trachomatis B_Jali20 genome. The other, ofr, is within the ompA gene which encodes the major outer membrane protein. Variation in rg1 is conferred by two SNPs defining four haplotypes that exhibit concordance with genome phylogeny. Variation within ofr is more complex and allows for inference of ompA genotype, either to the level of single genotype, or group of closely related genotypes. Two CtGEM formats were developed. One is based on interrogation of the two loci by high resolution melting analysis (HRMA), and the other based on analysis of the loci by Sanger sequencing. The genotypes defined identify known ocular genotypes, discriminate known ocular genotypes from each other, discriminate the major phylogenetic lineages of the species, and discriminate all ompA genotypes with the exception of closely related variants within the genotypes H, I, J cluster. The Sanger sequencing format provides slightly more resolution that the HRMA format with respect to ompA genotype. An unusual aspect of this method is that all possible combinations of rg1 haplotype, and inferred ompA genotype(s) have been given CtGEM typing numbers. This includes types that at this time have not been shown to exist.
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