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Erster O, Bar-Or I, Azar R, Assraf H, Kabat A, Mannasse B, Moshayoff V, Fleishon S, Preis SA, Yishai R, Teijman-Yarden N, Aguvaev I, Matar R, Aydenzon A, Mandelboim M, Zuckerman NS, Sofer D, Lustig Y. Incursion of SARS-CoV-2 BA.2.86.1 variant into Israel: National-scale wastewater surveillance using a novel quantitative real-time PCR assay. Sci Total Environ 2024:173164. [PMID: 38735317 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2024] [Revised: 05/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/14/2024]
Abstract
The emergence of the SARS-CoV-2 variant BA.2.86.1 raised a considerable concern, due to the large number of potentially virulent mutations. In this study, we developed a novel assay that specifically detects variant BA.2.86.1, and used it to screen environmental samples from wastewater treatment sites across Israel. By using a multiplex assay that included a general SARS-CoV-2 reaction, together with the BA.2.86.1-specific reaction and a control reaction, we quantified the absolute number of viral copies in each sample and its relative abundance, compared with the total copy number of circulating SARS-CoV-2. Evaluation of the new reactions showed that they are both sensitive and specific, detecting down to four copies per reaction, and maintain specificity in the presence of Omicron variants BA.1, 2 and 4 RNA. Examination of 279 samples from 30 wastewater collection sites during August-September 2023 showed that 35 samples (12.5 %) were positive, from 18 sites. Quantitative analysis of the samples showed that the relative abundance of variant BA.2.86.1 with respect to the total viral load of SARS-CoV-2 was very low and consisted between 0.01 % and 0.6 % of the total SARS-CoV-2 circulation. This study demonstrates the importance of combining wastewater surveillance with the development of specialized diagnostic assays, when clinical testing is insufficient. This approach may be useful for timely response by public health authorities in future outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oran Erster
- Central Virology Laboratory, Ministry of Health, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat-Gan, Israel.
| | - Itay Bar-Or
- Central Virology Laboratory, Ministry of Health, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat-Gan, Israel
| | - Roberto Azar
- Central Virology Laboratory, Ministry of Health, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat-Gan, Israel
| | - Hadar Assraf
- Central Virology Laboratory, Ministry of Health, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat-Gan, Israel
| | - Areej Kabat
- Central Virology Laboratory, Ministry of Health, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat-Gan, Israel
| | - Batya Mannasse
- Central Virology Laboratory, Ministry of Health, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat-Gan, Israel
| | - Vardit Moshayoff
- Central Virology Laboratory, Ministry of Health, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat-Gan, Israel
| | - Shay Fleishon
- Public Health Services, Ministry of Health, Jerusalem, Israel
| | | | - Ruth Yishai
- Public Health Services, Ministry of Health, Jerusalem, Israel
| | | | - Irina Aguvaev
- Central Virology Laboratory, Ministry of Health, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat-Gan, Israel
| | - Roaa Matar
- Central Virology Laboratory, Ministry of Health, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat-Gan, Israel
| | - Alex Aydenzon
- Central Virology Laboratory, Ministry of Health, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat-Gan, Israel
| | - Michal Mandelboim
- Central Virology Laboratory, Ministry of Health, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat-Gan, Israel; School of Public Health, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Neta S Zuckerman
- Central Virology Laboratory, Ministry of Health, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat-Gan, Israel
| | - Danit Sofer
- Central Virology Laboratory, Ministry of Health, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat-Gan, Israel
| | - Yaniv Lustig
- Central Virology Laboratory, Ministry of Health, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat-Gan, Israel; School of Public Health, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
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Erster O, Levy I, Kabat A, Mannasse B, Levy V, Assraf H, Azar R, Ben-Zvi H, Bradenstein R, Bunder O, Fadeela A, Keren-Naus A, Peretz A, Roif-Kaminsky D, Saleh L, Schreiber L, Schwartz O, Shaked-Mishan P, Sorek N, Strauss M, Steinberg R, Treygerman O, Zisman-Rozen S, Yishai R, Tejman-Yarden N, Mendelson E, Sofer D. A Multi-Laboratory Evaluation of Commercial Monkeypox Virus Molecular Tests. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0022523. [PMID: 37140382 PMCID: PMC10269769 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00225-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2023] Open
Abstract
In this report, we describe the first national scale multi-laboratory evaluation of monkeypox virus (MPXV) DNA commercial PCR kits. The objective of this study was to evaluate 2 kits by different diagnostic laboratories across Israel. Ten standardized samples were tested simultaneously using the Novaplex (15 laboratories) and Bio-Speedy (seven laboratories) kits. An in-house assay based on previously published reactions was used as reference. Comparison of the results showed high intra-assay agreement between laboratories, with small variations for most samples. The in-house assay had an analytical detection limit of less than 10 copies per reaction. While the 2 commercial kits were able to detect specimens with low viral loads similarly to the in-house assay, significant differences were observed, in the Cq values and relative fluorescence (RF), between the assays. The RF signal of the in-house and Bio-Speedy assays ranged between 5,000 and 10,000 RFU, while the signal in the Novaplex assay was less than 600 RFU. Due to the kit measurement protocol, the Cq values of the Bio-Speedy kit were 5 to 7.5 cycles lower than those of the in-house assay. On the contrary, the Cq values of the Novaplex kit were significantly higher than those of the in-house assay, with differences of 3 to 5 cycles per sample. Our results suggest that while all assays were similar in their overall sensitivity, direct comparison of Cq values between them may be misleading. To our knowledge, this is the first methodical evaluation of commercial MPX test kits. We therefore anticipate that this study would help diagnostic laboratories in choosing a specific MPX detection assay. IMPORTANCE To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first methodical evaluation of commercial kits designed for Monkeypox virus detection. This was done by performing the same tests using the same sample set in multiple laboratories, simultaneously, on a national scale. It therefore provides important and unique information on the performance of such kits and provides a guideline for choosing the assay of choice for monkeypox virus diagnosis in a standard diagnostic laboratory. It also demonstrates potential complications when trying to compare the results of different assays, even when testing exactly the same samples, under identical conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oran Erster
- Central Virology Laboratory, Public Health Services, Ministry of Health, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Itzchak Levy
- Infectious Diseases Unit, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Areej Kabat
- Central Virology Laboratory, Public Health Services, Ministry of Health, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Batya Mannasse
- Central Virology Laboratory, Public Health Services, Ministry of Health, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Virginia Levy
- Central Virology Laboratory, Public Health Services, Ministry of Health, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Hadar Assraf
- Central Virology Laboratory, Public Health Services, Ministry of Health, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Roberto Azar
- Central Virology Laboratory, Public Health Services, Ministry of Health, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Haim Ben-Zvi
- Beilinson-Rabin Medical Center, Petach Tikva, Israel
| | | | - Olga Bunder
- Shamir Medical Center, Beer Yaacov Zerifin, Israel
| | | | | | - Avi Peretz
- The Baruch Padeh Medical Center, Poriya, Tiberias, Israel
- The Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Safed, Israel
| | | | - Lolu Saleh
- Beilinson-Rabin Medical Center, Petach Tikva, Israel
| | | | | | | | - Nadav Sorek
- Assuta Ashdod University Hospital, Ashdod, Israel
| | | | | | | | | | - Ruth Yishai
- Department of Laboratories, Public Health Services, Ministry of Health, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Noa Tejman-Yarden
- Department of Laboratories, Public Health Services, Ministry of Health, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Ella Mendelson
- Central Virology Laboratory, Public Health Services, Ministry of Health, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel
- School of Public Health, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Danit Sofer
- Central Virology Laboratory, Public Health Services, Ministry of Health, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel
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Schvartz G, Karniely S, Azar R, Kabat A, Steinman A, Erster O. Detection and Analysis of West Nile Virus Structural Protein Genes in Animal or Bird Samples. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2585:127-143. [PMID: 36331771 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2760-0_13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
West Nile virus (WNV) is an important zoonotic pathogen, which is detected mainly by identification of its RNA using PCR. Genetic differentiation between WNV lineages is usually performed by complete genome sequencing, which is not available in many research and diagnostic laboratories. In this chapter, we describe a protocol for detection and analysis of WNV samples by sequencing the entire region of their structural genes capsid (C), preM/membrane, and envelope. The primary step is the detection of WNV RNA by quantitative PCR of the NS2A gene or the C gene regions. Next, the entire region containing the structural protein genes is amplified by PCR. The primary PCR product is then amplified again in parallel reactions, and these secondary PCR products are sequenced. Finally, bioinformatic analysis enables detection of mutations and classification of the samples of interest. This protocol is designed to be used by any laboratory equipped for endpoint and quantitative PCR. The sequencing can be performed either in-house or outsourced to a third-party service provider. This protocol may therefore be useful for rapid and affordable classification of WNV samples, obviating the need for complete genome sequencing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gili Schvartz
- Kimron Veterinary Institute, Israel Ministry of Agriculture, Bet Dagan, Israel
- Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Robert H. Smith, Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Sharon Karniely
- Kimron Veterinary Institute, Israel Ministry of Agriculture, Bet Dagan, Israel
| | - Roberto Azar
- Central Virology Laboratory of Israel Ministry of Health, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Areej Kabat
- Central Virology Laboratory of Israel Ministry of Health, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Amir Steinman
- Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Robert H. Smith, Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
- Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Oran Erster
- Central Virology Laboratory of Israel Ministry of Health, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel.
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Erster O, Mendelson E, Levy V, Kabat A, Mannasse B, Asraf H, Azar R, Ali Y, Shirazi R, Bucris E, Bar-Ilan D, Mor O, Mandelboim M, Sofer D, Fleishon S, Zuckerman NS. Rapid and High-Throughput Reverse Transcriptase Quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) Assay for Identification and Differentiation between SARS-CoV-2 Variants B.1.1.7 and B.1.351. Microbiol Spectr 2021; 9:e0050621. [PMID: 34612692 PMCID: PMC8510166 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00506-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 08/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Emerging SARS-CoV-2 (SC-2) variants with increased infectivity and vaccine resistance are of major concern. Rapid identification of such variants is important for the public health decision making and to provide valuable data for epidemiological and policy decision making. We developed a multiplex reverse transcriptase quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) assay that can specifically identify and differentiate between the emerging B.1.1.7 and B.1.351 SC-2 variants. In a single assay, we combined four reactions-one that detects SC-2 RNA independently of the strain, one that detects the D3L mutation, which is specific to variant B.1.1.7, one that detects the 242 to 244 deletion, which is specific to variant B.1.351, and the fourth reaction, which identifies the human RNAseP gene, serving as an endogenous control for RNA extraction integrity. We show that the strain-specific reactions target mutations that are strongly associated with the target variants and not with other major known variants. The assay's specificity was tested against a panel of respiratory pathogens (n = 16), showing high specificity toward SC-2 RNA. The assay's sensitivity was assessed using both in vitro transcribed RNA and clinical samples and was determined to be between 20 and 40 viral RNA copies per reaction. The assay performance was corroborated with Sanger and whole-genome sequencing, showing complete agreement with the sequencing results. The new assay is currently implemented in the routine diagnostic work at the Central Virology Laboratory, and may be used in other laboratories to facilitate the diagnosis of these major worldwide-circulating SC-2 variants. IMPORTANCE This study describes the design and utilization of a multiplex reverse transcriptase quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) to identify SARS-COV-2 (SC2) RNA in general and, specifically, to detect whether it is of lineage B.1.1.7 or B.1.351. Implementation of this method in diagnostic and research laboratories worldwide may help the efforts to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. The method can be easily scaled up and be used in high-throughput laboratories, as well as small ones. In addition to immediate help in diagnostic efforts, this method may also help in epidemiological studies focused on the spread of emerging SC-2 lineages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oran Erster
- Central Virology Laboratory, Public Health Services, Ministry of Health, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Ella Mendelson
- Central Virology Laboratory, Public Health Services, Ministry of Health, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel
- School of Public Health, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Virginia Levy
- Central Virology Laboratory, Public Health Services, Ministry of Health, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Areej Kabat
- Central Virology Laboratory, Public Health Services, Ministry of Health, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Batya Mannasse
- Central Virology Laboratory, Public Health Services, Ministry of Health, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Hadar Asraf
- Central Virology Laboratory, Public Health Services, Ministry of Health, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Roberto Azar
- Central Virology Laboratory, Public Health Services, Ministry of Health, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Yaniv Ali
- Central Virology Laboratory, Public Health Services, Ministry of Health, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Rachel Shirazi
- Central Virology Laboratory, Public Health Services, Ministry of Health, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Efrat Bucris
- Central Virology Laboratory, Public Health Services, Ministry of Health, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Dana Bar-Ilan
- Central Virology Laboratory, Public Health Services, Ministry of Health, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Orna Mor
- Central Virology Laboratory, Public Health Services, Ministry of Health, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel
- School of Public Health, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Michal Mandelboim
- Central Virology Laboratory, Public Health Services, Ministry of Health, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel
- School of Public Health, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Danit Sofer
- Central Virology Laboratory, Public Health Services, Ministry of Health, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Shai Fleishon
- Central Virology Laboratory, Public Health Services, Ministry of Health, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Neta S. Zuckerman
- Central Virology Laboratory, Public Health Services, Ministry of Health, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel
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5
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Erster O, Mendelson E, Levy V, Kabat A, Mannasse B, Asraf H, Azar R, Ali Y, Shirazi R, Bucris E, Bar-Ilan D, Mor O, Mandelboim M, Sofer D, Fleishon S, Zuckerman NS. Rapid and High-Throughput Reverse Transcriptase Quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) Assay for Identification and Differentiation between SARS-CoV-2 Variants B.1.1.7 and B.1.351. Microbiol Spectr 2021; 9:e0050621. [PMID: 34612692 DOI: 10.1101/2021.05.19.21257439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Emerging SARS-CoV-2 (SC-2) variants with increased infectivity and vaccine resistance are of major concern. Rapid identification of such variants is important for the public health decision making and to provide valuable data for epidemiological and policy decision making. We developed a multiplex reverse transcriptase quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) assay that can specifically identify and differentiate between the emerging B.1.1.7 and B.1.351 SC-2 variants. In a single assay, we combined four reactions-one that detects SC-2 RNA independently of the strain, one that detects the D3L mutation, which is specific to variant B.1.1.7, one that detects the 242 to 244 deletion, which is specific to variant B.1.351, and the fourth reaction, which identifies the human RNAseP gene, serving as an endogenous control for RNA extraction integrity. We show that the strain-specific reactions target mutations that are strongly associated with the target variants and not with other major known variants. The assay's specificity was tested against a panel of respiratory pathogens (n = 16), showing high specificity toward SC-2 RNA. The assay's sensitivity was assessed using both in vitro transcribed RNA and clinical samples and was determined to be between 20 and 40 viral RNA copies per reaction. The assay performance was corroborated with Sanger and whole-genome sequencing, showing complete agreement with the sequencing results. The new assay is currently implemented in the routine diagnostic work at the Central Virology Laboratory, and may be used in other laboratories to facilitate the diagnosis of these major worldwide-circulating SC-2 variants. IMPORTANCE This study describes the design and utilization of a multiplex reverse transcriptase quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) to identify SARS-COV-2 (SC2) RNA in general and, specifically, to detect whether it is of lineage B.1.1.7 or B.1.351. Implementation of this method in diagnostic and research laboratories worldwide may help the efforts to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. The method can be easily scaled up and be used in high-throughput laboratories, as well as small ones. In addition to immediate help in diagnostic efforts, this method may also help in epidemiological studies focused on the spread of emerging SC-2 lineages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oran Erster
- Central Virology Laboratory, Public Health Services, Ministry of Health, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Ella Mendelson
- Central Virology Laboratory, Public Health Services, Ministry of Health, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel
- School of Public Health, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Virginia Levy
- Central Virology Laboratory, Public Health Services, Ministry of Health, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Areej Kabat
- Central Virology Laboratory, Public Health Services, Ministry of Health, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Batya Mannasse
- Central Virology Laboratory, Public Health Services, Ministry of Health, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Hadar Asraf
- Central Virology Laboratory, Public Health Services, Ministry of Health, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Roberto Azar
- Central Virology Laboratory, Public Health Services, Ministry of Health, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Yaniv Ali
- Central Virology Laboratory, Public Health Services, Ministry of Health, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Rachel Shirazi
- Central Virology Laboratory, Public Health Services, Ministry of Health, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Efrat Bucris
- Central Virology Laboratory, Public Health Services, Ministry of Health, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Dana Bar-Ilan
- Central Virology Laboratory, Public Health Services, Ministry of Health, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Orna Mor
- Central Virology Laboratory, Public Health Services, Ministry of Health, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel
- School of Public Health, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Michal Mandelboim
- Central Virology Laboratory, Public Health Services, Ministry of Health, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel
- School of Public Health, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Danit Sofer
- Central Virology Laboratory, Public Health Services, Ministry of Health, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Shai Fleishon
- Central Virology Laboratory, Public Health Services, Ministry of Health, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Neta S Zuckerman
- Central Virology Laboratory, Public Health Services, Ministry of Health, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel
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Veits M, Khait I, Obolski U, Zinger E, Boonman A, Goldshtein A, Saban K, Seltzer R, Ben-Dor U, Estlein P, Kabat A, Peretz D, Ratzersdorfer I, Krylov S, Chamovitz D, Sapir Y, Yovel Y, Hadany L. Flowers respond to pollinator sound within minutes by increasing nectar sugar concentration. Ecol Lett 2019; 22:1483-1492. [PMID: 31286633 PMCID: PMC6852653 DOI: 10.1111/ele.13331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2018] [Revised: 01/07/2019] [Accepted: 04/10/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Can plants sense natural airborne sounds and respond to them rapidly? We show that Oenothera drummondii flowers, exposed to playback sound of a flying bee or to synthetic sound signals at similar frequencies, produce sweeter nectar within 3 min, potentially increasing the chances of cross pollination. We found that the flowers vibrated mechanically in response to these sounds, suggesting a plausible mechanism where the flower serves as an auditory sensory organ. Both the vibration and the nectar response were frequency‐specific: the flowers responded and vibrated to pollinator sounds, but not to higher frequency sound. Our results document for the first time that plants can rapidly respond to pollinator sounds in an ecologically relevant way. Potential implications include plant resource allocation, the evolution of flower shape and the evolution of pollinators sound. Finally, our results suggest that plants may be affected by other sounds as well, including anthropogenic ones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marine Veits
- School of Plant Sciences and Food Security, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Itzhak Khait
- School of Plant Sciences and Food Security, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Uri Obolski
- School of Plant Sciences and Food Security, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Eyal Zinger
- School of Plant Sciences and Food Security, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Arjan Boonman
- School of Zoology, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Aya Goldshtein
- School of Zoology, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Kfir Saban
- School of Plant Sciences and Food Security, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Rya Seltzer
- School of Zoology, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Udi Ben-Dor
- School of Plant Sciences and Food Security, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Paz Estlein
- School of Plant Sciences and Food Security, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Areej Kabat
- School of Plant Sciences and Food Security, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Dor Peretz
- School of Plant Sciences and Food Security, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Ittai Ratzersdorfer
- School of Plant Sciences and Food Security, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Slava Krylov
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Daniel Chamovitz
- School of Plant Sciences and Food Security, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Yuval Sapir
- School of Plant Sciences and Food Security, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Yossi Yovel
- School of Zoology, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Lilach Hadany
- School of Plant Sciences and Food Security, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
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7
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Hindiyeh M, Mor O, Pando R, Mannasse B, Kabat A, Assraf-Zarfati H, Mendelson E, Sofer D, Mandelboim M. Comparison of the new fully automated extraction platform eMAG to the MagNA PURE 96 and the well-established easyMAG for detection of common human respiratory viruses. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0211079. [PMID: 30779757 PMCID: PMC6380621 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0211079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2018] [Accepted: 01/07/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Respiratory viral infections constitute the majority of samples tested in the clinical virology laboratory during the winter season, and are mainly diagnosed using molecular assays, namely real-time PCR (qPCR). Therefore, a high-quality extraction process is critical for successful, reliable and sensitive qPCR results. Here we aimed to evaluate the performance of the newly launched eMAG compared to the fully automated MagNA PURE 96 (Roche, Germany) and to the semi-automated easyMAG (bioMerieux, France) extraction platforms. For this analysis, we assessed and compared the analytic and clinical performance of the three platforms, using 262 archived respiratory samples positive or negative to common viruses regularly examined in our laboratory (influenza A, B, H1N1pdm, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), human Metapneumovirus (hMPV), parainfluenza-3, adenovirus and negative samples). In addition, quantitated virus controls were used to determine the limit of detection of each extraction method. In all categories tested, eMAG results were comparable to those of the easyMAG and MagNa PURE 96, highly sensitive for all viruses and over 98% clinical specificity and sensitivity for all viruses tested. Together with its high level of automation, the bioMerieux eMAG is a high-quality extraction platform enabling effective molecular analysis and is mostly suitable for medium-sized laboratories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Musa Hindiyeh
- Central Virology Laboratory, Ministry of Health, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat-Gan, Israel
- Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Orna Mor
- Central Virology Laboratory, Ministry of Health, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat-Gan, Israel
- Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Rakefet Pando
- Central Virology Laboratory, Ministry of Health, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat-Gan, Israel
- The Israel Center for Disease Control, Israel Ministry of Health, Tel-Hashomer, Israel
| | - Batya Mannasse
- Central Virology Laboratory, Ministry of Health, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat-Gan, Israel
| | - Areej Kabat
- Central Virology Laboratory, Ministry of Health, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat-Gan, Israel
- Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Hadar Assraf-Zarfati
- Central Virology Laboratory, Ministry of Health, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat-Gan, Israel
| | - Ella Mendelson
- Central Virology Laboratory, Ministry of Health, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat-Gan, Israel
- Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Danit Sofer
- Central Virology Laboratory, Ministry of Health, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat-Gan, Israel
| | - Michal Mandelboim
- Central Virology Laboratory, Ministry of Health, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat-Gan, Israel
- Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
- * E-mail:
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Dhein S, Kabat A, Olbrich A, Rösen P, Schröder H, Mohr FW. Effect of chronic treatment with vitamin E on endothelial dysfunction in a type I in vivo diabetes mellitus model and in vitro. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2003; 305:114-22. [PMID: 12649359 DOI: 10.1124/jpet.102.045740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Diabetes mellitus often leads to generalized vasculopathy. Because of the pathophysiological role of free radicals we investigated the effects of vitamin E. Twenty-eight rats were rendered diabetic by streptozotocin injection and were fed either with a diet with low (10 mg/kg of chow), medium (75 mg/kg of chow) or high amounts of vitamin E (1300 mg/kg of chow). Nine age-matched nondiabetic rats receiving 75 mg of vitamin E/kg chow served as controls. After 7 months, mesenteric microcirculation was investigated. Smooth muscle contractile function was not altered in diabetic versus nondiabetic vessels. Endothelial function was significantly reduced in diabetics; relaxation upon 1 micro M acetylcholine was reduced by 50% in diabetics with a medium and high vitamin E diet. In vitamin E-deprived rats, a complete loss of endothelium-dependent relaxation was observed, and instead, acetylcholine elicited vasoconstriction. L-N(G)-Nitro-arginine-induced vasoconstriction was reduced in small arteries in diabetics, which was not prevented by vitamin E, but was aggravated by vitamin E deprivation. In a subchronic endothelial cell culture model, cells were cultivated with 5 or 20 mM D-glucose for an entire cell culture passage (4 days) with or without vitamin E (20 mg/l versus 0.01 mg/l). Hyperglycemia led to significant reduction in basal and ATP-stimulated nitric oxide (NO)-production. Hyperglycemia-induced reduction in basal NO-release was significantly prevented by vitamin E, whereas reduction in stimulated NO-release was not influenced. NADPH-diaphorase activity was reduced by 40% by hyperglycemia, which was completely prevented by vitamin E. We conclude that 1) vitamin E has a potential to prevent partially hyperglycemia-induced endothelial dysfunction, 2) under in vivo conditions vitamin E deficiency enhanced diabetic endothelial dysfunction dramatically, and 3) positive effects of vitamin E may be attenuated with a longer disease duration.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Dhein
- University of Leipzig, Heart Centre Leipzig, Clinic for Cardiac Surgery, Leipzig, Germany
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McClean S, Purdy WC, Kabat A, Sampugna J, DeZeeuw R. Analysis of the phospholipid composition of Plasmodium knowlesi and rhesus erythrocyte membranes. Anal Chim Acta 1976; 82:175-85. [PMID: 816224 DOI: 10.1016/s0003-2670(01)82215-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
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