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Cerda A, Rivera M, Armijo G, Ibarra-Henriquez C, Reyes J, Blázquez-Sánchez P, Avilés J, Arce A, Seguel A, Brown AJ, Vásquez Y, Cortez-San Martín M, Cubillos FA, García P, Ferres M, Ramírez-Sarmiento CA, Federici F, Gutiérrez RA. An Open One-Step RT-qPCR for SARS-CoV-2 detection. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0297081. [PMID: 38271448 PMCID: PMC10810446 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0297081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in millions of deaths globally, and while several diagnostic systems were proposed, real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) remains the gold standard. However, diagnostic reagents, including enzymes used in RT-PCR, are subject to centralized production models and intellectual property restrictions, which present a challenge for less developed countries. With the aim of generating a standardized One-Step open RT-qPCR protocol to detect SARS-CoV-2 RNA in clinical samples, we purified and tested recombinant enzymes and a non-proprietary buffer. The protocol utilized M-MLV RT and Taq DNA pol enzymes to perform a Taqman probe-based assay. Synthetic RNA samples were used to validate the One-Step RT-qPCR components, demonstrating sensitivity comparable to a commercial kit routinely employed in clinical settings for patient diagnosis. Further evaluation on 40 clinical samples (20 positive and 20 negative) confirmed its comparable diagnostic accuracy. This study represents a proof of concept for an open approach to developing diagnostic kits for viral infections and diseases, which could provide a cost-effective and accessible solution for less developed countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ariel Cerda
- ANID—Millennium Science Initiative Program—Millennium Institute for Integrative Biology (iBio), Santiago, Chile
- FONDAP Center for Genome Regulation, Departamento de Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Maira Rivera
- ANID—Millennium Science Initiative Program—Millennium Institute for Integrative Biology (iBio), Santiago, Chile
- Institute for Biological and Medical Engineering, Schools of Engineering, Medicine and Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Grace Armijo
- ANID—Millennium Science Initiative Program—Millennium Institute for Integrative Biology (iBio), Santiago, Chile
- FONDAP Center for Genome Regulation, Departamento de Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Catalina Ibarra-Henriquez
- ANID—Millennium Science Initiative Program—Millennium Institute for Integrative Biology (iBio), Santiago, Chile
- FONDAP Center for Genome Regulation, Departamento de Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Javiera Reyes
- ANID—Millennium Science Initiative Program—Millennium Institute for Integrative Biology (iBio), Santiago, Chile
- Institute for Biological and Medical Engineering, Schools of Engineering, Medicine and Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Paula Blázquez-Sánchez
- ANID—Millennium Science Initiative Program—Millennium Institute for Integrative Biology (iBio), Santiago, Chile
- Institute for Biological and Medical Engineering, Schools of Engineering, Medicine and Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Javiera Avilés
- ANID—Millennium Science Initiative Program—Millennium Institute for Integrative Biology (iBio), Santiago, Chile
| | - Aníbal Arce
- ANID—Millennium Science Initiative Program—Millennium Institute for Integrative Biology (iBio), Santiago, Chile
| | - Aldo Seguel
- ANID—Millennium Science Initiative Program—Millennium Institute for Integrative Biology (iBio), Santiago, Chile
| | - Alexander J. Brown
- Department of Biomedical Research, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO, United States of America
- Department of Immunology & Microbiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States of America
| | - Yesseny Vásquez
- Escuela de Ciencias Médicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, USACH, Santiago, Chile
| | - Marcelo Cortez-San Martín
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Química y Biología, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, USACH, Santiago, Chile
| | - Francisco A. Cubillos
- ANID—Millennium Science Initiative Program—Millennium Institute for Integrative Biology (iBio), Santiago, Chile
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Química y Biología, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, USACH, Santiago, Chile
| | - Patricia García
- Departamento de Laboratorios Clínicos, Escuela de Medicina, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Marcela Ferres
- Departamento de Laboratorios Clínicos, Escuela de Medicina, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - César A. Ramírez-Sarmiento
- ANID—Millennium Science Initiative Program—Millennium Institute for Integrative Biology (iBio), Santiago, Chile
- Institute for Biological and Medical Engineering, Schools of Engineering, Medicine and Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Fernán Federici
- ANID—Millennium Science Initiative Program—Millennium Institute for Integrative Biology (iBio), Santiago, Chile
- FONDAP Center for Genome Regulation, Departamento de Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Institute for Biological and Medical Engineering, Schools of Engineering, Medicine and Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Rodrigo A. Gutiérrez
- ANID—Millennium Science Initiative Program—Millennium Institute for Integrative Biology (iBio), Santiago, Chile
- FONDAP Center for Genome Regulation, Departamento de Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
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Cerda A, Rivera M, Armijo G, Ibarra-Henriquez C, Reyes J, Blázquez-Sánchez P, Avilés J, Arce A, Seguel A, Brown AJ, Vásquez Y, Cortez-San Martín M, Cubillos FA, García P, Ferres M, Ramírez-Sarmiento CA, Federici F, Gutiérrez RA. An Open One-Step RT-qPCR for SARS-CoV-2 detection. medRxiv 2023:2021.11.29.21267000. [PMID: 34909786 PMCID: PMC8669853 DOI: 10.1101/2021.11.29.21267000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in millions of deaths globally, and while several diagnostic systems were proposed, real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) remains the gold standard. However, diagnostic reagents, including enzymes used in RT-PCR, are subject to centralized production models and intellectual property restrictions, which present a challenge for less developed countries. With the aim of generating a standardized One-Step open RT-qPCR protocol to detect SARS-CoV-2 RNA in clinical samples, we purified and tested recombinant enzymes and a non-proprietary buffer. The protocol utilized M-MLV RT and Taq DNA pol enzymes to perform a Taqman probe-based assay. Synthetic RNA samples were used to validate the One-Step RT-qPCR components, and the kit showed comparable sensitivity to approved commercial kits. The One-Step RT-qPCR was then tested on clinical samples and demonstrated similar performance to commercial kits in terms of positive and negative calls. This study represents a proof of concept for an open approach to developing diagnostic kits for viral infections and diseases, which could provide a cost-effective and accessible solution for less developed countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ariel Cerda
- ANID - Millennium Science Initiative Program - Millennium Institute for Integrative Biology (iBio)
- FONDAP Center for Genome Regulation. Departamento de Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, 8331150, Chile
| | - Maira Rivera
- ANID - Millennium Science Initiative Program - Millennium Institute for Integrative Biology (iBio)
- Institute for Biological and Medical Engineering, Schools of Engineering, Medicine and Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Grace Armijo
- ANID - Millennium Science Initiative Program - Millennium Institute for Integrative Biology (iBio)
- FONDAP Center for Genome Regulation. Departamento de Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, 8331150, Chile
| | - Catalina Ibarra-Henriquez
- ANID - Millennium Science Initiative Program - Millennium Institute for Integrative Biology (iBio)
- FONDAP Center for Genome Regulation. Departamento de Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, 8331150, Chile
| | - Javiera Reyes
- ANID - Millennium Science Initiative Program - Millennium Institute for Integrative Biology (iBio)
- Institute for Biological and Medical Engineering, Schools of Engineering, Medicine and Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Paula Blázquez-Sánchez
- ANID - Millennium Science Initiative Program - Millennium Institute for Integrative Biology (iBio)
- Institute for Biological and Medical Engineering, Schools of Engineering, Medicine and Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Javiera Avilés
- ANID - Millennium Science Initiative Program - Millennium Institute for Integrative Biology (iBio)
| | - Aníbal Arce
- ANID - Millennium Science Initiative Program - Millennium Institute for Integrative Biology (iBio)
| | - Aldo Seguel
- ANID - Millennium Science Initiative Program - Millennium Institute for Integrative Biology (iBio)
| | - Alexander J. Brown
- Department of Biomedical Research, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO, USA
- Department of Immunology & Microbiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Yesseny Vásquez
- Escuela de Ciencias Médicas. Facultad de Medicina. Universidad de Santiago de Chile. USACH, Santiago, Chile
| | - Marcelo Cortez-San Martín
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Química y Biología, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, USACH, Santiago, Chile
| | - Francisco A. Cubillos
- ANID - Millennium Science Initiative Program - Millennium Institute for Integrative Biology (iBio)
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Química y Biología, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, USACH, Santiago, Chile
| | - Patricia García
- Departamento de Laboratorios Clínicos. Escuela de Medicina. Facultad de Medicina. Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Marcela Ferres
- Departamento de Laboratorios Clínicos. Escuela de Medicina. Facultad de Medicina. Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - César A. Ramírez-Sarmiento
- ANID - Millennium Science Initiative Program - Millennium Institute for Integrative Biology (iBio)
- Institute for Biological and Medical Engineering, Schools of Engineering, Medicine and Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Fernán Federici
- ANID - Millennium Science Initiative Program - Millennium Institute for Integrative Biology (iBio)
- FONDAP Center for Genome Regulation. Departamento de Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, 8331150, Chile
- Institute for Biological and Medical Engineering, Schools of Engineering, Medicine and Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Rodrigo A. Gutiérrez
- ANID - Millennium Science Initiative Program - Millennium Institute for Integrative Biology (iBio)
- FONDAP Center for Genome Regulation. Departamento de Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, 8331150, Chile
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Gramsch E, Papapostolou V, Reyes F, Vásquez Y, Castillo M, Oyola P, López G, Cádiz A, Ferguson S, Wolfson M, Lawrence J, Koutrakis P. Variability in the primary emissions and secondary gas and particle formation from vehicles using bioethanol mixtures. J Air Waste Manag Assoc 2018; 68:329-346. [PMID: 29020572 DOI: 10.1080/10962247.2017.1386600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2017] [Accepted: 09/26/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Bioethanol for use in vehicles is becoming a substantial part of global energy infrastructure because it is renewable and some emissions are reduced. Carbon monoxide (CO) emissions and total hydrocarbons (THC) are reduced, but there is still controversy regarding emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx), aldehydes, and ethanol; this may be a concern because all these compounds are precursors of ozone and secondary organic aerosol (SOA). The amount of emissions depends on the ethanol content, but it also may depend on the engine quality and ethanol origin. Thus, a photochemical chamber was used to study secondary gas and aerosol formation from two flex-fueled vehicles using different ethanol blends in gasoline. One vehicle and the fuel used were made in the United States, and the others were made in Brazil. Primary emissions of THC, CO, carbon dioxide (CO2), and nonmethane hydrocarbons (NMHC) from both vehicles decreased as the amount of ethanol in gasoline increased. NOx emissions in the U.S. and Brazilian cars decreased with ethanol content. However, emissions of THC, CO, and NOx from the Brazilian car were markedly higher than those from the U.S. car, showing high variability between vehicle technologies. In the Brazilian car, formation of secondary nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and ozone (O3) was lower for higher ethanol content in the fuel. In the U.S. car, NO2 and O3 had a small increase. Secondary particle (particulate matter [PM]) formation in the chamber decreased for both vehicles as the fraction of ethanol in fuel increased, consistent with previous studies. Secondary to primary PM ratios for pure gasoline is 11, also consistent with previous studies. In addition, the time required to form secondary PM is longer for higher ethanol blends. These results indicate that using higher ethanol blends may have a positive impact on air quality. IMPLICATIONS The use of bioethanol can significantly reduce petroleum use and greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. Given the extent of its use, it is important to understand its effect on urban pollution. There is a controversy on whether there is a reduction or increase in PM emission when using ethanol blends. Primary emissions of THC, CO, CO2, NOx, and NMHC for both cars decreased as the fraction of ethanol in gasoline increased. Using a photochemical chamber, the authors have found a decrease in the formation of secondary particles and the time required to form secondary PM is longer when using higher ethanol blends.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Gramsch
- a Department of Physics , University of Santiago de Chile , Santiago , Chile
| | - V Papapostolou
- b Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health , Harvard University , Boston , MA , USA
| | - F Reyes
- c Mario Molina Center for Strategic Studies in Energy and Environment , Santiago , Chile
| | - Y Vásquez
- c Mario Molina Center for Strategic Studies in Energy and Environment , Santiago , Chile
| | - M Castillo
- c Mario Molina Center for Strategic Studies in Energy and Environment , Santiago , Chile
| | - P Oyola
- c Mario Molina Center for Strategic Studies in Energy and Environment , Santiago , Chile
| | - G López
- c Mario Molina Center for Strategic Studies in Energy and Environment , Santiago , Chile
| | - A Cádiz
- d Center for Control and Certification of Vehicles , Santiago , Chile
| | - S Ferguson
- b Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health , Harvard University , Boston , MA , USA
| | - M Wolfson
- b Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health , Harvard University , Boston , MA , USA
| | - J Lawrence
- b Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health , Harvard University , Boston , MA , USA
| | - P Koutrakis
- b Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health , Harvard University , Boston , MA , USA
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Abstract
A new 5-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-4-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-7-methoxy-2H-chromen-2-one (1), together with four known compounds, one coumarin, 5-O-beta-D-galactopyranosyl-4-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-7-methoxy-2H-chromen-2-one (2) and three cucurbitacins, 23,24-dihydrocucurbitacin F (3), 23,24-dihydro-25-acetylcucurbitacin F (4) and 2-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-23,24-dihydrocucurbitacin F (5) have been isolated and characterised from the ethanol extract of Coutarea hexandra fruits. Their structures have been established by spectroscopic analysis (NMR and MS). Interpretation of the HMQC, HMBC, COSY-45 and NOESY experiments permitted us to establish stereochemistry of the natural products. All compounds were tested in cytotoxicity assays against the breast (MCF-7), lung (H-460), and central nervous system (SF-268) human cancer cell lines.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Olmedo
- Centro de Investigaciones Farmacognósticas de la Flora Panameña (CIFLORPAN), Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Panamá, Panamá 0824-00172, República de Panamá
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Seeger M, González M, Cámara B, Muñoz L, Ponce E, Mejías L, Mascayano C, Vásquez Y, Sepúlveda-Boza S. Biotransformation of natural and synthetic isoflavonoids by two recombinant microbial enzymes. Appl Environ Microbiol 2003; 69:5045-50. [PMID: 12957885 PMCID: PMC194959 DOI: 10.1128/aem.69.9.5045-5050.2003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [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: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Isolation and synthesis of isoflavonoids has become a frequent endeavor, due to their interesting biological activities. The introduction of hydroxyl groups into isoflavonoids by the use of enzymes represents an attractive alternative to conventional chemical synthesis. In this study, the capabilities of biphenyl-2,3-dioxygenase (BphA) and biphenyl-2,3-dihydrodiol 2,3-dehydrogenase (BphB) of Burkholderia sp. strain LB400 to biotransform 14 isoflavonoids synthesized in the laboratory were investigated by using recombinant Escherichia coli strains containing plasmid vectors expressing the bphA1A2A3A4 or bphA1A2A3A4B genes of strain LB400. The use of BphA and BphB allowed us to biotransform 7-hydroxy-8-methylisoflavone and 7-hydroxyisoflavone into 7,2',3'-trihydroxy-8-methylisoflavone and 7,3',4'-trihydroxyisoflavone, respectively. The compound 2'-fluoro-7-hydroxy-8-methylisoflavone was dihydroxylated by BphA at ortho-fluorinated and meta positions of ring B, with concomitant dehalogenation leading to 7,2',3',-trihydroxy-8-methylisoflavone. Daidzein (7,4'-dihydroxyisoflavone) was biotransformed by BphA, generating 7,2',4'-trihydroxyisoflavone after dehydration. Biotransformation products were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Seeger
- Laboratorio de Microbiología Molecular y Biotecnología Ambiental, Departamento de Química, Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María, Valparaíso, Chile.
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