Pathogen Detection Using a Liquid Array Technology

• NCJ Number: 234668
• Journal: Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 56 Issue: 3 Dated: May 2011 Pages: 760-765
• Author(s): Amanda Battaglia, M.S.; Andrew J. Schweighardt, M.A.; Margaret M. Wallace, Ph.D.
• Date Published: May 2011
• Length: 6 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Presented at the 62nd Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, February 22–27, 2010, Seattle, WA.

Annotation

This paper examines the use of Luminex in detecting microbial DNA.

Abstract

Low concentrations of microbial pathogens in pure and mixed samples were detected using a bead-based, liquid array technology. A 20-bp sequence in the 23S rRNA gene, rrl, was amplified in four microorganisms: Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli, Salmonella enterica and Staphylococcus aureus. PCR products were positively identified with the Luminex 100 system. The system could detect very low amounts of DNA and the instrument response was proportional to the input concentration. The lower limit of detection (LLD) was determined to be 0.5 ng for B. cereus and E. coli and 2 ng for S. enterica. The LLD for S. aureus was not determined as the instrument response was still above the threshold when quantities of DNA as low as 0.25 ng were used. The platform positively identified organisms present in mixed samples even when the minor component was overshadowed by a 10-fold excess of the major component. (Published Abstract)