scholarly journals Rapid Separation and Concentration of Food-Borne Pathogens in Food Samples Prior to Quantification by Viable-Cell Counting and Real-Time PCR

2006 ◽  
Vol 73 (1) ◽  
pp. 92-100 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hiroshi Fukushima ◽  
Kazunori Katsube ◽  
Yukiko Hata ◽  
Ryoko Kishi ◽  
Satomi Fujiwara

ABSTRACT Buoyant density gradient centrifugation has been used to separate bacteria from complex food matrices, as well as to remove compounds that inhibit rapid detection methods, such as PCR, and to prevent false-positive results due to DNA originating from dead cells. Applying a principle of buoyant density gradient centrifugation, we developed a method for rapid separation and concentration following filtration and low- and high-speed centrifugation, as well as flotation and sedimentation buoyant density centrifugation, for 12 food-borne pathogens (Salmonella enterica, Escherichia coli, Yersinia enterocolitica, Campylobacter jejuni, Vibrio cholerae O139, Vibrio parahaemolyticus O3K6, Vibrio vulnificus, Providencia alcalifaciens, Aeromonas hydrophila, Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, and Clostridium perfringens) in 13 different food homogenates. This method can be used prior to real-time quantitative PCR (RTi-qPCR) and viable-cell counting. Using this combined method, the target organisms in the food samples theoretically could be concentrated 250-fold and detected at cell concentrations as low as 101 to 103 CFU/g using the RTi-qPCR assay, and amounts as small as 100 to 101 CFU/g could be isolated using plate counting. The combined separation and concentration methods and RTi-qPCR confirmed within 3 h the presence of 101 to 102 CFU/g of Salmonella and C. jejuni directly in naturally contaminated chicken and the presence of S. aureus directly in remaining food items in a poisoning outbreak. These results illustrated the feasibility of using these assays for rapid inspection of bacterial food contamination during a real-world outbreak.

2003 ◽  
Vol 49 (11) ◽  
pp. 1865-1872 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian G Davies ◽  
John M Graham ◽  
Bruce A Griffin

Abstract Background: A predominance of small, dense LDL (sdLDL) confers in excess of a threefold increase in coronary heart disease (CHD) risk. The conventional method for the detection of sdLDL, salt density gradient ultracentrifugation (DGUC) has been superseded by more rapid techniques. This report presents novel methodology for the separation of sdLDL by a combination of iodixanol density gradient centrifugation and digital photography. Methods: LDL subclasses were separated in 3 h from prestained plasma on a self-forming density gradient of iodixanol. LDL subclass profiles were generated by digital photography and gel-scan software. Plasma samples from 106 normo- and dyslipidemic individuals were used to optimize the gradient for the resolution of LDL heterogeneity. A subgroup of 47 LDL profiles were then compared with LDL subclasses separated by salt DGUC. Results: The peak density of the predominant LDL band correlated significantly with the relative abundance (as a percentage) of sdLDL as resolved by salt DGUC (P <0.001). As shown previously, LDL isolated at a lighter density in iodixanol compared with salt gradients. A predominance of sdLDL corresponded to a peak density on iodixanol of 1.028 kg/L. This density and the area under the LDL profile lying above this density were sensitive and specific markers for the prediction of a predominance of sdLDL (P <0.001) and showed predictable associations with plasma triglycerides (r = 0.59; P <0.001) and HDL (r = −0.4; P <0.001). Conclusions: This simple method for the detection of sdLDL can differentiate a predominance of sdLDL, is highly reproducible, and can be used preparatively to isolate sdLDL.


Blood ◽  
1984 ◽  
Vol 63 (2) ◽  
pp. 482-485 ◽  
Author(s):  
BA van Oost ◽  
AP Timmermans ◽  
JJ Sixma

Abstract The relation between platelet buoyant density and beta-thromboglobulin (beta-TG), a marker for platelet alpha-granule content, was assessed by three independent approaches. (1) Platelets were separated on iso- osmolar discontinuous Stractan density gradients into five fractions, ranging in density from 1.061 g/ml to 1.091 g/ml (20 degrees C). The beta-TG content (mean +/- SD, n = 17) increased with the platelet density from 27.8 +/- 8.6 micrograms beta-TG/10(9) cells (20% less- dense platelets) up to 65.6 +/- 15.5 micrograms beta-TG/10(9) cells (15% most-dense platelets). (2) Activation of platelets in platelet- rich plasma with thrombin, adenosine diphosphate, collagen, or epinephrine resulted in a decreased density of the platelets. This was only seen when there was simultaneous secretion of beta-TG. (3) The less-dense and the more-dense platelet fractions, after isolation by density gradient centrifugation, were separately treated with thrombin. After complete degranulation, the density distribution of the originally less-dense and more-dense platelets were identical and were much narrower than the density distribution of resting platelets.


1997 ◽  
Vol 326 (2) ◽  
pp. 431-437 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean-Marc LO-GUIDICE ◽  
Marc D. MERTEN ◽  
Geneviève LAMBLIN ◽  
Nicole PORCHET ◽  
Marie-Christine HOUVENAGHEL ◽  
...  

High-molecular-mass glycoconjugates are secreted by the continuous cell line MM-39, which has been obtained from cultured human tracheal gland cells transformed by simian virus 40. They were purified on Sepharose® CL-4B and then by two steps of density-gradient centrifugation. High-molecular-mass glycoproteins resistant to digestion by hyaluronidase, chondroitin ABC lyase and heparitinase were obtained, in addition to hyaluronic acid and proteoglycans. They were susceptible to β-elimination. They contained polylactosaminoglycan chains as well as carbohydrate chains with a terminal sialic acid in the NeuAc α2-3 sequence. Most of them have a buoyant density of 1.45 g/ml in CsCl-density-gradient centrifugation, except for MUC1. The MM-39 cells were also characterized by a high expression of MUC1 and MUC4 genes, but they did not express MUC2, MUC3, MUC5B and MUC5AC. Therefore the MM-39 cells synthesized mucin-like glycoproteins as well as lysozyme and mucous proteinase inhibitor [Merten, Kammouni, Renaud, Birg, Mattéi and Figarella (1996) Am. J. Respir. Cell. Mol. Biol. 15, 520–528]; they should be considered as having a mixed, both serous and mucous, phenotype.


2015 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. 194-203 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leyla T. Hathwaik ◽  
Doug Redelman ◽  
Vera Samburova ◽  
Barbara Zielinska ◽  
David K. Shintani ◽  
...  

1991 ◽  
Vol 276 (3) ◽  
pp. 667-675 ◽  
Author(s):  
D J Thornton ◽  
J K Sheehan ◽  
H Lindgren ◽  
I Carlstedt

Mucus glycoproteins (mucins) were isolated from sputum of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) after separation into sol and gel phases. The mucus gel was solubilized with gentle stirring in 6 M-guanidinium chloride supplemented with proteinase inhibitors, and purification of mucins was subsequently achieved by isopycnic density-gradient centrifugation in CsCl/guanidinium chloride. Density-gradient centrifugation also revealed a heterogeneity of the macromolecules, the pattern of which varied between individuals, and mucins from the gel phase was pooled as ‘heavy’ and ‘light’ fractions. Gel chromatography on Sepharose CL-2B showed that the heavy fraction contained a larger proportion of smaller species than the ‘light’ fraction and that the gel phase mucins were much larger than those from the sol. An apparently homogeneous high-Mr mucin population from one individual contained approx. 70% (w/w) carbohydrate, the major sugars being N-acetylglucosamine (17.8%), N-acetylgalactosamine (6.7%), galactose (20.7%), fucose (13.2%) and sialic acid (11.4%). These mucins had an S020.w of 47 S, and an Mr of 15 x 10(6) -20 x 10(6), and rate-zonal centrifugation revealed a polydisperse size distribution [range (5-30) x 10(6)] with a weight-average Mr of 17 x 10(6). The whole mucins were visualized with electron microscopy as linear and apparently flexible threads, disperse in size. Reduction produced subunits which were included on Sepharose CL-2B, and subsequent trypsin digestion yielded high-Mr glycopeptides which were further retarded. The size distributions and fragmentation patterns of mucin from two other CF patients were the same, as studied by gel chromatography, rate-zonal centrifugation and electron microscopy. We conclude that CF mucins are heterogeneous in both size and buoyant density and that the various populations, though differing in buoyant density, share the same architecture and macromolecular properties and are, in this respect, similar to mucins from normal respiratory secretions [Thornton, Davies, Kraayenbrink, Richardson, Sheehan & Carlstedt (1990) Biochem. J. 265, 179-186] and human cervical mucus [Carlstedt & Sheehan (1989) SEB Symp. XLIII 289-316].


Blood ◽  
1983 ◽  
Vol 61 (2) ◽  
pp. 362-367 ◽  
Author(s):  
ML Rand ◽  
MA Packham ◽  
JF Mustard

Abstract The origin of the density heterogeneity of platelets was studied by measuring the survival of density subpopulations of rabbit platelets separated by discontinuous Stractan density gradient centrifugation. When a total population of 51Cr-labeled platelets was injected into recipient rabbits, the relative specific radioactivity of the most dense platelets decreased rapidly. In contrast, that of the least dense platelets had not changed 24 hr after injection, and then decreased slowly. To distinguish between the possibilities that most dense platelets are cleared from the circulation more quickly than least dense platelets or that platelets decrease in density as they age in the circulation, the concurrent survival of least dense and most dense platelets, labeled with either 51Cr or 111In-labeled total platelet populations, determined concurrently in the same rabbits, were identical, calculated from 1 hr values as 100%. However, the 1-hr recovery of 111In-labeled platelets was slightly but significantly less than that of 51Cr-labeled platelets. Therefore, we studied the survival of 51Cr-labeled least dense and 111In-labeled most dense platelets as well as that of 111In-labeled least dense and 51Cr-labeled most dense platelets. Mean 1-hr recovery of least dense platelets, labeled with either isotope (78% +/- 7%, SD) was similar to that of most dense platelets, labeled with either isotope (77% +/- 8%; SD). Mean survival of least dense platelets was 47.3 +/- 18.7 hr (SD), which was significantly less than that of most dense platelets (76.1 +/- 21.6 hr; SD) (p less than 0.0025). These results indicate that platelets decrease in buoyant density as they age in the circulation and that most dense platelets are enriched in young platelets, and least dense in old. Thus, the events that affect platelets as they age in the circulation contribute to platelet density heterogeneity, although they may not be the sole cause of it.


1979 ◽  
Vol 181 (3) ◽  
pp. 717-724 ◽  
Author(s):  
J M Creeth ◽  
J L Bridge ◽  
J R Horton

1. Some mucus glycoproteins form soluble complexes with lysozyme at neutral pH values. 2. The extent of complex-formation was determined, by an ultracentrifugal difference method, for a range of glycoproteins covering the common blood-group specificities. 3. Interaction was strongest with those glycoproteins of blood-group Lea specificity; these were also richest in sialic acid. 4. Interaction diminished with increase of ionic strength, and was not detectable at I 0.50; however, an asialoglycoprotein was found to retain some activity. The interaction is accordingly primarily, but probably not exclusively, coulombic in origin. 5. The buoyant density of lysozyme in CsCl, CsBr, CsI and Cs2SO4 was determined; the values in the last three salts are anomalously high. This finding accounts for the previously noted difficulty of separating free protein from glycoproteins by single-stage centrifugation in CsBr. 6. Conditions for effective separation of glycoproteins from secretions containing lysozyme by density-gradient centrifugation are reported.


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