• 한국식품과학회지
• /
• 제48권5호
• /
• pp.454-460
• /
• 2016

본 논문에서는 E. coli O157:H7, S. Typhimurium, S. aureus와 B. cereus에 대한 ddPCR의 검출 효율과 검출한계를 측정하였으며 동시 검출을 위한 multiplex 검출 가능성을 타진하였다. ddPCR은 PCR mix를 포함한 시료를 15,000-20,000개의 droplet으로 분할하여 PCR 하는 방법으로 droplet reader를 이용하여 droplet의 형광 신호를 계수하였다. 식중독 세균의 표적 DNA를 검출하기 위해 2가지 색의 형광 probe (TaqMan)를 제작하였다. ddPCR은 표적 유전자의 형광 신호를 $100fg/{\mu}L$부터 $10ng/{\mu}L$까지의 DNA를 검출 할 수 있었다. 이후에 두 종류의 식중독 세균에서 프라이머 농도를 달리하여 표적 DNA 증폭 크기의 분포가 서로 다르게 구별할 수 있음을 확인하여 multiplex PCR의 가능성이 있음을 알 수 있었다. ddPCR은 비교적 낮은 검출한계를 가지기 때문에 식품에 적은 농도로 존재하는 식중독 세균의 검출에 활용이 가능할 것으로 생각되었다. 또한 식품의 전처리 조건 확립과 반응조건 확립을 통하여 향후 복잡한 matrix effect를 가지는 식품에서 극 미량의 균 검출도 가능할 것으로 생각되었다.

• Genomics & Informatics
• /
• 제21권2호
• /
• pp.24.1-24.7
• /
• 2023

Assays of clinical diagnosis and species identification using molecular markers are performed according to a quantitative method in consideration of sensitivity, cost, speed, convenience, and specificity. However, typical polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay is difficult to quantify and have various limitations. In addition, to perform quantitative analysis with the quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) equipment, a standard curve or normalization using reference genes is essential. Within the last a decade, previous studies have reported that the digital PCR (dPCR) assay, a third-generation PCR, can be applied in various fields by overcoming the shortcomings of typical PCR and qRT-PCR assays. We selected Stilla Naica System (Stilla Technologies), Droplet Digital PCR Technology (Bio-Rad), and Lab on an Array Digital Real-Time PCR analyzer system (OPTOLANE) for comparative analysis among the various droplet digital PCR platforms currently in use commercially. Our previous study discovered a molecular marker that can distinguish Hanwoo species (Korean native cattle) using Hanwoo-specific genomic structural variation. Here, we report the pros and cons of the operation of each dPCR platform from various perspectives using this species identification marker. In conclusion, we hope that this study will help researchers to select suitable dPCR platforms according to their purpose and resources.

• 식물병연구
• /
• 제27권3호
• /
• pp.120-127
• /
• 2021

식물 바이러스는 작물 수확량에 상당한 손실을 일으키고 작물 생산을 지속적으로 위협하여 세계 식량 안보에 심각한 위협이 된다. 그 중 tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV)는 주로 원예작물을 감염시키는 가장 위협적인 식물 바이러스로 넓은 기주 범위를 가진다. Reverse-transcription quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR)은 TSWV의 민감한 검출을 위해 널리 사용되고 있지만 표준화의 어려움으로 인해 유용성이 감소한다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 TSWV 검출을 위해 민감하고 정확한 reverse transcription droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (RT-ddPCR)을 확립하였다. TSWV 검출에 대한 RT-qPCR 및 RT-ddPCR의 민감도를 비교하였고, TSWV에 대한 RT-ddPCR의 특이성 분석은 고추에서 주로 발생하는 바이러스 및 음성 대조군에서 특이성을 확인한 결과 증폭되지 않았다. RT-ddPCR 및 RTqPCR에 의해 측정된 TSWV의 선형회귀곡선은 모두 높은 선형성을 나타냈지만, RT-ddPCR 분석이 10배 이상 더 민감하고 더 낮은 TSWV의 copy 수를 검출할 수 있었다. 종합적으로, 우리의 연구 결과는 RT-ddPCR이 TSWV 검출에 대해 높은 민감도와 특이성을 제공하고 낮은 농도의 현장 시료에서 TSWV 검출하는 데 적합하다는 것을 보여준다.

• Genomics & Informatics
• /
• 제18권1호
• /
• pp.4.1-4.6
• /
• 2020

Transposable elements (TEs) constitute approximately half of Bovine genome. They can be a powerful species-specific marker without regression mutations by the structure variation (SV) at the time of genomic evolution. In a previous study, we identified the Hanwoo-specific SV that was generated by a TE-association deletion event using traditional PCR method and Sanger sequencing validation. It could be used as a molecular marker to distinguish different cattle breeds (i.e., Hanwoo vs. Holstein). However, PCR is defective with various final copy quantifications from every sample. Thus, we applied to the droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) platform for accurate quantitative detection of the Hanwoo-specific SV. Although samples have low allele frequency variation within Hanwoo population, ddPCR could perform high sensitive detection with absolute quantification. We aimed to use ddPCR for more accurate quantification than PCR. We suggest that the ddPCR platform is applicable for the quantitative evaluation of molecular markers.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
• /
• 제39권1호
• /
• pp.141-148
• /
• 2023

Black shoot blight disease caused by Erwinia pyrifoliae has serious impacts on quality and yield in pear production in Korea; therefore, rapid and accurate methods for its detection are needed. However, traditional detection methods require a great deal of time and fail to achieve absolute quantification. In the present study, we developed a droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR) method for the detection and absolute quantification of E. pyrifoliae using a pair of species-specific primers. The detection range was 10³-10⁷ copies/ml (DNA templates) and cfu/ml (cell culture templates). This new method exhibited good linearity and repeatability and was validated by absolute quantification of E. pyrifoliae DNA copies from samples of artificially inoculated immature pear fruits. Here, we present the first study of ddPCR assay for the detection and quantification of E. pyrifoliae. This method has potential applications in epidemiology and for the early prediction of black shoot blight outbreaks.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
• /
• 제38권4호
• /
• pp.417-422
• /
• 2022

Apple stem grooving virus (ASGV) is a destructive viral pathogen of pome fruit trees that causes significant losses to fruit production worldwide. Obtaining ASGV-free propagation materials is essential to reduce economic losses, and accurate and sensitive detection methods to screen ASGV-free plantlets during in vitro propagation are urgently necessary. In this study, ASGV was sensitively and accurately quantified from in vitro propagated apple plantlets using a reverse transcription droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (RT-ddPCR) assay. The optimized RT-ddPCR assay was specific to other apple viruses, and was at least 10-times more sensitive than RT-real-time quantitative PCR assay. Furthermore, the optimized RT-ddPCR assay was validated for the detection and quantification of ASGV using micropropagated apple plantlet samples. This RT-ddPCR assay can be utilized for the accurate quantitative detection of ASGV infection in ASGV-free certification programs, and can thus contribute to the production of ASGV-free apple trees.

• ALGAE
• /
• 제39권1호
• /
• pp.51-56
• /
• 2024

The use of droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR) has greatly improved the quantification of harmful protists, outperforming traditional methods like quantitative PCR. Notably, ddPCR provides enhanced consistency and reproducibility at it resists PCR inhibitors commonly found in environmental DNA samples. This study aimed to determine the most effective filter material for ddPCR protocols by assessing the reproducibility of species-specific gene copy numbers and filtration time across six filter types: cellulose acetate (CA), mixed cellulose ester (MCE), nylon (NY), polycarbonate (PC), polyethersulfone (PES), and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF). The study used two species of Chattonella marina complexes as a case study. Filtration rates were slower for NY, PC, and PVDF filters. Moreover, MCE, NY, PES, and PVDF yielded lower DNA amounts than other filters. Importantly, the CA filter exhibited the lowest variance (38-39%) and the highest determination coefficients (R² = 0.92-0.96), indicating superior performance. These findings suggest that the CA filter is the most suitable for ddPCR quantification of marine protists, offering quick filtration and reliable reproducibility.

• ALGAE
• /
• 제32권3호
• /
• pp.189-197
• /
• 2017

To quantify the abundance of the harmful dinoflagellate Cochlodinium polykrikoides in natural seawaters, we developed the innovative procedure using a droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) with C. polykrikoides-specific primers targeting the internal transcription sequence (ITS). The abundance of C. polykrikoides was estimated by the specific copy number of target ITS DNA segments per cell in cultures and natural water samples. The copy number per C. polykrikoides cell as acquired by ddPCR was $157{\pm}16$, which was evaluated against known cell numbers through a simplified protocol preparing DNAs. The abundances of C. polykrikoides in the waters of different locations estimated by ddPCR agreed with the number of cells visually counted under a microscope. This protocol was used to measure the abundance of C. polykrikoides close to and further off the southern coast of Korea in August of 2016 and 2017. The practical application showed that this method can reduce time for analysis and increase accuracy.

• 한국동물생명공학회지
• /
• 제34권4호
• /
• pp.259-266
• /
• 2019

Emulsion polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is performed on compartmentalized DNA, allowing a large number of PCR reactions to be carried out in parallel. Emulsion PCR has unique advantages in DNA amplification. It can be applied in many molecular biological assays, especially those requiring highly sensitive and specific DNA amplification. This review discusses the principle of emulsion PCR and its applications in biotechnology. Related technologies are also discussed.

• ALGAE
• /
• 제37권4호
• /
• pp.281-291
• /
• 2022

Quantifying the abundance of Chattonella species is necessary to effectively manage the threats from ichthyotoxic raphidophytes, which can cause large-scale mortality of aquacultured fish in temperate waters. The identification and cell counting of Chattonella species have been conducted primarily on living cells without fixation by light microscopy because routine fixatives do not retain their morphological features. Species belonging to the Chattonella marina complex, including C. marina and C. marina var. ovata, had high genetic similarities and the lack of clear morphological delimitations between the species. To estimate the abundance of C. marina complex in marine plankton samples, we developed a protocol based on the droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR) assay, with C. marina complex-specific primers targeting the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of the rDNA. Cell abundance of the C. marina complex can be determined using the ITS copy number per cell, ranging from 25 ± 1 for C. marina to 112 ± 7 for C. marina var. ovata. There were no significant differences in ITS copies estimated by the ddPCR assay between environmental DNA samples from various localities spiked with the same number of cells of culture strains. This approach can be employed to improve the monitoring efficiency of various marine protists and to support the implementation of management for harmful algal blooms, which are difficult to analyze using microscopy alone.