title: Nested PCR protocol for the rapid detection of Escherichia coli in potable water.
abstract: A rapid and sensitive method for the detection of low levels of bacteria in potable water was developed. The fecal indicator bacterium Escherichia coli was used as the test organism in a filtration concentration - nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) protocol, combined with ethidium bromide visualization of PCR products. Two sets of primers were designed from the E. coli specific beta-glucuronidase gene (uidA), the primary pair producing a 486-bp fragment that was used as template for the nested primer pair delineating a 186-bp fragment. This protocol can detect 1-10 bacterial cells/50 mL water sample within 6-8 h, in contrast to traditional culturing or Southern hybridization methods which require 2-3 days for results.
authors.affiliation: McGill University, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Juck
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ingram
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Prévost
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Coallier
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Greer
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D017931:DNA Primers; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014871:Water Microbiology; D014881:Water Supply
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers