title: Effect of non-target cells on the sensitivity of the PCR for Escherichia coli O157:H7.
abstract: The sensitivity of a multiplex PCR for the virulence factors VT1, VT2 and eaeA specific for enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (target cells, T) was adversely affected when non-pathogenic E. coli (non-target, NT) cells were present. In the absence of NT cells the sensitivity, obtained by decimally diluting the T cell culture, was T-10 (< 10 cfu ml-1) for eaeA and VT2, and T-5 (ca 10(4) cfu ml-1 T) for VT1 virulence factors. When approximately 10(9) cfu ml-1 NT cells (NT0 dilution) were present, the sensitivity dropped to T-1, T-3 and T-1 (ca 10(7), 10(6) and 10(8) cfu ml-1 T) for eaeA, VT2 and VT1, respectively. At NT-1 (ca 10(8) cfu ml-1 NT) or higher dilutions the sensitivity of eaeA and VT2 was the same as when no NT cells were present. In respect of VT1 the sensitivity gradually increased until at NT-4 the sensitivity was the same as when NT cells were completely absent. This work indicates that caution should be exercised when interpreting PCR results particularly when substantial non-target cell populations are suspected.
authors.affiliation: Food Science Division (Food Microbiology), Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland, Belfast, UK.
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Weaver
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Rowe
mesh_terms: D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000235:genetics; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019453:Escherichia coli O157 / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D006801:Humans; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D022622:Shiga Toxin 1; D022641:Shiga Toxin 2; D014774:Virulence
chemical_list: D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D022622:Shiga Toxin 1; D022641:Shiga Toxin 2; C073819:eaeA protein, E coli