title: Application of the real-time PCR for the detection of airborne microbial pathogens in reference to the anthrax spores.
abstract: To establish the rapid detection method of airborne bacterial spores, we examined Bacillus anthracis spores by real-time PCR. One hundred liters of air were trapped on a filter of an air monitor device. After it was suspended in PBS, spores of B. anthracis were artificially added. The suspension was also heated at 95 degrees C for 15 min and used for real-time PCR using anthrax-specific primers. A single cell of B. anthracis was detected by real-time PCR within 1 h. Our results provide evidence that anthrax spores from the atmosphere can be detected rapidly, suggesting that real-time PCR provides a flexible and powerful tool to prevent epidemics.
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Veterinary Science, Research Center for Animal Hygiene and Food Safety, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan. smakino@obihiro.ac.jp
authors.forename: Sou-ichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Makino
authors.forename: Hyeng-il
authors.initials: HI
authors.lastname: Cheun
mesh_terms: D000391:Air Microbiology; D000881:Anthrax / Q000382:microbiology*; D001408:Bacillus anthracis / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000502:physiology*; D003470:Culture Media; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D013171:Spores, Bacterial / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D004269:DNA, Bacterial