Simultaneous Detection of Ricin and Abrin DNA by Real-Time PCR (qPCR)
Ricin and abrin are two of the most potent plant toxins known and may be easily obtained in high yield from the seeds using rather simple technology. As a result, both toxins are potent and available toxins for criminal or terrorist acts. However, as the production of highly purified ricin or abrin...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2012-08-01
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| Series: | Toxins |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/4/9/633 |
| _version_ | 1811307183380365312 |
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| author | Roman Wölfel Mirko Lange Ilona Mossbrugger Eva Felder |
| author_facet | Roman Wölfel Mirko Lange Ilona Mossbrugger Eva Felder |
| author_sort | Roman Wölfel |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Ricin and abrin are two of the most potent plant toxins known and may be easily obtained in high yield from the seeds using rather simple technology. As a result, both toxins are potent and available toxins for criminal or terrorist acts. However, as the production of highly purified ricin or abrin requires sophisticated equipment and knowledge, it may be more likely that crude extracts would be used by non-governmental perpetrators. Remaining plant-specific nucleic acids in these extracts allow the application of a real-time PCR (qPCR) assay for the detection and identification of abrin or ricin genomic material. Therefore, we have developed a duplex real-time PCR assays for simultaneous detection of ricin and abrin DNA based on the OmniMix HS bead PCR reagent mixture. Novel primers and hybridization probes were designed for detection on a SmartCycler instrument by using 5′-nuclease technology. The assay was thoroughly optimized and validated in terms of analytical sensitivity. Evaluation of the assay sensitivity by probit analysis demonstrated a 95% probability of detection at 3 genomes per reaction for ricin DNA and 1.2 genomes per reaction for abrin DNA. The suitability of the assays was exemplified by detection of ricin and abrin contaminations in a food matrix. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T08:58:56Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6ff74321a13349ec8f7c7df090d574a4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-6651 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T08:58:56Z |
| publishDate | 2012-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Toxins |
| spelling | doaj.art-6ff74321a13349ec8f7c7df090d574a42022-12-22T02:53:11ZengMDPI AGToxins2072-66512012-08-014963364210.3390/toxins4090633Simultaneous Detection of Ricin and Abrin DNA by Real-Time PCR (qPCR)Roman WölfelMirko LangeIlona MossbruggerEva FelderRicin and abrin are two of the most potent plant toxins known and may be easily obtained in high yield from the seeds using rather simple technology. As a result, both toxins are potent and available toxins for criminal or terrorist acts. However, as the production of highly purified ricin or abrin requires sophisticated equipment and knowledge, it may be more likely that crude extracts would be used by non-governmental perpetrators. Remaining plant-specific nucleic acids in these extracts allow the application of a real-time PCR (qPCR) assay for the detection and identification of abrin or ricin genomic material. Therefore, we have developed a duplex real-time PCR assays for simultaneous detection of ricin and abrin DNA based on the OmniMix HS bead PCR reagent mixture. Novel primers and hybridization probes were designed for detection on a SmartCycler instrument by using 5′-nuclease technology. The assay was thoroughly optimized and validated in terms of analytical sensitivity. Evaluation of the assay sensitivity by probit analysis demonstrated a 95% probability of detection at 3 genomes per reaction for ricin DNA and 1.2 genomes per reaction for abrin DNA. The suitability of the assays was exemplified by detection of ricin and abrin contaminations in a food matrix.http://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/4/9/633ricinabrinquantitative real-time PCRsimultaneous detection |
| spellingShingle | Roman Wölfel Mirko Lange Ilona Mossbrugger Eva Felder Simultaneous Detection of Ricin and Abrin DNA by Real-Time PCR (qPCR) Toxins ricin abrin quantitative real-time PCR simultaneous detection |
| title | Simultaneous Detection of Ricin and Abrin DNA by Real-Time PCR (qPCR) |
| title_full | Simultaneous Detection of Ricin and Abrin DNA by Real-Time PCR (qPCR) |
| title_fullStr | Simultaneous Detection of Ricin and Abrin DNA by Real-Time PCR (qPCR) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Simultaneous Detection of Ricin and Abrin DNA by Real-Time PCR (qPCR) |
| title_short | Simultaneous Detection of Ricin and Abrin DNA by Real-Time PCR (qPCR) |
| title_sort | simultaneous detection of ricin and abrin dna by real time pcr qpcr |
| topic | ricin abrin quantitative real-time PCR simultaneous detection |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/4/9/633 |
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