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Most biochemical reactions depend on the pH value of the aqueous environment and some are strongly favoured to occur in an acidic environment. A non-invasive control of pH to tightly regulate such reactions with defined start and end points is a highly desirable feature in certain applications, but has proven difficult to achieve so far. We report a novel optical approach to reversibly control a typical biochemical reaction by changing the pH and using acid phosphatase as a model enzyme. The reversible photoacid G-acid functions as a proton donor, changing the pH rapidly and reversibly by using high power UV LEDs as an illumination source in our experimental setup. The reaction can be tightly controlled by simply switching the light on and off and should be applicable to a wide range of other enzymatic reactions, thus enabling miniaturization and parallelization through non-invasive optical means.
Background: The need for fast, specific and sensitive multiparametric detection methods is an ever growing demand in molecular diagnostics. Here we report on a newly developed method, the helicase dependent Onchip amplification (OnChip-HDA). This approach integrates the analysis and detection in one single reaction thus leading to time and cost savings in multiparametric analysis. Methods: HDA is an isothermal amplification method that is not depending on thermocycling as known from PCR due to the helicases' ability to unwind DNA double-strands. We have combined the HDA with microarray based detection, making it suitable for multiplex detection. As an example we used the Onchip HDA in single and multiplex amplifications for the detection of the two pathogens N. gonorrhoeae and S. aureus directly on surface bound primers. Results: We have successfully shown the OnChip-HDA and applied it for single- and duplex- detection of the pathogens N. gonorrhoeae and S. aureus. Conclusion: We have developed a new method, the OnChip-HDA for the multiplex detection of pathogens. Its simplicity in reaction setup and potential for miniaturization and multiparametric analysis is advantageous for the integration in miniaturized Lab on Chip systems, e.g. needed in point of care diagnostics.
Biodetection formats, such as DNA and antibody microarrays, are valuable tools in the life sciences, but for some applications, the detection limits are insufficient. A straightforward strategy to obtain signal amplification is the rolling circle amplification (RCA), an easy, isothermal, and enzymatic nucleic acid synthesis that has already been employed successfully to increase the signal yield for several single-analyte and multiplexing assays in conjunction with hybridization probes. Here, we systematically investigated the parameters responsible for the RCA driven signal amplification with fluorescent labels, such as the type of fluorophore chosen, labeling strategy, composition of reaction solution, and number of handling steps. In labeling strategies, post-synthetic labeling via a Cy3-hybridization probe was compared to the direct incorporation of fluorescent Cy3-dUTP and DY-555-dUTP into the nascent strand during synthesis. With our direct labeling protocol, the assay's runtime and handling steps could be reduced while the signal yield was increased. These features are very attractive for many detection formats but especially for point-of-care diagnostic kits that need to be simple enough to be performed by scientifically untrained personnel.
We identified Alizarin Red S and other well known fluorescent dyes useful for the online detection of pyrophosphate in enzymatic assays, including the loop mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays. An iterative screening was used for a selected set of compounds to first secure enzyme compatibility, evaluate inorganic pyrophosphate sensitivity in the presence of manganese as quencher and optimize conditions for an online detection. Of the selected dyes, the inexpensive alizarin red S was found to selectively detect pyrophosphate under LAMP and PCR conditions and is superior with respect to its defined red-shifted spectrum, long shelf life and low toxicity. In addition, the newly identified properties may also be useful in other enzymatic assays which do not generate nucleic acids but are based on inorganic pyrophosphate. Finally, we propose that our screening method may provide a blueprint for rapid screening of compounds for detecting inorganic pyrophosphate.
Antibodies against spike proteins of influenza are used as a tool for characterization of viruses and therapeutic approaches. However, development, production and quality control of antibodies is expensive and time consuming. To circumvent these difficulties, three peptides were derived from complementarity determining regions of an antibody heavy chain against influenza A spike glycoprotein. Their binding properties were studied experimentally, and by molecular dynamics simulations. Two peptide candidates showed binding to influenza A/Aichi/2/68 H3N2. One of them, termed PeB, with the highest affinity prevented binding to and infection of target cells in the micromolar region without any cytotoxic effect. PeB matches best the conserved receptor binding site of hemagglutinin. PeB bound also to other medical relevant influenza strains, such as human-pathogenic A/California/7/2009 H1N1, and avian-pathogenic A/MuteSwan/Rostock/R901/2006 H7N1. Strategies to improve the affinity and to adapt specificity are discussed and exemplified by a double amino acid substituted peptide, obtained by substitutional analysis. The peptides and their derivatives are of great potential for drug development as well as biosensing.
Neisseria gonorrhoeae is one of the most prevalent sexually transmitted diseases worldwide with more than 100 million new infections per year. A lack of intense research over the last decades and increasing resistances to the recommended antibiotics call for a better understanding of gonococcal infection, fast diagnostics and therapeutic measures against N. gonorrhoeae. Therefore, the aim of this work was to identify novel immunogenic proteins as a first step to advance those unresolved problems. For the identification of immunogenic proteins, pHORF oligopeptide phage display libraries of the entire N. gonorrhoeae genome were constructed. Several immunogenic oligopeptides were identified using polyclonal rabbit antibodies against N. gonorrhoeae. Corresponding full-length proteins of the identified oligopeptides were expressed and their immunogenic character was verified by ELISA. The immunogenic character of six proteins was identified for the first time. Additional 13 proteins were verified as immunogenic proteins in N. gonorrhoeae.
Herein we present an efficient synthesis of a biomimetic probe with modular construction that can be specifically bound by the mannose binding FimH protein - a surface adhesion protein of E. coli bacteria. The synthesis combines the new and interesting DBD dye with the carbohydrate ligand mannose via a Click reaction. We demonstrate the binding to E. coli bacteria over a large concentration range and also present some special characteristics of those molecules that are of particular interest for the application as a biosensor. In particular, the mix-and-measure ability and the very good photo-stability should be highlighted here.
Neisseria gonorrhoeae is the causative organism of gonorrhoea, a sexually transmitted disease that globally accounts for an estimated 80 to 100 million new infections per year. Increasing resistances to all common antibiotics used for N. gonorrhoeae treatment pose the risk of an untreatable disease. Further knowledge of ways of infection and host immune response are needed to understand the pathogen-host interaction and to discover new treatment alternatives against this disease. Therefore, detailed information about immunogenic proteins and their properties like epitope sites could advance further research in this area. In this work, we investigated immunogenic proteins of N. gonorrhoeae for linear epitopes by microarrays. Dominant linear epitopes were identified for eleven of the nineteen investigated proteins with three polyclonal rabbit antibodies from different immunisations. Identified linear epitopes were further examined for non-specific binding with antibodies to Escherichia coli and the closely related pathogen Neisseria meningitidis. On top of that, amino acids crucial for the antibody epitope binding were detected by microarray based alanine scans.
Microarrays are new analytical devices that allow the parallel and simultaneous detection of thousands of target compounds. Microarrays, also called DNA chips, are widely used in gene expression, the genotyping of individuals, point mutations, detection of single nucleotide polymorphisms, and short tandem repeats. Microarrays have highly specific base-pair interactions with labeled complementary strands, which makes this technology to a powerful analytical device for monitoring whole genomes. In this article, we provide a survey of the common microarray manufacturing methods, from the selection of support material to surface structuring, immobilization and hybridization, and finally the detection with labeled complementary strands. Special attention is given to the immobilization of single strands, since fast chemical reactions, the creation of homogeneous surface functionalities as well as an oriented coupling are crucial pre-conditions for a good spot morphology and microarrays of high quality
The progesterone concentration in blood samples can be utilised as a marker for the diagnosis of early pregnancy, endocrinopathy and virilism. Here, we describe a method for progesterone detection and measurement in whole blood samples by a surface sensitive biosensor used in conjunction with an integrated optical grating coupler. This device determines refractive index changes near the biosensor's surface. Hence, biological species bound to a surface layer can be measured in real-time without any label. For the measurements, we have modified the indirect competitive immonoassay principle. The concentration of the progesterone antibody was kept at 1 µg/ml. Progesterone concentration was determined in buffer solution and whole blood in a range between 0.005 and 10 ng/ml. The detection limit was determined to be 3 pM. The relative standard deviation was calculated to be 3.5%.
An artificial gene was constructed combining the T7 promoter and terminator with the EGFP-gene from the plasmid pEGFP. The functionality of the construct was shown by in vitro translation. The gene-construct was immobilised on a planar glass surface. The transcription was performed on the immobilised gene and mRNA was determined by RT-PCR. Multiple use of the immobilised gene was demonstrated
Biosensoren
(2003)