Details
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 109-120 |
| Number of pages | 12 |
| Journal | Engineering in life sciences |
| Volume | 10 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| Publication status | Published - 12 Apr 2010 |
Abstract
A wide range of analytical methods are available for the detection and identification of biological warfare agents. These technologies are often hampered in their performance when the inactivated samples are analyzed. To work with pathogens outside of biosafety level 3 laboratories, a complete inactivation is mandatory when appropriate protection equipment is unavailable. When methods of inactivation are used, the detection of bacteria becomes more difficult. In contrast to measuring viable organisms, inactivation steps can have a massive impact on the intrinsic cellular information. This study examined the effects of autoclaving and chemical inactivation methods on Bacillus spores using biological warfare detection setups like real-time PCR and MALDI-TOF-MS. Here, the inactivation of Bacillus atrophaeus spores with formaldehyde, which is a suggested model for biological warfare spore agents, was compared with other inactivation reagents like WofasterilsE400, a commercially available decontaminant based on peroxyacetic acid. With WofasterilsE400 the critical factor of inactivation time was reduced to about 15 min and a limit of detection of 8500 spores by PCR was still measurable using five-times-washed spores. It has also been shown that MALDITOF-MS peak information can be hampered by inactivation methods.
Keywords
- Biological warfare agents, BSL3 bacteria, Endospores, Fast detection systems, Inactivation
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology(all)
- Biotechnology
- Environmental Science(all)
- Environmental Engineering
- Chemical Engineering(all)
- Bioengineering
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In: Engineering in life sciences, Vol. 10, No. 2, 12.04.2010, p. 109-120.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Effects of inactivation methods on the analysis of Bacillus atrophaeus endospores using real-time PCR and MALDI-TOF-MS
AU - Talbot, Steven R.
AU - Russmann, Heiko
AU - Köhne, Stefan
AU - Niederwöhrmeier, Bärbel
AU - Grote, Gudrun
AU - Scheper, Thomas
PY - 2010/4/12
Y1 - 2010/4/12
N2 - A wide range of analytical methods are available for the detection and identification of biological warfare agents. These technologies are often hampered in their performance when the inactivated samples are analyzed. To work with pathogens outside of biosafety level 3 laboratories, a complete inactivation is mandatory when appropriate protection equipment is unavailable. When methods of inactivation are used, the detection of bacteria becomes more difficult. In contrast to measuring viable organisms, inactivation steps can have a massive impact on the intrinsic cellular information. This study examined the effects of autoclaving and chemical inactivation methods on Bacillus spores using biological warfare detection setups like real-time PCR and MALDI-TOF-MS. Here, the inactivation of Bacillus atrophaeus spores with formaldehyde, which is a suggested model for biological warfare spore agents, was compared with other inactivation reagents like WofasterilsE400, a commercially available decontaminant based on peroxyacetic acid. With WofasterilsE400 the critical factor of inactivation time was reduced to about 15 min and a limit of detection of 8500 spores by PCR was still measurable using five-times-washed spores. It has also been shown that MALDITOF-MS peak information can be hampered by inactivation methods.
AB - A wide range of analytical methods are available for the detection and identification of biological warfare agents. These technologies are often hampered in their performance when the inactivated samples are analyzed. To work with pathogens outside of biosafety level 3 laboratories, a complete inactivation is mandatory when appropriate protection equipment is unavailable. When methods of inactivation are used, the detection of bacteria becomes more difficult. In contrast to measuring viable organisms, inactivation steps can have a massive impact on the intrinsic cellular information. This study examined the effects of autoclaving and chemical inactivation methods on Bacillus spores using biological warfare detection setups like real-time PCR and MALDI-TOF-MS. Here, the inactivation of Bacillus atrophaeus spores with formaldehyde, which is a suggested model for biological warfare spore agents, was compared with other inactivation reagents like WofasterilsE400, a commercially available decontaminant based on peroxyacetic acid. With WofasterilsE400 the critical factor of inactivation time was reduced to about 15 min and a limit of detection of 8500 spores by PCR was still measurable using five-times-washed spores. It has also been shown that MALDITOF-MS peak information can be hampered by inactivation methods.
KW - Biological warfare agents
KW - BSL3 bacteria
KW - Endospores
KW - Fast detection systems
KW - Inactivation
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=77950803141&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1002/elsc.200800078
DO - 10.1002/elsc.200800078
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:77950803141
VL - 10
SP - 109
EP - 120
JO - Engineering in life sciences
JF - Engineering in life sciences
SN - 1618-0240
IS - 2
ER -