Polymerase chain reaction detection of nonviable bacterial pathogens
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Implication
Laboratory study demonstrates PCR amplification of nonviable bacterial pathogens in water samples, highlighting potential false positives for organism viability.
Key Points
- To assess whether polymerase chain reaction assays detect nonviable bacterial pathogens and to examine the persistence of target nucleic acids in environmental water samples.
- Evaluated PCR amplification efficiency on target nucleic acid sequences derived from nonviable bacterial cells.
- Monitored the degradation timeline of bacterial nucleic acids in environmental water samples stored at 4 °C over a 3-week period.
- Tested the suitability of filter sterilization of media for long-term sample preservation prior to PCR amplification.
- PCR amplification yielded positive detection for nonviable bacterial cells whenever intact target nucleic acid sequences remained present.
- Target nucleic acids degraded over time in environmental water samples and became undetectable by PCR after 3 weeks of storage at 4 °C.
- Filter sterilization of media failed to provide adequate conditions for long-term sample preservation for subsequent PCR analysis.
Cite This Study
Josephson et al. (1993) studied this question.