Salmonella spp./Shigella spp. are common pathogens attributed to diarrhea. Here, we describe a high-throughput platform for the screening of Salmonella spp./Shigella spp. using real-time PCR combined with guided culture.
Fecal-oral transmission of acute gastroenteritis occurs from time to time, especially when people who handled food and water are infected by Salmonella spp./Shigella spp. The gold standard method for the detection of Salmonella spp./Shigella spp. is direct culture but this is labor-intensive and time-consuming. Here, we describe a high-throughput platform for Salmonella spp./Shigella spp. screening, using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) combined with guided culture. There are two major stages: real-time PCR and the guided culture. For the first stage (real-time PCR), we explain each step of the method: sample collection, pre-enrichment, DNA extraction and real-time PCR. If the real-time PCR result is positive, then the second stage (guided culture) is performed: selective culture, biochemical identification and serological characterization. We also illustrate representative results generated from it. The protocol described here would be a valuable platform for the rapid, specific, sensitive and high-throughput screening of Salmonella spp./Shigella spp.
Diarrhea is still a common health issue with a high incidence rate globally1,2. Though the mortality is relatively low, some patients show various symptoms for weeks (such as loose and watery stools, an urgency to go to the bathroom), which make the socioeconomic impact very high3,4. More seriously, some patients may even develop irritable bowel syndrome if left untreated5. There are various kinds of bacteria, viruses and parasites that can cause diarrhea6. Salmonella spp./Shigella spp. are among the most common bacteria for the transmission of acute gastroenteritis7,8,9,10,11. Therefore, many counties have issued laws or regulations for regular Salmonella spp./Shigella spp. screening among people who would handle food and water. For example, the Chinese government have issued laws for obligatory Salmonella spp./Shigella spp. screening once a year.
The gold standard method for Salmonella spp./Shigella spp. detection is bacteria culture. Through bacteria culture and successive biochemical identification and serological characterization, we can identify the species of bacteria, which could facilitate disease outbreak management and antimicrobial profiling to aid the treatment of patients12. It could also help trace the source of infection during the Salmonella spp./Shigella spp. outbreak13. However, this method is labor-intensive (requiring manual operation) and time-consuming (taking several days), especially for the testing of large numbers of samples7. Moreover, viable but non-culturable (VBNC) Salmonella spp./Shigella spp.may exist in some stool samples14. In view of these drawbacks, many laboratories have tried to develop new techniques for the detection of Salmonella spp./Shigella spp.15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25. All these methods use the nuclear acid amplification test (NAAT), among which the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is the most common. One major limitation of these NAAT based methods is that dead bacteria, even bacterial debris containing incomplete genomic DNA, could show positive results26, which could largely influence the accurate diagnosis of disease. Blanco et al. showed that molecular assay is highly sensitive, not only to viable Salmonella in cultures, but also to partial genomes and dead or unviable bacteria from past infections or contamination26. Therefore, new technology should be developed.
Here, we described a novel method that combines the NAAT based method and culturing. As shown in Figure 1, this new method applies real-time PCR screening first and then positive samples are sent for bacteria culture and identification.
The protocol follows the guidelines set by the human research ethics committee of Zhuhai International Travel Healthcare Center. Please use standard sterile operation during the experiment.
1. Culture Media Composition and Preparation
2. Real-time PCR
3. Guided Culture
4. Report
The protocol was applied for the screening of Salmonella spp./Shigella spp. in anal stool samples from people who would handle food and water.
In the real-time PCR step, as shown in Figure 5A, there was a successful amplification in HEX channel, which meant that the mixed sample was positive for Salmonella spp. Then a further real-time PCR was conducted on individual samples which made up the positive one. As shown in Figure 5B, sample 2 was positive. Therefore, sample 2 was chosen for the guided culture of Salmonella spp. In Figure 5C, there was a successful amplification in the FAM channel, which meant that the mixed sample was positive for Shigella spp. Then a further real-time PCR was conducted and sample 10 was found to be positive (Figure 5D). Therefore, sample 10 was chosen for the guided culture of Shigella spp.
In the guided culture of Salmonella spp., there were pink colonies and purple colonies on XLD plate and Salmonella chromogenic agar plate, separately, as shown in Figure 2. Then these colonies were subjected to biochemical identification on automated microbial identification system. Results showed that it was Salmonella spp., with species unknown. Therefore, serological characterization was performed (Figure 3) and it was reactive to O4, O12, Hb, H1,2. According to the White-Kauffmann-Le Minor scheme, sample 2 was finally reported as positive for Salmonella paratyphi B. While for the guided culture of Shigella spp., there were pink red and colorless colonies on XLD plate and MAC plate, separately, as shown in Figure 4. Then these colonies were also subjected to biochemical identification on automated microbial identification system. Results showed that it was Shigella sonnei. To confirm its specific serotype, serological characterization was performed (Figure 3) and it was reactive to sonnei phase II. Therefore, sample 10 was finally reported as positive for Shigella sonnei phase II.
Figure 1: The diagram of the protocol. Two major steps were shown and separated by dash line. Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.
Figure 2: Representative culture results of Salmonella spp. on XLD plate and Salmonella chromogenic agar plate. On XLD plate, there were pink colonies with/without dark heart, while on Salmonella chromogenic agar plate, there were purple colonies. Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.
Figure 3: Representative serological characterization result. If the colony was reactive to the sera, it looked like flowing sand (left). Otherwise, it was turbid (right). Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.
Figure 4: Representative culture results of Shigella spp. on XLD plate and MAC plate. On XLD plate, there were red colonies, while on MAC plate, there were transparent and colorless colonies. Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.
Figure 5: Representative real-time PCR results. (A) HEX channel for mix samples. (B) HEX channel for individual samples. (C) FAM channel for mix samples. (D) FAM channel for individual samples. PC: positive control. NC: negative control. Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.
Pathogen | Name | Sequence(5'-3') |
Salmonella | Sal-F Sal-R Sal-probe |
gctcatattaattccggcatttac caggtcaatagccagaaagg HEX-ataagtaatccaatccgaaatgcctgcgt-Eclipse |
Shigella | Shi-F Shi-R Shi-probe |
ccgggataaagtcagaactc cagtggagagctgaagtttc FAM-aggccaggtagacttctatctcatccac-Eclipse |
Table 1: Primers and probes used. The name and sequences of the primers and probes were provided.
Since Salmonella spp./Shigella spp. are often associated with food poisoning and fecal-oral transmission of acute gastroenteritis28,29 and the routine method is either labor-intensive or time-consuming7, we describe a high-throughput platform for the Salmonella spp./Shigella spp. screening, using real-time PCR combined with guided culture.
There are several steps that need consideration to maximize the capability of this platform. The first one is the pre-enrichment step of samples in Nutrient Broth (step 2.2). Though no pre-enrichment step is needed for stool samples collected from those patients with obvious symptoms, such as diarrhea, etc., a general 6 h pre-enrichment step is still needed for anal swab samples, when collected during the pre-employment physical examination for people who would handle food and water, as those people were mainly healthy or at least asymptomatic adults. If the protocol was only applied for the detection of Salmonella spp., then pre-enrichment could be conducted in Selenite Cystine medium in order to increase the sensitivity. The second critical step is the identification of suspicious colonies (step 3.1.3.1 and 3.2.2.1). There are many interfering background flora in the stool samples that may mask the detection and isolation of target pathogens30. Therefore, the characteristic of the suspicious colonies as defined in step 3.1.3.1 and 3.2.2.1 should be kept in mind during the experiment. The third critical step is the serological characterization of Salmonella spp. As a majority of Salmonella spp. contain a second phase for H antigen31, serum induction needs to be performed. However, the serum induction is not always successful, and several rounds of induction may be needed to determine the correct second H phase.
The protocol is highly specific and sensitive as verified by our previous study27. The high specificity of the protocol is demonstrated by its ability, in which Salmonella spp./Shigella spp. could be distinguished from other related pathogens27. The lower limit of detection of the protocol is 104 CFU/mL and 103 CFU/mL for Salmonella spp. and Shigella spp., respectively27, which are comparable to previous reports7,32,33,34. As we stated above, the sensitivity of Salmonella spp. detection could be further increased by Selenite Cystine pre-enrichment if the protocol was only applied for the detection of Salmonella spp. Moreover, the protocol could increase the positive rate by two folds and decrease the workload/median turnaround time significantly27.
Similar to other NAAT assays, one major limitation of the protocol, when compared to classic bacteria culture method, is that the protocol could only identify Salmonella spp./Shigella spp., while other common diarrhea-causing bacteria are omitted7. In contrast, during classic bacteria culture, those bacteria could be identified in parallel if they existed. Another limitation of the protocol is that some of Salmonella spp./Shigella spp. could not be identified by the real-time PCR due to sequence variations27. However, if negative real-time PCR results appear for those samples from patients with obvious clinical symptoms, laboratory technicians should pay attention and may conduct other experiments to confirm the results. During a large outbreak, we may use a single sample instead of pooled samples for the first round of PCR screening.
In conclusion, the protocol provided here could serve as a valuable platform for the screening of Salmonella spp./Shigella spp.
The authors have nothing to disclose.
This work was supported by the Science and Technology Program of Zhuhai, China (grant number 20171009E030064), the Science and Technology Program of Guangdong, China (grant number 2015A020211004) and the Science and Technology Program of General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of the People's Republic of China (grant number 2016IK302, 2017IK224).
Tris | Sigma | 10708976001 | |
EDTA | Sigma | 798681 | |
NP40 | Sigma | 11332473001 | |
ddH2O | Takara | 9012 | |
PrimeSTAR HS (Premix) | Takara | R040Q | |
Nutrient Broth | LandBridge | CM106 | |
Nutrient agar | LandBridge | CM107 | |
Selenite Cystine medium | LandBridge | CM225 | |
XLD | LandBridge | CM219 | |
MAC | LandBridge | CM908 | |
Salmonella chromogenic agar | CHROMagar | SA130 | |
Salmonella diagnostic serum | Tianrun | SAL60 | |
Shigella diagnostic serum | Tianrun | SHI54 | |
anal swab (collecting tube plus) | Huachenyang | ||
slide | Mingsheng | 7102 | |
micro-loop | Weierkang | W511 | |
incubator | Jinghong | DNP-9082 | |
autoclave | AUL | SS-325 | |
dry bath | Jinghong | KB-20 | |
automated microbial identification system | bioMérieux | VITEK2 | other equivalent system could be used |
fluorescent real-time PCR machine | ThermoFisher | ABI7500 | other equivalent machine could be used |