Roche Applied Science and TIB Molbiol are providing scientists with complementary technologies that can be used to rapidly identify and detect enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC).
The fast, reliable detection of the EHEC bacterium is essential for monitoring and controlling EHEC infections.
The most appropriate targets for the rapid, sensitive identification of the EHEC bacterium are unique genetic sequences, which can be amplified and detected using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method.
Roche Applied Science provides complete systems for PCR, including LightcyclerO instruments, software, reagents and consumables.
These detection systems are designed for life science research to enable the rapid development and adaptation of PCR assays, accelerating the progress of appropriate diagnostic tools.
The detection of EHEC by real-time PCR using the LightcyclerO platform was already developed in 2002 and published jointly by scientists from the universities of Regensburg and Muenster and the CDC in Atlanta.
Since 2002, this real-time PCR test has been adopted by laboratories worldwide.
The new LightmixO Kit EHEC from TIB Molbiol contains pre-mixed primers and probes and an appropriate positive control for use with the LightcyclerO instruments.
The test detects and differentiates both Shiga toxin genes and can be performed in less than one hour.
The standard analytical procedure for EHEC detection requires an overnight bacterial culture from patient stool samples prior to performing the PCR assay.
To expedite the time to result, it is possible to isolate the bacterial nucleic acids directly from stool samples using automated isolation methods of the Roche Applied Science Magna pure sample preparation systems.
This automated workflow followed by direct real-time PCR is currently under evaluation by a number of laboratories.
