Polymerase chain reaction assay for the detection of Bacillus cereus group cells

Abstract

Recent investigations have shown that members of the Bacillus cereus group carry genes which have the potential to cause gastrointestinal and somatic diseases. Although most cases of diseases caused by the B. cereus group bacteria are relatively mild, it is desirable to be able to detect members of the B. cereus group in food and in the environment. Using 16S rDNA as target, a PCR assay for the detection of B. cereus group cells has been developed. Primers specific for the 16S rDNA of the B. cereus group bacteria were selected and used in combination with consensus primers for 16S rDNA as internal PCR procedure control. The PCR procedure was optimized with respect to annealing temperature. When DNA from the B. cereus group bacteria was present, the PCR assay yielded a B. cereus specific fragment, while when non-B. cereus prokaryotic DNA was present, the consensus 16S rDNA primers directed synthesis of the PCR products. The PCR analyses with DNA from a number of non-B. cereus confirmed the specificity of the PCR assay. ß

Photodynamic Inactivation of Bacillus Spores, Mediated by Phenothiazinium Dyes

“…B. cereus and B. thuringiensis are closely related species from a family that also contains B. anthracis (23,26) and three other species (21). They are characterized by the presence of an outer structure beyond the spore coat termed an exosporium.…”

Linking of Microorganisms to Phenanthrene Metabolism in Soil by Analysis of 13 C-Labeled Cell Lipids

“…Two strains belonging to 16S-23S spacer DNA similarity group 1, one strain belonging to group 3, one strain belonging to group 4, and one strain belonging to group 5 (see Table 3) were prepared for partial sequencing by PCR amplification of an approximately 500-bp fragment of 16S rDNA. The PCR was done by using universal primers S-D-Bact-0008-a-S-20 (5Ј-AGA GTT TGA TC[AC] TGG CTC AG-3Ј) modified from the primer described by Wilmotte et al (42) and S-*-Univ-518-b-18 (15). The PCR products were purified by using QIAquick PCR purification kits (Qiagen, Hilden, Germany), dried, and sent to MWG Biotech for sequencing.…”

Psychrotolerant Paenibacillus tundrae Isolates from Barley Grains Produce New Cereulide-Like Depsipeptides (Paenilide and Homopaenilide) That Are Highly Toxic to Mammalian Cells

“…The Bacillus cereus-targeted PCR assay using whole-cell DNA and primers S-S-Bc-200-a-S-18 and S-S-Bc-470-a-A-18 was conducted as described previously by Hansen et al (25). PCR using primers EM1F and EM1R, targeting a 635-bp fragment specific for the cesB gene, encoding a cereulide synthetase of B. cereus, was conducted as described previously by Ehling-Schulz et al (17).…”