Sunlight-Activated Propidium Monoazide Pretreatment for Differentiation of Viable and Dead Bacteria by Quantitative Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction

authored by

Xing Xie, Siwen Wang, Sunny C. Jiang, Janina Bahnemann, Michael R. Hoffmann

Abstract

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based methods have been developed and increasingly used for rapid and sensitive detection of pathogens in water samples to better protect public health. A propidium monoazide (PMA) pretreatment can help to differentiate between viable and dead cells, but the photoactivation of PMA normally requires the use of an energy-consuming halogen light, which is not suitable for off-the-grid applications. Herein, we investigate sunlight as an alternative light source. Our results suggest that sunlight can successfully activate PMA, and the sunlight-activated PMA pretreatment can effectively reduce the amplification of DNA derived from dead cells in PCR assays. Potentially, a sunlight-activated PMA pretreatment unit can be integrated into a lab-on-a-chip PCR device for off-the-grid microbial detection and quantification.

Organisation(s)

Institute of Technical Chemistry

External Organisation(s)

University of California at Irvine
California Institute of Caltech (Caltech)

Type

Article

Journal

Environmental Science and Technology Letters

Volume

3

Pages

57-61

No. of pages

5

Publication date

05.01.2016

Publication status

Published

Peer reviewed

Yes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Ecology, Environmental Chemistry, Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis, Pollution, Waste Management and Disposal, Water Science and Technology

Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being

Electronic version(s)

https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.estlett.5b00348 (Access: Closed)