Assay Kit Rapidly Identifies Enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli

Enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) producing Shiga toxin 2 (Stx2) has been identified as the causative agent of the recent outbreak in Europe of bloody diarrhea associated with hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS). An assay kit detects and differentiates both Shiga toxin genes and can be performed in less than one hour.

The new LightMix Kit EHEC contains premixed primers and probes and an appropriate positive control for use with the LightCycler Instruments.

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 (Penzberg, Germany) and TIB Molbiol (Berlin, Germany) provide complete systems for PCR, including LightCycler Instruments, software, reagents, and consumables. These detection systems are designed to enable the rapid development and adaptation of PCR assays, accelerating the progress of appropriate diagnostic tools.

The standard analytical procedure for EHEC detection requires an overnight bacterial culture from patient stool samples prior to performing the PCR assay. To expedite time-to-result, such as for the EHEC outbreaks and samples with bloody diarrhea, 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.

Reports claim that the outbreak of EHEC has already killed 17 and made more than 1,500 others ill in Europe. It is thought to have originated in Germany and to come from vegetables.

Related Links:
Roche Applied Science
TIB Molbiol