Amplification-free detection of Cryptosporidium parvum nucleic acids with the use of DNA/RNA-directed gold nanoparticle assemblies.

ABSTRACT: This study describes the development and evaluation of an amplification-free molecular assay for detection of Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts. The assay employed a pair of oligonucleotide-functionalized gold nanoparticle (AuNP) probes that were complementary to adjacent sequences on C. parvum 18s rRNA. Hybridization of the probes to the target RNA resulted in the assembly of AuNPs into target-linked networks, which were detected both visibly and spectroscopically, by a redshift in the wavelength of light scattered by the gold nanoparticles. The limit of detection was between 4 × 10(5) and 4 × 10(6) copies of RNA per microliter reaction mix, when a short synthetic target or full-length in vitro transcribed target was employed. With total nucleic acids purified from C. parvum oocysts spiked i

SUBMITTER: Weigum SE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3795944 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature