Development and Application of a Multiplex Reverse Transcription–Droplet Digital PCR Assay for Simultaneous Detection of Hepatitis A Virus and Hepatitis E Virus in Bivalve Shellfish

Foodborne viruses are significant contributors to global food safety incidents, posing a serious burden on human health and food safety. In this study, a multiplex reverse transcription–droplet digital PCR (RT-ddPCR) assay based on the MS2 phage as a process control virus (PCV) was developed to achi...

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Main Authors: Maolin Wei, Jinfeng Wang, Yan Wang, Libing Liu, Xiangdong Xu, Jianchang Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Foods
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/1/2
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author Maolin Wei
Jinfeng Wang
Yan Wang
Libing Liu
Xiangdong Xu
Jianchang Wang
author_facet Maolin Wei
Jinfeng Wang
Yan Wang
Libing Liu
Xiangdong Xu
Jianchang Wang
author_sort Maolin Wei
collection DOAJ
description Foodborne viruses are significant contributors to global food safety incidents, posing a serious burden on human health and food safety. In this study, a multiplex reverse transcription–droplet digital PCR (RT-ddPCR) assay based on the MS2 phage as a process control virus (PCV) was developed to achieve the simultaneous detection of hepatitis A virus (HAV) and hepatitis E virus (HEV) in bivalve shellfish. By optimizing the reaction system and procedures, the best reaction conditions were selected, and the specificity, sensitivity, and reproducibility of the method were assessed. Additionally, the MS2 phage’s recovery rate was utilized as an indicator to evaluate the optimal sample nucleic acid enrichment method. The results indicated that the RT-ddPCR assay exhibited optimal amplification efficiency with primer concentrations of 900 nmol/L, probe concentrations of 350 nmol/L for HAV and HEV, and 500 nmol/L for MS2, an annealing temperature of 53.1 °C, an extension time of 90 s, and 45 cycles. Additionally, the developed multiplex RT-ddPCR assay demonstrated high specificity, with quantitation limits of 12.6, 8.9, and 7.8 copies/reaction being observed for HAV, HEV, and the MS2 phage, respectively. A total of 240 bivalve samples were analyzed, of which 4 were positive for HAV and 12 for HEV. The viral loads for HAV ranged from 3048 to 6528 copies/2 g, while those for HEV ranged from 3312 to 20,350 copies/2 g. This assay provides a vital tool for enhancing food safety monitoring.
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institution Kabale University
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publishDate 2024-12-01
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spelling doaj-art-fe3efc2c36cd43d58a42fd9b5cd935a62025-01-10T13:17:28ZengMDPI AGFoods2304-81582024-12-01141210.3390/foods14010002Development and Application of a Multiplex Reverse Transcription–Droplet Digital PCR Assay for Simultaneous Detection of Hepatitis A Virus and Hepatitis E Virus in Bivalve ShellfishMaolin Wei0Jinfeng Wang1Yan Wang2Libing Liu3Xiangdong Xu4Jianchang Wang5School of Public Health, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, ChinaFood Microbiology and Animal Quarantine Laboratory, Technology Center of Shijiazhuang Customs, Shijiazhuang 050051, ChinaSchool of Public Health, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, ChinaFood Microbiology and Animal Quarantine Laboratory, Technology Center of Shijiazhuang Customs, Shijiazhuang 050051, ChinaSchool of Public Health, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, ChinaSchool of Public Health, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, ChinaFoodborne viruses are significant contributors to global food safety incidents, posing a serious burden on human health and food safety. In this study, a multiplex reverse transcription–droplet digital PCR (RT-ddPCR) assay based on the MS2 phage as a process control virus (PCV) was developed to achieve the simultaneous detection of hepatitis A virus (HAV) and hepatitis E virus (HEV) in bivalve shellfish. By optimizing the reaction system and procedures, the best reaction conditions were selected, and the specificity, sensitivity, and reproducibility of the method were assessed. Additionally, the MS2 phage’s recovery rate was utilized as an indicator to evaluate the optimal sample nucleic acid enrichment method. The results indicated that the RT-ddPCR assay exhibited optimal amplification efficiency with primer concentrations of 900 nmol/L, probe concentrations of 350 nmol/L for HAV and HEV, and 500 nmol/L for MS2, an annealing temperature of 53.1 °C, an extension time of 90 s, and 45 cycles. Additionally, the developed multiplex RT-ddPCR assay demonstrated high specificity, with quantitation limits of 12.6, 8.9, and 7.8 copies/reaction being observed for HAV, HEV, and the MS2 phage, respectively. A total of 240 bivalve samples were analyzed, of which 4 were positive for HAV and 12 for HEV. The viral loads for HAV ranged from 3048 to 6528 copies/2 g, while those for HEV ranged from 3312 to 20,350 copies/2 g. This assay provides a vital tool for enhancing food safety monitoring.https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/1/2MS2 phagemultiplexreverse transcription–droplet digital PCRhepatitis A virushepatitis E virusbivalve shellfish
spellingShingle Maolin Wei
Jinfeng Wang
Yan Wang
Libing Liu
Xiangdong Xu
Jianchang Wang
Development and Application of a Multiplex Reverse Transcription–Droplet Digital PCR Assay for Simultaneous Detection of Hepatitis A Virus and Hepatitis E Virus in Bivalve Shellfish
Foods
MS2 phage
multiplex
reverse transcription–droplet digital PCR
hepatitis A virus
hepatitis E virus
bivalve shellfish
title Development and Application of a Multiplex Reverse Transcription–Droplet Digital PCR Assay for Simultaneous Detection of Hepatitis A Virus and Hepatitis E Virus in Bivalve Shellfish
title_full Development and Application of a Multiplex Reverse Transcription–Droplet Digital PCR Assay for Simultaneous Detection of Hepatitis A Virus and Hepatitis E Virus in Bivalve Shellfish
title_fullStr Development and Application of a Multiplex Reverse Transcription–Droplet Digital PCR Assay for Simultaneous Detection of Hepatitis A Virus and Hepatitis E Virus in Bivalve Shellfish
title_full_unstemmed Development and Application of a Multiplex Reverse Transcription–Droplet Digital PCR Assay for Simultaneous Detection of Hepatitis A Virus and Hepatitis E Virus in Bivalve Shellfish
title_short Development and Application of a Multiplex Reverse Transcription–Droplet Digital PCR Assay for Simultaneous Detection of Hepatitis A Virus and Hepatitis E Virus in Bivalve Shellfish
title_sort development and application of a multiplex reverse transcription droplet digital pcr assay for simultaneous detection of hepatitis a virus and hepatitis e virus in bivalve shellfish
topic MS2 phage
multiplex
reverse transcription–droplet digital PCR
hepatitis A virus
hepatitis E virus
bivalve shellfish
url https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/1/2
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