Specific and Sensitive Isothermal Electrochemical Biosensor for Plant Pathogen DNA Detection with Colloidal Gold Nanoparticles as Probes

Sci Rep. 2017 Jan 17:7:38896. doi: 10.1038/srep38896.

Abstract

Developing quick and sensitive molecular diagnostics for plant pathogen detection is challenging. Herein, a nanoparticle based electrochemical biosensor was developed for rapid and sensitive detection of plant pathogen DNA on disposable screen-printed carbon electrodes. This 60 min assay relied on the rapid isothermal amplification of target pathogen DNA sequences by recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) followed by gold nanoparticle-based electrochemical assessment with differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). Our method was 10,000 times more sensitive than conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR)/gel electrophoresis and could readily identify P. syringae infected plant samples even before the disease symptoms were visible. On the basis of the speed, sensitivity, simplicity and portability of the approach, we believe the method has potential as a rapid disease management solution for applications in agriculture diagnostics.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biosensing Techniques / methods*
  • DNA, Bacterial / analysis*
  • Electrochemical Techniques / methods*
  • Gold Colloid / metabolism*
  • Nanoparticles / metabolism*
  • Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques / methods
  • Plant Diseases / microbiology*
  • Pseudomonas syringae / genetics
  • Pseudomonas syringae / isolation & purification*
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • DNA, Bacterial
  • Gold Colloid