Seamless Insert-Plasmid Assembly at High Efficiency and Low Cost.

Seamless cloning methods, such as co-transformation cloning, sequence- and ligation-independent cloning (SLIC) or the Gibson assembly, are essential tools for the precise construction of plasmids. The efficiency of co-transformation cloning is however low and the Gibson assembly reagents are expensive. With the aim to improve the robustness of seamless cloning experiments while keeping costs low, we examined the importance of complementary single-stranded DNA ends for co-transformation cloning and the influence of single-stranded gaps in circular plasmids on SLIC cloning efficiency. Most importantly, our data show that single-stranded gaps in double-stranded plasmids, which occur in typical SLIC protocols, can drastically decrease the efficiency at which the DNA transforms competent E. coli bacteria. Accordingly, filling-in of single-stranded gaps using DNA polymerase resulted in increased transformation efficiency. Ligation of the remaining nicks did not lead to a further increase in transformation efficiency. These findings demonstrate that highly efficient insert-plasmid assembly can be achieved by using only T5 exonuclease and Phusion DNA polymerase, without Taq DNA ligase from the original Gibson protocol, which significantly reduces the cost of the reactions. We successfully used this modified Gibson assembly protocol with two short insert-plasmid overlap regions, each counting only 15 nucleotides.

Cost-effective optimization of real-time PCR-based detection of Campylobacter and Salmonella with inhibitor tolerant DNA polymerases.

AIMS: The aim of this study was to cost-effectively improve detection of foodborne pathogens in PCR inhibitory samples through the use of alternative DNA polymerases. METHODS AND RESULTS: Commercially available polymerases (n = 16) and PCR master mixes (n = 4) were screened on DNA purified from bacterial cells in two validated real-time PCR assays for Campylobacter and Salmonella. The five best performing (based on: limit of detection (LOD), maximum fluorescence, shape of amplification curves and amplification efficiency) were subsequently applied to meat and faecal samples. The VeriQuest qPCR master mix performed best for both meat and faecal samples (LODs of 10(2) and 10(4) CFU ml(-1) in the purest and crudest DNA extractions respectively) compared with Tth (LOD = 10(2)-10(3) and 10(5)-10(6) CFU ml(-1)). AmpliTaqGold and HotMasterTaq both performed well (LOD = 10(2)-10(4) CFU ml(-1)) with meat samples and poorly (LOD = 10(3)-10(6) CFU ml(-1)/not detected) with faecal samples. CONCLUSIONS: Applying the VeriQuest qPCR master mix in the two tested real-time PCR assays could allow for simpler sample preparation and thus a reduction in cost. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This work exemplifies a cost-effective strategy for optimizing real-time PCR-based assays. However, a DNA polymerase suitable for one assay and sample type is not necessarily optimal for other assays or sample types.

The enhancement of homogenous mass extension reaction: comparison of two enzymes.

Reliable and efficient PCR and extension reactions using standardized procedures are key elements for successful single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping projects. To improve the cost efficiency and overall performance of SNP genotyping we evaluated two commercial thermostable DNA polymerases used for the extension reaction in the homogeneous mass extension MassARRAY genotyping system. The aim was to study whether the quality, accuracy, and expenses of a new TERMIPol DNA polymerase are competitive to the commonly used ThermoSequenase DNA polymerase. We compared the enzymes by testing 96 SNPs genotyped for DNA samples of 31 unrelated individuals and one water control. The success rates, congruence between the genotypes and completeness of extension reactions support the use of TERMIPol, especially when the amplification of the higher mass allele is difficult. Further, using TERMIPol enabled successful genotyping (>93%) of several SNPs that failed (<80% success) when using ThermoSequenase.