Microbial DNA extraction from intestinal biopsies is improved by avoiding mechanical cell disruption

The gut ileal mucosal virome is disturbed in patients with Crohn's disease and exacerbates intestinal inflammation in mice

Gut bacteriome dysbiosis is known to be implicated in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Crohn's disease (CD) is an IBD subtype with extensive mucosal inflammation, yet the mucosal virome, an empirical modulator of the bacteriome and mucosal immunity, remains largely unclear regarding its composition and role. Here, we exploited trans-cohort CD patients and healthy individuals to compositionally and functionally investigate the small bowel (terminal ileum) virome and bacteriome. The CD ileal virome was characterised by an under-representation of both lytic and temperate bacteriophages (especially those targeting bacterial pathogens), particularly in patients with flare-up. Meanwhile, the virome-bacteriome ecology in CD ileal mucosa was featured by a lack of Bifidobacterium- and Lachnospiraceae-led mutualistic interactions between bacteria and bacteriophages; surprisingly it was more pronounced in CD remission than flare-up, underlining the refractory and recurrent nature of mucosal inflammation in CD. Lastly, we substantiated that ileal virions from CD patients causally exacerbated intestinal inflammation in IBD mouse models, by reshaping a gut virome-bacteriome ecology preceding intestinal inflammation (microbial trigger) and augmenting microbial sensing/defence pathways in the intestine cells (host response). Altogether, our results highlight the significance of mucosal virome in CD pathogenesis and importance of mucosal virome restoration in CD therapeutics.

Optimized bacterial DNA isolation method for microbiome analysis of human tissues

Recent advances in microbiome sequencing have rendered new insights into the role of the microbiome in human health with potential clinical implications. Unfortunately, the presence of host DNA in tissue isolates has hampered the analysis of host‐associated bacteria. Here, we present a DNA isolation protocol for tissue, optimized on biopsies from resected human colons (~2–5 mm in size), which includes reduction of human DNA without distortion of relative bacterial abundance at the phylum level. We evaluated which concentrations of Triton and saponin lyse human cells and leave bacterial cells intact, in combination with DNAse treatment to deplete released human DNA. Saponin at a concentration of 0.0125% in PBS lysed host cells, resulting in a 4.5‐fold enrichment of bacterial DNA while preserving the relative abundance of Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, γ‐Proteobacteria, and Actinobacteria assessed by qPCR. Our optimized protocol was validated in the setting of two large clinical studies on 521 in vivo acquired colon biopsies of 226 patients using shotgun metagenomics. The resulting bacterial profiles exhibited alpha and beta diversities that are similar to the diversities found by 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. A direct comparison between shotgun metagenomics and 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing of 15 forceps tissue biopsies showed similar bacterial profiles and a similar Shannon diversity index between the sequencing methods. Hereby, we present the first protocol for enriching bacterial DNA from tissue biopsies that allows efficient isolation of all bacteria. Our protocol facilitates analysis of a wide spectrum of bacteria of clinical tissue samples improving their applicability for microbiome research.

Optimizing a real-time PCR assay for rapid detection of Candida auris in nasal and axillary/groin samples

Introduction. Candida auris is an emerging fungal pathogen. The organism can cause invasive infections associated with high mortality, has been implicated in outbreaks in healthcare settings and is frequently resistant to multiple antifungal agents, making it a significant challenge to infection prevention and patient treatment.Aim. To implement a real-time PCR assay for detection of C. auris in patient surveillance samples collected with the Copan Liquid Amies elution swab (ESwab) collection and transport system.Methodology. We optimized a real-time PCR testing procedure based on the sample collection device used in our institution.Results . ESwab transport medium was strongly inhibitory to the real-time PCR. Removing the medium with centrifugation, followed by suspending the pellet in PBS-BSA buffer (concentration 1 %), sufficiently eliminated the inhibition. The manual sample preparation method, freeze-thaw followed by mechanical disruption, allowed the detection of C. auris at the lowest cell concentration.Conclusion . The optimized procedure was used to test 1414 patient surveillance samples. The real-time PCR detected all culture-positive samples with 100 % sensitivity and 100 % specificity.

Method for preparing DNA from feces in guanidine thiocyanate solution affects 16S rRNA-based profiling of human microbiota diversity

Metagenomic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene is generally performed to examine the diversity and abundance of commensal bacteria in feces, which is now recognized to be associated with human health and diseases. Guanidine thiocyanate (GuSCN) solution is used as a less onerous way compared with a frozen method to transport and stock fecal samples at room temperature for DNA analysis; however, optimal methods to measure fecal bacterial composition in GuSCN solution remain to be investigated. Here, we examined the influence of various factors such as pretreatment (e.g., removing GuSCN solution and washing feces with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) before mechanical lysis), fecal concentration in the GuSCN solution, storage time, and position of fecal subsampling on the 16S rRNA-based analysis of fecal bacteria in GuSCN solution. We found that pretreatment and fecal concentration affected the bacterial composition, and a little change was noted with subsampling position. Based on these results, we propose a basic protocol, including fecal sampling, sample storage, and DNA extraction, for the 16S rRNA-based analysis of bacterial composition in feces suspended in GuSCN solution.

PCR: Identification of Genetic Polymorphisms

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) enables the amplification of a specific sequence of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) through the process of three main steps: template DNA denaturation, annealing of the primers to complementary sequences, and primer extension to synthesize DNA strands. By using this method, the target sequence will be copied and amplified at an exponential rate. PCR provides a qualitative method for identifying DNA from fresh or dried cells/body fluids, formalin-fixed archival tissue specimens, and ancient specimens.Herein we describe basic information for performing successful PCR experiments using the amplification of a human Alu insertion on the PV92 gene locus on chromosome 16 as an example method.

Sampling Strategies for Three-Dimensional Spatial Community Structures in IBD Microbiota Research

Identifying intestinal microbiota is arguably an important task that is performed to determine the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD); thus, it is crucial to collect and analyze intestinally-associated microbiota. Analyzing a single niche to categorize individuals does not enable researchers to comprehensively study the spatial variations of the microbiota. Therefore, characterizing the spatial community structures of the inflammatory bowel disease microbiome is critical for advancing our understanding of the inflammatory landscape of IBD. However, at present there is no universally accepted consensus regarding the use of specific sampling strategies in different biogeographic locations. In this review, we discuss the spatial distribution when screening sample collections in IBD microbiota research. Here, we propose a novel model, a three-dimensional spatial community structure, which encompasses the x-, y-, and z-axis distributions; it can be used in some sampling sites, such as feces, colonoscopic biopsy, the mucus gel layer, and oral cavity. On the basis of this spatial model, this article also summarizes various sampling and processing strategies prior to and after DNA extraction and recommends guidelines for practical application in future research.

A single protocol for extraction of gDNA from bacteria and yeast

Guanidine thiocyanate breakage of microorganisms has been the standard initial step in genomic DNA (gDNA) extraction of microbial DNA for two decades, despite the requirement for pretreatments to extract DNA from microorganisms other than Gram-negative bacteria. We report a quick and low-cost gDNA extraction protocol called EtNa that is efficient for bacteria and yeast over a broad range of concentrations. EtNa is based on a hot alkaline ethanol lysis. The solution can be immediately centrifuged to yield a crude gDNA extract suitable for PCR, or it can be directly applied to a silica column for purification.

A protocol for the subcellular fractionation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae using nitrogen cavitation and density gradient centrifugation

Most protocols for yeast subcellular fractionation involve the use of mechanical shear forces to lyse the spheroplasts produced by the enzymatic digestion of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae cell wall. These mechanical homogenization procedures often involve the manual use of devices such as the Dounce homogenizer, and so are very operator-dependent and, in consequence, lack reproducibility. Here, we report a highly reproducible method of homogenizing yeast cells based on nitrogen cavitation. This has been optimized to allow efficient release of subcellular compartments that show a high degree of integrity. The protocol remains effective and reproducible across a range of sample volumes and buffer environments. The subsequent separation method, which employs both sucrose and iodixanol density gradients, has been developed to resolve the major membrane-bound compartments of S. cerevisiae. We present an integrated protocol that is fast, facile, robust and efficient and that will enable ‘omics’ studies of the subcellular compartments of S. cerevisiae and other yeasts.

DNA extract characterization process for microbial detection methods development and validation

Background

Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assays used in pathogen detection require rigorous methods development including characterizing DNA extraction products. A DNA extract characterization process is demonstrated using DNA extracted from five different cells types (two Gram-negatives: Escherichia coli, and Burkholderia thailandensis, spores and vegetative cells from the Gram-positive Bacillus cereus, and yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae) with six different methods.

Results

DNA extract quantity (concentration and extraction efficiency) and quality (purity and intactness) varied by cell type and extraction method enabling the demonstration of different DNA characterization methods. DNA purity was measured using UV spectroscopy, where the A₂₆₀/A₂₈₀ and A₂₆₀/A₂₃₀ ratios are indicators of different contaminants. Reproducibility of UV spectroscopy measurements decreased for DNA concentrations less than 17.5 ng/μL. Forty-seven extracts had concentrations greater than 17.5 ng/μL, 25 had A₂₆₀/A₂₈₀ above 2.0, and 28 had A₂₆₀/A₂₃₀ ratios below 1.8 indicating RNA and polysaccharide contamination respectively. Based on a qPCR inhibition assay the contaminants did not inhibit PCR. Extract intactness was evaluated using microfluidic gel electrophoresis. Thirty-five samples had concentrations above the limit of quantification (LOQ, roughly 11 ng/ μL), 93.5% of the DNA was larger than 1kb and 1% was smaller than 300 bp. Extract concentrations ranged from 1502.2 ng/μL to below the LOQ when UV spectroscopy, fluorometry, and qPCR were used. LOQ for UV spectroscopic and fluorometric measurements were 3.5 ng/μL and 0.25 ng/μL respectively. The qPCR LOQ varied by cell type (5.72 × 10^-3 ng/μL for E. coli, 2.66 × 10^-3 ng/μL, for B. cereus, 3.78 × 10^-3 ng/μL for B. thailandensis, and 7.67 × 10^-4 ng/μL for S. cerevisiae). A number of samples were below the UV spectroscopy (n = 27), flurometry (n = 15), and qPCR (n = 3) LOQ.

Conclusion

The presented DNA extract characterization process provides measures of DNA quantity and quality applicable to microbial detection methods development and validation studies. Evaluating DNA quality and quantity results in a better understanding of process LOD and contributing factors to suboptimal assay performance. The samples used demonstrated the use of different DNA characterization methods presented but did not encompass the full range of DNA extract characteristics.