Limiting false-positive polymerase chain reaction results: detection of DNA and mRNA to differentiate viable from dead bacteria

作者：Kobayashi Hideo; Oethinger Margret; Tuohy Marion J; Procop Gary W; Hall Gerri S; Bauer Thomas W^*

来源：Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Disease, 2009, 64(4): 445-447.

DOI：10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2009.04.004

• Bacterial viability
• 16S rDNA
• groEL mRNA
• Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction
• Real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction

We compared 2 methods for determining Escherichia coli viability in vitro. A 16S rDNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay detected bacteria irrespective of viability. A groEL mRNA reverse transcriptase PCR was positive for 72 h but later became negative. Detecting mRNA holds promise but is tedious, and groEL may not be the best target.

• 出版日期2009-8