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Lab meeting 24 th Jan . ‘Microbial ecology of the ruminant udder with particular reference to ewes’ Emma Monaghan. Microbial communities. ‘Multi-species assemblages in which organisms live and interact in a shared environment’
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Lab meeting 24th Jan ‘Microbial ecology of the ruminant udder with particular reference to ewes’ Emma Monaghan
Microbial communities • ‘Multi-species assemblages in which organisms live and interact in a shared environment’ • Changes in interactions can result in disease development e.g. human gut
Microbial communities • ‘Multi-species assemblages in which organisms live and interact in a shared environment’ • Changes in interactions can result in disease development e.g. human gut • Previous research has shown bacterial species such as E. coli to persist in the mammary gland for up to 90 days with no clinical signs of disease- community present?
Current Research aim • To obtain an understanding of the total bacterial genera in the microbial community in the sheep udder
How? • DNA extraction • PCR amplification • DGGE analysis
How? • DNA extraction • PCR amplification • DGGE analysis
How? • DNA extraction • PCR amplification • DGGE analysis 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 + +
DNA extraction • Lysis stage – SDS, phenol, bead beating, freeze-thaw • Removal of proteins – hydroxyapaptite • DNA purification- sephadex columns • Ethanol precipitation
Mini-trial of techniques • Selected two ewes aged two (A48) and 4 (A17) years • Processed milk samples collected from each udder half over eight consecutive weeks in duplicate • Bacteriology and SCC information already available
Bacteriology and SCC • Left half of udder • Right half of udder
PCR amplification • Previous investigations indicated either a single or double round PCR (depending on the samples) amplified sufficient DNA for DGGE analysis
DGGE Analysis Ewe A17 Ewe A48 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 + + 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 + +
Summary of challenges • Milk quality and storage effects • Small amounts of bacterial DNA • Components of milk • PCR primers and variation in results
Challenge! 2 rounds of PCR required to produce sufficient product One round of PCR Two rounds of PCR
What to do? • Changed aspects of the PCR programme • Changed PCR reagents • Altered magnesium concentrations • Used additives such as DMSO and BSA • Used nested approach of a general bacterial PCR followed by the DGGE PCR • Changing primer sets
Summary Mini-trial samples No product in 1 round of PCR So used double round PCR and nested approach Faint product even after two rounds False positive problem Inconsistent results
Success! • 341f-GC/518R (Muyzer and Schafer, 2001) • Amplified DNA from milk samples in two rounds of PCR without false positive generation BUT....... • DNA extraction negative controls remained positive • Maybe controls now contaminated?
Fresh DNA extractions • Extracted DNA from sets of milk samples from three different ewes (A7, A32, A37) Why? • Mini-trial samples deteriorated in quality • Have undergone multiple freeze-thaw cycles, many used up completely • Could be contaminated from frequency of use • Processed milk samples for ewes in question maycontain levels of bacteria below limit of detection of extraction method
27F/338r-GC (Hunt et al 2011) Ewe A37 Ewe A7 Ewe A32
357f-GC/518R (Muyzer et al 1993) Ewe A7 Ewe A37 Ewe A32
Current findings • 27F/338r-GC amplify bacterial DNA from majority of milk samples with no detection of DNA in extraction or PCR negative controls for sets of milk samples from three different ewes • 357f-GC/518R amplify bacterial DNA without any false positive generation or contamination detection, but amplification is weaker than 27F/338r-GC for the same samples
DGGE- Second time lucky? 27F/338r-GC Hunt et al 2011 Left half of udder Right half of udder 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 + - 1 2 3 4 5 + -
Moving forward • Part one: Optimisation of 27F/338r-GC PCR: • Increase DNA template added • Vary cycle number • Purify PCR product • Re-suspend DNA extractions in smaller volume to concentrate DNA template • Part two: Optimisation of DGGE • Alter gradient to increase separation of multiple bands • Increase amount of PCR product added • Decrease amount of DNA ladder added • Part three: Other primers • 341f-GC/518R