Diagnostic Bacteriology Protocols: (345 Methods in Molecular Biology)

The field of bacterial diagnostics has seen unprecedented advances in recent years. The increased need for accurate detection and identification of bacteria in human, animal, food, and environmental samples has fueled the development of new techniques. The field has seen extensive research aided by the information from bacterial genome sequencing projects. Although traditional methods of bacterial detection and identification remain in use in laboratories around the world, there is now a growing trend toward the use of nucleic ac- based diagnostics and alternative biochemically and immunologically based formats. The ultimate goal of all diagnostic tests is the accurate detection, identification, or typing of microorganisms in samples of interest. Although the resulting information is of obvious use in the areas of patient management, animal health, and quality control, it is also of use in monitoring routes of infection and outlining strategies for infection control. There is, therefore, a need to ensure that the information being provided is of the highest standard and that any new technique is capable of delivering this.

Table of Contents:
A Review of Current and Future Molecular Diagnostic Tests for Use in the Microbiology Laboratory.- Overview of DNA Purification for Nucleic Acid-Based Diagnostics From Environmental and Clinical Samples.- Microarray-Based Detection of Bacteria by On-Chip PCR.- An Array Biosensor for Detection of Bacterial and Toxic Contaminants of Foods.- Detection of Neisseria meningitidis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Haemophilus influenzae in Blood and Cerebrospinal Fluid Using Fluorescence-Based PCR.- Use of Hybridization Probes in a Real-Time PCR Assay on the LightCycler® for the Detection of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus.- Detection of Verotoxin Genes VT 1 and VT 2 in Escherichia coli O157:H7 in Minced Beef Using Immunocapture and Real-Time PCR.- Application of Two-Step Quantitative Reverse-Transcription PCR to Bacterial Diagnostics.- Quencher Extension for Single Nucleotide Polymorphism Quantification in Bacterial Typing and Microbial Community Analyses.- Amplified Fragment-Length Polymorphism and Protein Profiling for Identification of Campylobacter lari Subgroups.- Use of Peptide Nucleic Acid Probes for Rapid Detection and Enumeration of Viable Bacteria in Recreational Waters and Beach Sand.- HOOF Prints.- Detection of Legionella in Various Sample Types Using Whole-Cell Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization.- Identification of Diagnostic Proteins in Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis by a Whole Genome Analysis Approach.- Diagnosis of Q Fever Using Indirect Microimmunofluorescence.- Macrophage Cell Cultures for Rapid Isolation of Intracellular Bacteria.

Review :
From the reviews: "The text is lucid and wonderfully brief...The techniques described have universal application to bacteriological analyses regardless of one's special interests or focus...a well and necessary addendum for all laboratories engaged in or planning to perform bacterial identifications..." -Quarterly Review of Biology "...a useful addition to the portfolio of bioscience laboratories" -Microbiology Today "A very useful book for the bench scientist interested in techniques for differentiating bacterial isolates...should prove useful in a wide range of industrial and academic applications." -Doody's Health Sciences Book Review Journal "...undoubtedly a useful addition to the series and would be of use to research scientists." -Journal of Clinical Pathology From the reviews of the second edition: "This concise volume contains simple introductions to many techniques to supplement the traditional agar plate … . The text is easy and clear to follow … . the aim of the book is to provide ideas. The chapters can, therefore, be read for inspiration … . Step-by-step guide to many of the procedures are included, so those about to embark on a new technique, or even those simply wanting to understand the principles … will be able to benefit. … A handy reference … ." (Dr. J Cargill, acp News, Winter, 2006) "This very practical volume provides concise, state of the art molecular diagnostic bacteriology protocols for a range of species … . In my view this book provides a valuable additional source of applied protocols for scientists interested in the detection and differentiation of bacteria … . I strongly recommend this book for purchase by laboratory-based scientists interested in bacterial detection and differentiation." (David C. Coleman, SGM- Society for General Microbiology, 2007) "The hard-cover publication in A5 format amounting to 225 pages including a six-page indexcontains 16 chapters … . The book is thus a valuable aid both for beginning and for experienced laboratory workers. … Diagnostic Bacteriology Protocols will be used both by experienced molecular biologists for whom it is a source of extending their used techniques, and by beginning specialists with basic knowledge of diagnostic procedures in molecular biology. The uniform and clear treatment offers very good orientation in the flood of ever-emerging facts." (E. Pavlík, Folia Microbiologica, December, 2007)