African Journal of
Microbiology Research

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Microbiol. Res.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1996-0808
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJMR
  • Start Year: 2007
  • Published Articles: 5233

Full Length Research Paper

Colorimetric gold nanoparticles-based assay for direct detection of Clostridium difficile in clinical isolates from Qatar

Tahani M. Al-Saadi
  • Tahani M. Al-Saadi
  • College of Arts and Sciences, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.
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Nahla O. Eltai*
  • Nahla O. Eltai*
  • Biomedical Research Center, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.
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Wedad S. Hamdi
  • Wedad S. Hamdi
  • Biomedical Research Center, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.
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Fadheela Dad Bakhsh
  • Fadheela Dad Bakhsh
  • Biomedical Research Center, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.
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Hassan Azzazy
  • Hassan Azzazy
  • Department of Chemistry, American University of Cairo, Egypt.
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Nasser Al-Ansari
  • Nasser Al-Ansari
  • Hamad Medical Corporation, Al-Khor Hospital, Doha, Qatar.
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Asmaa Al-Thani
  • Asmaa Al-Thani
  • College of Arts and Sciences, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.
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  •  Received: 09 March 2017
  •  Accepted: 10 May 2017
  •  Published: 21 May 2017

Abstract

Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is a significant health problem worldwide. Control and prevention strategies of C. difficile horizontal transmission require assays with fast detection with high specificity and sensitivity. Conventional diagnostic methods are time consuming and costly for clinical field settings. This study aims to develop gold nanoparticles (AuNPs)-based assay for direct qualitative detection of the nucleic acid of C. difficile and its toxins. A colloidal solution of AuNPs with a diameter of 13±1 nm was prepared and characterized. The qualitative colorimetric AuNPs assay was developed for restricted genomic C. difficile DNA detection, and results were confirmed by PCR. One hundred and five positive C. difficile isolates were collected from patients with diarrheal diseases and tested using AuNPs based-assay. Ninety-six samples (91.4%) were detected positive using AuNPs based assay, as indicated by the color change from red to blue within 1 min. All ninety-six positive samples were positive for toxin B. In conclusion, nano-gold assay prototype was developed for direct and inexpensive detection of C. difficile. The developed prototypes are simple, sensitive, rapid and can substitute PCR-based detection. The developed assay may show potential in the clinical diagnosis of C. difficile, especially in developing countries as it is less costly as compared to the commercially available assays.

Key words: Gold nanoparticles, Clostridium difficile, colorimetric assay, polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Abbreviation

CDI, Clostridium difficile Infection; AuNPs, gold nanoparticles; EIAs, enzyme immunoassays; GDH, glutamate dehydrogenase enzyme; LSPR, localized surface plasmon resonance; SEM, scanning electron microscope; RT-PCR, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.

Copyright © 2024 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article.

This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0

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