Rapid assessment of viral water quality using a novel recombinase polymerase amplification test for human adenovirus.

Sensitive and rapid methods for determining viral contamination of water are critical, since illness can be caused by low numbers of viruses and bacterial indicators do not adequately predict viral loads. We developed novel rapid assays for detecting the viral water quality indicator human adenovirus (HAdV). A simple 15-min recombinase polymerase amplification step followed by a 5-min lateral flow detection is used.

The QuantiPhage assay: A novel method for the rapid colorimetric detection of coliphages using cellulose pad materials.

Assessment of viral contamination is essential for monitoring the microbial quality of water and protection of public health, as human virus presence is not accurately determined using bacterial indicators. Currently, the time required for conventional viral testing means that water contaminated with human pathogens may be used (e.g.

Evaluation of MinION nanopore sequencing for rapid enterovirus genotyping.

Enteroviruses (EV) are associated with a range of serious infections, including aseptic meningitis, hand foot and mouth disease, myocarditis, acute flaccid paralysis and encephalitis. Improved methods for assessing EV genotypic diversity could assist molecular epidemiology studies, clinical diagnosis and environmental surveillance. We report new methods for EV genome amplification, and subsequent genotyping using the miniaturised MinION sequencing device.

DNA Heat Treatment for Improving qPCR Analysis of Human Adenovirus in Wastewater.

PCR inhibitory substances in complex sample matrices can cause false negatives or under-estimation of target concentration. This study assessed DNA heat treatment for reducing inhibition during qPCR analysis of human adenovirus (HAdV) in wastewater samples. Inhibition was reduced by heat treating DNA, where mean HAdV concentration was increased by 0.

Technical aspects of using human adenovirus as a viral water quality indicator.

Despite dramatic improvements in water treatment technologies in developed countries, waterborne viruses are still associated with many of cases of illness each year. These illnesses include gastroenteritis, meningitis, encephalitis, and respiratory infections. Importantly, outbreaks of viral disease from waters deemed compliant from bacterial indicator testing still occur, which highlights the need to monitor the virological quality of water.

Factors associated with the suppressiveness of sugarcane soils to plant-parasitic nematodes.

Observations in three Australian sugarcane fields suggested that the soil just under the trash blanket (the covering of crop residue that remains on the soil surface after crops are harvested) was suppressive to plant-parasitic nematodes. Roots were concentrated in this upper layer of soil but plant-parasitic nematode populations were relatively low and roots showed few signs of nematode damage. Root biomass was much lower 15 cm further down the soil profile, where root health was poor and populations of plant-parasitic nematodes were 3-5 times higher than near the soil surface.