Dissertation
Detection and characterisation of pathogenic Escherichia coli using PCR and quantitative real-time PCR for clinical and environmental applications
University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
Doctor of Philosophy, University of the Sunshine Coast
2013
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25907/00252
Abstract
The work presented in this thesis sets out to compare classical culture-based methods of Escherichia coli detection from environmental water samples with PCR and quantitative real-time PCR assays. Further, it also provides an insight into the complexities of virulence gene mobility by investigating the occurrence of E. coli virulence genes in an alternative genus of waterborne bacterial pathogens, Aeromonas, and the assessment of a large clinical isolate collection obtained from diseased cattle; recognised as a major reservoir of pathogenic E. coli and source of faecal contamination of water. Alternatives to culture-based methods of E. coli detection were firstly assessed using the Phene-Plate (PhP) biochemical fingerprinting method and an existing database of E. coli and enterococci isolates to determine point sources of contamination in a local catchment and the efficacy of applying an existing isolate database to a separate catchment area. This also provided the opportunity to build a strain bank for use in assessing the molecular approaches to water quality assessment employed throughout the project. The results of this investigation indicate that a representative database developed from a separate catchment can be used to effectively predict the sources of faecal contamination in a catchment with similar land use patterns within the same geographical area.
Details
- Title
- Detection and characterisation of pathogenic Escherichia coli using PCR and quantitative real-time PCR for clinical and environmental applications
- Authors
- Jack Tucker
- Contributors
- David B McKay (Supervisor)
- Awarding institution
- University of the Sunshine Coast
- Degree awarded
- Doctor of Philosophy
- Publisher
- University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
- DOI
- 10.25907/00252
- Organisation Unit
- School of Science and Engineering - Legacy; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Science, Technology and Engineering
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99448801002621
- Output Type
- Dissertation
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