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Presentation date

Summer 8-12-2021

College, Institute, or Department

College of Public Health

Faculty Mentor

Mike Wiley

Research Mentor

Mike Wiley

Abstract

Nucleic acid extraction is a laboratory process by which DNA and RNA can be isolated for downstream applications. Currently, there are many commercial DNA and RNA extraction kits available to simplify this process. These kits vary in cost, processing time, and required materials. While most studies comparing commercial extraction kits analyze using real-time qPCR, DNA sequencing has become a popular technique for determining specific pathogens present in microbial communities. This study compares the ability of 11 different nucleic extraction kits to detect pathogens from samples spiked with known proportions of bacteria and yeast. Additionally, variations of the kits were performed, including different lysis techniques or addition of carrier RNA. Ultimately, the results of the study demonstrate that the use of mechanical or enzyme-based lysis techniques generally result in proportions that are more accurate to that of the known standard. Taking into consideration the required materials for each kit, some kits can also be identified as effective options for low-resource environments.

Keywords

pathogens, extraction, sequencing, yeast, bacteria

Comparison of Nucleic Acid Extraction Kits for Detecting Pathogens in Spiked Human Serum
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