Sodium hypochlorite denatures the DNA of the amphibian chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis

Diseases of Aquatic Organisms
Scott D CashinsRoss A Alford

Abstract

Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, an aquatic amphibian fungus, has been implicated in many amphibian declines and extinctions. A real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) TaqMan assay is now used to detect and quantify B. dendrobatidis on amphibians and other substrates via tissue samples, swabbing and filtration. The extreme sensitivity of this diagnostic test makes it necessary to rigorously avoid cross-contamination of samples, which can produce false positives. One technique used to eliminate contamination is to destroy the contaminating DNA by chemical means. We tested 3 concentrations of sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) (1, 6 and 12%) over 4 time periods (1, 6, 15 and 24 h) to determine if NaOCl denatures B. dendrobatidis DNA sufficiently to prevent its recognition and amplification in PCR tests for the fungus. Soaking in 12% NaOCl denatured 100% of DNA within 1 h. Six percent NaOCl was on average 99.999% effective across all exposure periods, with only very low numbers of zoospores detected following treatment. One percent NaOCl was ineffective across all treatment periods. Under ideal, clean conditions treatment with 6% NaOCl may be sufficient to destroy DNA and prevent cross-contamination of samples; however, we recommend tre...Continue Reading

Citations

May 9, 2008·PLoS Biology·Franco AndreoneChé Weldon
Jun 14, 2013·Diseases of Aquatic Organisms·Laura S RobertsonPatrick M Kleeman
May 4, 2011·Current Opinion in Plant Biology·Barbara Reinhold-Hurek, Thomas Hurek
Nov 22, 2017·Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology·Qingqing LiuChaoqun Huang
Mar 31, 2015·Environmental Microbiology·Mélanie GerphagnonTélesphore Sime-Ngando

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