Microarray based multiplex pathogen analysis for plants, agriculture, food, and water

Abstract

Provided is a method for a two-step multiplex DNA amplification reaction which allows bacterial or fungal DNA analysis without first extracting DNA from the sample, nor without need to enrich microbes by laboratory culture prior to analysis. Without additional DNA purification or analysis, the PCR amplified DNA is administered directly to a microarray designed to interrogate a large panel of meaningful bacteria or fungi as a single multiplex test. Microarray analysis is then performed at ambient temperature, thus enabling substantial simplification of the testing process. It is contemplated that analysis may be conducted on unprocessed and processed leaf wash and similar surface sampling of plant material,, vegetables, fruit, nuts, spices, grains, other agriculture samples, food samples, or water samples, so as to detect bacterial, yeast, mold or viral, plant or human pathogen contamination.