Molecular Detection of Zonula Occludens Toxin (zot) Genes in Vibrio Cholerae O1 using PCR

Background: Zot (Zonula occludens toxin) is one of the secretion toxins of Vibrio cholerae in small intestine that binds to certain receptors in the epithelial cells and causes a change in the structure of tight junction. The purpose of this research is rapid detection of zot enterotoxin gene using PCR. Materials and Methods: The genomic DNA was extracted by DNA isolation kit and gene amplification was carried out by the zot genespecific primers. Then, PCR products were investigated by electrophoresis on 1.2% agarose gel stained by ethidium bromide. Also, the specificity of primers was measured using bacterial samples other than V. cholerae, such as enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli )ETEC(, Salmonela. typhi and Aeromonas hydrophila. The sensitivity of the PCR reaction was also evaluated using serial dilutions of V. cholerae O1 concentration (cfu/ml). Results: The data showed that the designed primers specificity for zot gene was successful and the sensitivity of this method was determined about 142 cfu/ml. Conclusion: In conclusion, this molecular detection can be used as a simple diagnostic kit in clinical laboratories for identification of V. cholerae.