DNAzyme-based quantitative loop-mediated isothermal amplification for strain-specific detection of starter kimchi fermented with Leuconostoc mesenteroides WiKim32

Leuconostoc spp. are generally utilized as kimchi starters because of their beneficial effects on kimchi fermentation and sensory characteristics. We developed a DNAzyme-based colorimetric method for measuring the abundance of the kimchi starter Leuconostoc mesenteroides WiKim32. A primer set for loop-mediated isothermal amplification and target-specific DNAzyme was designed based on the WiKim32 nucleotide sequence. In the presence of the target amplicon, DNAzyme bound to it, resulting in negligible amounts of green product. In contrast, with the addition of hemin and in the absence of the target amplicon, DNAzyme fragments not bound to the target amplicon formed G-quadruplex-hemin conjugates, generating a visible green product by oxidizing 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt. There was no cross-reaction with other strains. The method had high detection sensitivity and quantitative capacity in kimchi samples without a requirement for DNA isolation. This strategy provides a rapid, sensitive, and simple detection method with possible industrial applications.