Method for detecting the mutagenic character of chemical compounds

Abstract

A method for detecting the mutagenic nature of a chemical substance, using Salmonella typhimurium strains carrying a mutation in one of the genes governing the synthesis of the amino acid histidine, designated strains TA97a, TA98, TA100, TA1535 and TA102, comprising, for each of the aforementioned test strains: A qPCR step of the proportion of wild-type genes present in a first sample of a DNA elution extracted from a population of said test strain after it has been exposed to the chemical substance; A qPCR step of the proportion of mutated genes present in a second sample of the same DNA elution; A step of determining, in these samples of said DNA elution, the quantities of wild-type genes (WtEXP) and mutated genes (MutEXP); A step of calculating the ratio WtEXP / (WtEXP+MutEXP);A qPCR step of the proportion of wild-type genes, present in a first sample of a DNA elution, extracted from the population of the same test strain as that implemented in the previous steps and which was only exposed to the solvent used to dissolve the chemical substance; A qPCR step of the proportion of mutated genes, present in a second sample of the same DNA elution; A step of determining in these samples, the quantities of wild-type genes (WtNEG) and mutated genes (MutNEG) and a step of calculating the ratio WtNEG / (WtNEG+MutNEG).

Description

Title of the invention: Method for detecting the mutagenic nature of chemical compounds Technical field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to the analysis of the effects of chemical substances on the human or animal body.

[0002] The invention more specifically relates to a method for detecting the mutagenic activity of chemical substances at doses of the order of a picogram (1 pg = 10 12 g). State of the prior art

[0003] In 1973, Professor Bruce Ames and his team developed a mutagenesis test, since called the Ames test, which examines whether a chemical substance is capable of inducing specific mutations in different strains of Salmonella typhimurium carrying mutations in various genes governing the synthesis of the amino acid histidine. These pre-existing mutations act as hot spots for mutagens that cause DNA damage via different mechanisms. These mutations make strains histidine auxotrophs (so-called His strains), i.e. incapable of growing on a medium without histidine. They revert with a very low frequency, spontaneously to His+, allowing these cells to regain their ability to grow on a medium without histidine. This reversion frequency can be increased by exposing His bacteria to mutagenic agents.Thus, the Ames test allows quantification of the induction of these reverse mutations. When these strains are exposed to a mutagenic agent in the presence or absence of an exogenous metabolic activation system (liver S9 fraction), their inability to grow on a histidine-free medium is corrected, restoring their histidine independence or prototrophy. Correction can occur at or near the site of the pre-existing mutation. Different strains are active with different classes of compounds. Reference is made in this regard to the review by DM Maron and BN Ames published in 1983 (Reference 1).

[0004] OECD Guideline No. 471 states that the reverse mutation test (Reference 2) should be performed on at least five strains of Salmonella typhimurium carrying a mutation in one of the genes governing the synthesis of the amino acid histidine, including necessarily the strains TA1535, TA1537 or TA97a or TA97, T98 and TA100, with which the reliability and reproducibility of the response between laboratories have been demonstrated. The Salmonella typhimurium strain TA102 or the Escherichia Coli (E.coli) strain WP2 uvrA (PKM101) should also be used to be able to detect certain oxidizing mutagens, crosslinking agents or hydrazines.

[0005] Additional mutations or genetic alterations make them more sensitive to certain particular chemical mutagens. Reference is made in this regard to the review by K. Mortelsmans and E. Zeiger published in 2000 (Reference 3).

[0006] The standard Ames protocol includes a preincubation method which consists of exposing for 20 to 30 minutes in 2 cm3 (2 ml) of phosphate buffer, 100 mm3 (100 μl) of a culture of a strain of Salmonella typhimurium carrying a mutation in one of the genes governing the synthesis of the amino acid histidine, to 100 mm3 (100 μL) of test substance dissolved in water or DMSO in the presence of either 500 mm3 (500 μl) of a metabolic activation system (fraction S9 of rat liver), or a phosphate buffer without a metabolic activation system. After an optional additional incubation of twenty to thirty minutes at 37°C, the exposed cells are mixed with 2 cm3 (2 ml) of 40-50°C top agar containing a small amount of histidine and spread on solid agar plates. After forty-eight hours of incubation at 37°C, the plates are examined, the toxicity is assessed by observation of the bacterial lawn and the number of colonies is recorded.Each compound is tested at six doses covering a range of at least three logarithms, with each dose tested in triplicate. An alteration of the bacterial layer with or without a decrease in the number of revertants indicates toxicity. An increase in the reversion rate of more than two times compared to the background (reversion rate observed with the solvent), indicates that the test compound is mutagenic.

[0007] The traditional Ames test is used worldwide as a method to detect the mutagenic potential of new compounds. There are a large number of varieties of Ames test. An OECD regulatory test is performed directly on the 5 strains TA98, TA100, TA97 or TA97a or TA1537, TA1535, TA102 or E.Coli; this allows the evaluation of a wide range of products with different mechanisms of action TA98 / TA1535, TA100 / TA1537, TA102 or E.coli, with and without the S9 fraction, and repeated if necessary to confirm a positive result. A weak response on strain TA97 can be confirmed with strain TA1537. Strains TA102 and TA104 can be used if it is suspected that the chemical may induce oxidative damage or be a DNA crosslinking agent.

[0008] However, the Ames test as explained in the previous paragraph is long to implement and does not allow the detection of the potential mutagenic activity of compounds present in quantities below one microgram.

[0009] The inventors therefore set about developing a method derived from the Ames test which makes it possible to detect the mutagenic activity of very small quantities of chemical compounds, of the order of ten picograms to nanograms. Statement of the invention

[0010] The invention therefore aims to remedy all or part of the drawbacks mentioned above.

[0011] The subject of the invention is therefore a method for detecting the potential mutagenic character of a chemical substance, hereinafter referred to as the test chemical substance, using the bacterial strains of Salmonella typhimurium carrying a mutation in one of the genes governing the synthesis of the amino acid histidine, respectively referred to as strain TA97a, strain TA98, strain TA100, strain TA1535 and strain TA102, said method being characterized in that it comprises, for each of the above-mentioned strains, hereinafter referred to as the test strains, the following steps: - A step A. of quantification by a polymerase chain reaction, hereinafter referred to as qPCR, of the proportion of wild genes present in a first sample of an elution of deoxyribonucleic acids, hereinafter referred to as DNAs, extracted from a population of said test strain, after it has been exposed to said test chemical substance, said first sample having been furthermore, prior to said qPCR, added with a non-zero proportion of a mixture of primers and specific probes to highlight the revertant bacteria of said test strain; - A step B. of quantification by qPCR of the proportion of mutated genes present in a second sample of the same DNA elution as that used in step A., said second sample having been furthermore, prior to said qPCR, added with a non-zero proportion of a mixture of primers and specific probes to highlight the mutated bacteria of said test strain; - A step C. implemented by computer, of determination in the sample of said DNA elution subjected to step A. and in the sample of said DNA elution subjected to step B., of the quantities of wild genes (WtEXp) and mutated genes (MutEXp); - A step D. implemented by computer, of calculation of the ratio: [Math 1] R EXP = WtEXP / (WW+MuW) - A step E. of quantification by qPCR of the proportion of wild genes present in a first sample of an elution of DNAs extracted from the population of the same test strain as that used in the previous steps A. and B. and which was only exposed to the solvent used to dissolve said test chemical substance, said first sample having been furthermore, prior to said qPCR, added with a proportion not null of said mixture of specific primers and probes mentioned in step A. above; - A step F. of quantification by qPCR of the proportion of mutated genes present in a second sample of the same DNA elution as that used in step E., said second sample having been furthermore, prior to said qPCR, added a non-zero proportion of said mixture of specific primers and probes mentioned in the previous step B.; - A step G. implemented by computer, of determining in the sample of said DNA elution subjected to step E. and in the sample of said DNA elution subjected to step F., the quantities of wild genes (WtNEG) and mutated genes (MutNEG); and - A step H. implemented by computer, calculating the ratio: [Math 2] R NEG — WtNEG / (WtNEG+MutNEG)-

[0012] The method as defined above, allows, by a methodology derived from qPCR, or real-time PCR, to quantify the number of wild-type genes and mutated genes in a population of Salmonella thyphimurium after exposure to the test chemical substance and to compare the proportions obtained with those observed in the absence of exposure to the test substance. The qPCR reactions target total DNA, whether from dead or living cells.

[0013] The proportion of wild-type genes and mutated genes is determined by comparing, for a given strain, the results of two separate qPCRs carried out with different mixtures of primers and probes, a first mixture specific for the unmutated wild-type gene and a second mixture specific for the mutated gene.

[0014] Oligonucleotide primers are oligonucleotides used to hybridize to a region of a target nucleic acid, in order to facilitate the polymerization of a complementary nucleic acid. Any primer can be synthesized by a person skilled in the art. The primers specific for each gene are prepared by taking as reference the sequence of the histidine operon of salmonella typhimurium (ncbi accession number: JO 1804.1) so as to amplify the region of the gene which covers the mutation of each of the strains TA97a, TA98, TA100, TA102 and TA1535.

[0015] Nucleotide probes are segments of nucleotides that make it possible to specifically search for a fragment of nucleic acid that one wishes to study. Any probe can be synthesized by a person skilled in the art. In the context of the present invention, the probes used are cold probes and DNA sequences.

[0016] Each strain corresponds to two mixtures of specific primers and probes: - The TA100WT mixture to specifically amplify the DNAs of the strains revertants of the strain and TA100 and the TA100MUT mixture to specifically amplify the DNAs of the mutated strains of this strain, - The TA98WT mixture to specifically amplify the DNAs of the revertant strains of the TA98 strain and the TA98MUT mixture to specifically amplify the DNAs of the mutated strains of this strain, - The TA102WT mixture to specifically amplify the DNAs of the revertant strains of the TA 102 strain and the TA102MUT mixture to specifically amplify the DNAs of the mutated strains of this strain, - The TA97aWT mixture to specifically amplify the DNAs of the revertant strains of the TA97a strain and the TA97aMUT mixture to specifically amplify the DNAs of the mutated strains of this strain, and - The TA1535WT mixture to specifically amplify the DNAs of the revertant strains of the TA1535 strain, and the TA1535MUT mixture to specifically amplify the DNAs of the mutated strains of this strain.

[0017] There are therefore two qPCRs carried out for each strain sample. These amplifications are carried out with an appropriate device, in particular the one marketed by Applied Biosystems, the QuantStudio™ 3.0.

[0018] In the method as defined above, steps C. and G. implemented by computer, are generally carried out using software associated with the qPCR apparatus, in particular the design and analysis software developed by the company QuantStudio and designed to analyze the data collected from the PCR systems (QuantStudio™ Design & Analysis Desktop software in English). Step C. makes it possible to determine the number of wild-type genes (WtEXP) and mutated genes (MutEXP), for each of the cultures of the test strains which has been exposed to said test chemical substance to detect its potential mutagenic activity. Step G. for its part, makes it possible to determine the number of wild-type genes (WtNEG) and mutated genes (MutNEG), for each of the cultures of the test strains after exposure to the solvent used to dissolve said test chemical substance (Negative control).

[0019] Steps D. and H. implemented by computer, are also generally carried out using the same software as that used for the aforementioned steps C. and G. They make it possible to calculate, for each of the strains tested, respectively the REXP ratio between the number of revertant genes and the number of total genes, in the cases where it has been exposed to said test chemical substance to detect its potential mutagenic activity and the RNEG ratio, in the case where it has been exposed only to the solvent of the chemical substance whose potential mutagenic activity is desired to be detected (Negative control). These two ratios are less than or equal to one (REXP <1 and RNEG <1).

[0020]

[0021]

[0022]

[0023]

[0024] Using the method as defined above, it is possible to compare the REXP and RNEG ratios for each of the test strains mentioned. When, for at least one of the test strains, the REXP / RNEG ratio is greater than 1, a mutagenic effect of the chemical substance is detected. According to a particular mode of the method as defined above, this comprises a step I. implemented by computer, of calculating the REXP / RNEG ratio According to this particular mode, step I. implemented by computer, is also generally carried out using the same software as that used for the aforementioned steps CD, G. and H. According to another particular embodiment, the method as defined previously is characterized in that it further comprises, for each of said test strains, the following steps: - A step J. of quantification by qPCR of the proportion of wild genes present in a first sample of an elution of DNAs extracted from the population of the same test strain as that used in the preceding steps A. BE and F., after it has been exposed to a reference chemical substance, said first sample having been furthermore, prior to said qPCR, added with a non-zero proportion of said mixture of specific primers and probes mentioned in step A.; - A step K. of quantification by qPCR of the proportion of mutated genes present in a second sample of the same DNA elution as that used in step J., said second sample having been furthermore, prior to said qPCR, added with a non-zero proportion of said mixture of specific primers and probes mentioned in step B.; - A step L. implemented by computer, of determination in the sample of said DNA elution subjected to step J. and in the sample of said DNA elution subjected to step K., of the quantities of wild genes (Wtpos) and mutated genes (MutPOs); - A step M. implemented by computer, of calculation of the ratio: [Math 3] R pos = Wtpos / (Wtpos+Mutpos). According to this particular aspect of the method as defined above, step L. implemented by computer, is also carried out using software associated with the qPCR apparatus, for example, the design and analysis software developed by the company QuantStudio and designed to analyze the data collected from the PCR systems (QuantStudio™ Design & Analysis Desktop software in English). Step L. makes it possible to determine the number of wild-type genes (Wtpos) and mutated genes (Mutpos), for each of the cultures of the test strains which has been exposed to said reference chemical substance to detect its potential mutagenic activity. (Positive witness).

[0025] Step M. as defined above, is also generally carried out using the same software as that used for step L. It is a calculation step, for each of the strains tested, respectively of the ratio RpoS between the number of revertant genes and the number of total genes, in cases where it has been exposed to said reference chemical substance to detect its potential mutagenic activity (Positive control). This ratio is less than or equal to one (Rp0S <l).

[0026] By reference chemical substance is meant a chemical substance for which mutagenic activity has been detected with respect to one or more of the test strains used in the method as defined above. It is possible to compare for each of the test strains mentioned, the Rexp and RPOs ratios and thus to evaluate the mutagenic effect in relation to that of said reference chemical substance. These reference chemical substances used in steps J. and K., are specific to one, several or all of the test strains used in the method as defined above.

[0027] Thanks to the particular mode of the method as described above, it is possible to compare for each of the test strains mentioned, the REXp and RPOs ratios. When, for one of the test strains, the RExp / Rpos ratio is greater than 1, this means that the mutagenic effect detected is more intense than that of the reference chemical substance.

[0028] According to another particular embodiment, the method as defined above, this comprises a step N. implemented by computer for calculating the ratio R^ / Rpos-

[0029] Step N. as defined above is also generally carried out using the same software as that used for steps L. and M..

[0030] The invention more particularly relates to the method as defined above, characterized in that it further comprises, for each of said test strains: - A step O. of preparing DNA samples extracted from the population of said test strain, the samples of which are used in steps AB, E. and F. and, if desired, in steps J. and K. above, said step O. comprising the following sub-steps: - A sub-step OL of preparing a culture of said test strain by introducing it into a liquid culture medium supplemented either with ampicillin for each of said strains TA97a, TA98, TA100, TA102 and TA1535, or with ampicillin and tetracycline for said strain TA102, then allowing said colony to grow therein under appropriate light, temperature and duration conditions, to obtain within said bacterial culture, between 108 and 1010 cells per cubic centimeter of culture; A sub-step 02, of preparing a negative control solution without metabolic activator, by mixing between 0.5 volume and 2.5 volumes, more particularly between 0.75 volume and 1.5 volumes of said culture of the test strain prepared in sub-step 01, with between 100 volumes and 200 volumes of a liquid culture medium, between 2 volumes and 10 volumes of a buffered aqueous solution and between 0.4 volume and 2 volumes of the solvent used to prepare the initial solution of said test chemical substance; A sub-step 03. of preparing a negative control solution with metabolic activator, by mixing between 0.5 volume and 2.5 volumes, more particularly between 0.75 volume and 1.5 volumes of said culture of the test strain prepared in sub-step Ol.with between 100 volumes and 200 volumes of the same liquid culture medium as that used in the previous sub-step 02, between 2 volumes and 10 volumes of a metabolic activator and between 0.4 volumes and 2 volumes of the solvent used to prepare the initial solution of said test chemical substance; . A sub-step 04, of preparing a solution without metabolic activator, of said test chemical substance, by mixing between 0.5 volume and 2.5 volumes, more particularly between 0.75 volume and 1.5 volumes of said culture of the test strain prepared in sub-step 01, with between 100 volumes and 200 volumes of the same liquid culture medium as that used in the previous sub-step 02, 2 volumes and 10 volumes of a buffered aqueous solution and between 0.4 volume and 2 volumes of an initial solution comprising between 2.5 pg / cm3 and 300 pg / cm3 of said test chemical substance; A sub-step 05. of preparing a solution with metabolic activator, of said test chemical substance, by mixing between 0.5 volume and 2.5 volumes, more particularly between 0.75 volume and 1.5 volumes of said culture of the test strain prepared in sub-step 01, with between 100 volumes and 200 volumes of the same liquid culture medium as that used in the previous sub-step 02, between 2 volumes and 10 volumes of a metabolic activator and between 0.4 volume and 2 volumes of an initial solution comprising between 2.5 pg / cm3 and 300 pg / cm3 of said test chemical substance; Optionally, a sub-step 06. of preparation of a positive control solution without metabolic activator, by mixing between 0.5 volume and 2.5 volumes, more particularly between 0.75 volume and 1.5 volumes of said culture of the test strain prepared in sub-step Ol. with between 100 volumes and 200 volumes of the same liquid culture medium as that used in the preceding sub-step 02, between 2 volumes and 10 volumes of a buffered aqueous solution and between 0.4 volumes and 2 volumes of a solution comprising between 2.5 pg / cm3 and 300 pg / cm3 of said reference chemical substance; and - Optionally a sub-step 07, of preparation, of a positive control solution with metabolic activator, by mixing between 0.5 volume and 2.5 volumes, more particularly between 0.75 volume and 1.5 volumes of said culture of the test strain prepared in sub-step Ol. with between 100 volumes and 200 volumes of the same liquid culture medium as that used in the previous sub-step 02, between 2 volumes and 10 volumes of a metabolic activator and between 0.4 volume and 2 volumes of a solution comprising between 2.5 pg / cm3 and 300 pg / cm3 of said reference chemical substance; - A sub-step 08. of preincubation of each of the solutions prepared in sub-steps 02, 03, 04, and 05, and optionally in sub-steps 06 and 07, by leaving them to stand, away from light, for a period of between eight and sixteen hours, at a temperature of between 35°C and 45°C and more particularly between 36°C and 38°C; - A sub-step 09. of incubation of each of the solutions resulting from the preincubation sub-step 08., by mixing 1 volume of each of them with between 15 volumes and 25 volumes of a culture medium and between 3 volumes and 6 volumes of a buffered aqueous solution, then leaving each of the resulting dilutions to stand, protected from light for a period of between sixty and eighty-four hours, at a temperature of between 35°C and 45°C and more particularly between 36°C and 38°C; - Optionally a sub-step 010, of freezing each of the solutions resulting from the incubation sub-step 09; - Optionally a sub-step 011, of thawing each frozen solution from sub-step 010; - A sub-step 012, of extraction then elution of the DNAs from each of the solutions, either from the incubation sub-step 09, or thawed at the end of sub-step 011,, to obtain the eludons implemented in steps A., B., R, and F. and optionally in steps F and K, of DNAs extracted from the populations of each of the said test strains.

[0031] By liquid culture medium is preferably meant a liquid medium at room temperature which promotes the growth of bacteria of the “salmonella typhimurium” type. Such a medium is accessible to those skilled in the art or can be easily prepared by them.

[0032] In sub-step 01 of the method as defined above, said test strains are generally made available in frozen form in a cryotube or in the form of isolated colonies.

[0033] By appropriate light, temperature and duration conditions, to obtain within said bacterial culture, between 108 and 1010 cells per cubic centimeter of culture, it is meant more particularly in sub-step O1. of the process as defined above, that the culture takes place with stirring for approximately 10 hours away from light at a temperature of approximately 37°C.

[0034] According to a more particular aspect of the present invention, each of the cultures of said test strains prepared in sub-step O1. of the method as defined above, comprise between 5.108 and 5.109 per cubic centimeter of cells of said test strain.

[0035] By aqueous solution of metabolic activator, is meant mainly in step O of the process as defined above, an aqueous solution comprising 10% by volume of a supernatant fraction of a rat liver homogenate identified under the name of fraction S-9. Such a solution is hereinafter called “S9-Mix”.

[0036] The buffered aqueous solution used in different sub-steps of step O. of the process as defined above, makes it possible to balance the volume proportions of the prepared aqueous solutions which do not comprise a metabolic activator. As buffered aqueous solution, there is for example phosphate buffer or acetate buffer.

[0037] According to another more particular aspect of the present invention, sub-step 08. of the method as defined above, is carried out at a temperature of 37°C overnight.

[0038] According to another more particular aspect of the present invention, sub-step 09. of the method as defined above, is carried out at a temperature of 37°C for 72 hours.

[0039] As reference chemicals used to prepare positive control solutions without metabolic activation, there are in particular: - Acridine-9-amine (CAS number = 90-45-9) for said strain TA97a, - 2-nitro-9 / / -fluorene (CAS number = 607-57-8) for said strain TA98, - 4-Nitroquinoline-N-oxide (CAS number = 56-57-5) for the said strains TA97a, TA98, TA100, TA1535 and TA102, - Mitomycin C (CAS number = 50-07-7) for the said strain TA102, and - Sodium azide (CAS number = 26628-22-8) for the so-called strains TA 1535 and TA100.

[0040] As a reference chemical substance used to prepare the positive control solutions with metabolic activation, there is in particular anthracen-2-amine (CAS number = 613-13-8), and benzo[a]pyrene for the said strains TA97a, TA98, TA100, TA1535 and TA102.

[0041] As solvents used to prepare the initial solutions of said test chemicals and said reference chemicals, there is any solvent which does not interfere with said test strains under the experimental conditions implemented in the method as defined above. Examples of solvent include water, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), ethanol and acetonitrile.

[0042] According to another particular embodiment, the invention relates to the method as defined above, characterized in that the reference chemical substance used in sub-step 06 is racridine-9-amine when said test strain is strain TA97a, 2-nitro-9 / / -fluorene when said test strain is strain TA98, 4-nitroquinoline-N-oxide when said test strain is strain TA100, Mitomycin C when said test strain is strain TA102 and sodium azide when said test strain is strain TA1535. and in that the reference chemical substance used in sub-step 07 is anthracene-2-amine for all said test strains.

[0043] According to another particular embodiment of the method as defined above, the incubation sub-step 09. is carried out in the absence of any solid culture medium at a temperature below 60°C, and more particularly in the absence of agar-agar, or modified agar-agar.

[0044] According to another particular embodiment of the method as defined above, said liquid culture medium used in each of the sub-steps 02 to 07, and said liquid culture medium used in the incubation sub-step 09, are identical.

[0045] As an example of a liquid culture medium free from any solid culture medium at a temperature below 60°C, and more particularly in the absence of agar-agar, or modified agar-agar, there is Gencar medium.

[0046] The invention more particularly relates to a method as defined above, in which said test chemical substances are analyzed at at least five different concentrations.

[0047] When sub-steps 09. and 012, are carried out in different places, it is necessary to carry out sub-step 010, of freezing the incubates obtained at the end of sub-step 09. then to transfer the frozen incubates from the place of implementation of sub-step 09. to the place of implementation of sub-step 012,, then to carry out sub-step OÏL of thawing the frozen incubates, prior to the implementation of sub-step 012,.

[0048] When sub-steps 09. and 012 are carried out at the same location and / or a location transfer is unnecessary, it is generally unnecessary to carry out sub-steps O10. and 011. Sub-step 012 is then carried out from each of the incubators directly obtained at the end of sub-step 09..

[0049] The implementation of sub-step 012 of the method as defined above is generally carried out using a commercial kit, for example the kit called “Mag-Bind™ Bacterial DNA 96 kit” marketed by the company OMEGA Bioteck. This sub-step includes, if necessary or desired, centrifugation of the samples in order to remove the supernatants followed by washing the pellet with PBS, which will itself be removed by centrifugation. To check the reality and / or the efficiency of the extraction of the DNAs, it is useful to carry out a spectrophotometric measurement of the sample before using the kit and then a second spectrophotometric measurement after elution of the DNAs obtained to determine their quality and final concentration.

[0050] As an example of a spectrophotometer that can be used to carry out these measurements, there is in particular the NP80 nanophotometer, marketed by the company Implen, which makes it possible to quantify DNAs in liquid samples with a volume of around 0.5 mm3 (0.5 pl).

[0051] The invention also relates to a method as defined above, characterized in that the bacterial strain of Escherichia coli carrying a mutation in a gene governing the synthesis of the amino acid tryptophan called strain E.coli WP2 uvrA pKMIOl is used, either as a replacement for said strain TA102, or as a complement to all of said test strains listed above.

[0052] According to this aspect of the present invention, steps A. and R of the method implemented with said strain E.coli WP2 uvrA pKMIOl, are carried out with a mixture of primers and probes specific for highlighting the revertant bacteria of this strain and steps B. and F. with a mixture of primers and probes specific for highlighting the mutated bacteria of this strain. In addition, when implemented, sub-step OL of preparing a culture of said strain E.coli WP2 uvrA pKMIOl is carried out by introducing it into a liquid culture medium supplemented with ampicillin and tetracycline, then allowing said colony to grow therein under appropriate light, temperature and duration conditions, to obtain within said bacterial culture, between 108 and 1010 cells per cubic centimeter of culture.

[0053] As reference chemical substances used to prepare the positive control solutions when said strain used is the E.coli WP2 uvrA pKMIOl strain, there is in particular 4-nitroquinoline-N-oxide in the absence of metabolic activator and anthracene-2-amine or benzo[a]pyrene in the presence of metabolic activator.

[0054] The method as defined above can be advantageously used to detect a possible mutagenic effect of a chemical substance. It is particularly useful for monitoring the safety of chemical compounds commonly used. in commercial products.

[0055] This is why, according to a final aspect, the invention relates to the method as defined above, in which said test chemical substance, the potential mutagenicity of which is to be detected, is a component of cleaning products, cosmetic products, pharmaceutical products or industrial products such as lacquers, paints or additives used in any type of industry, said component being one of the excipients or one of the active ingredients.

[0056] The method as described above thus makes it possible to detect the mutagenic activity and the toxic nature of chemical substances present in very small quantities in commercial mixtures of the order of nanograms, which is not possible with the classic Ames test.

[0057] The following example illustrates the invention without, however, limiting it. - A. Selection of strains and equipment: The test is carried out on Salmonella typhimurium strains TA97a, TA98, TA100, TA102 and TA1535 either in the presence or absence of S9-Mix in 96-well plates for preincubation and then in tubes for incubation. Incubation is carried out in liquid medium without agar or agar derivatives. The 96-well plates are identified by the name of the strain, the date of the test, the presence or absence of metabolic activation and the name of the product to be tested. All equipment used for the test must be sterile. - B. Choice of metabolic activator: The metabolic activator used is the S9-Mix solution, the composition of which is indicated in the following table 1: Ingredients final quantities per cm3 (ml) Phosphate buffer 100 pmol Glucose-6-phosphate (disodium) 5 pmol NADP (disodium) 4 pmol Magnesium chloride 8 pmol Potassium chloride 33 pmol S9 (supernatant fraction of rat liver homogenate marketed by Molecular Toxicology Inc. (USA) 100 mm3 (100 pl) Water Up to 1 cm3 C. Preparation of cultures of test strains TA97a, TA98, TA100. TA1535 and TA102 - Cl. From a frozen cryotube: The necessary volume of strain is introduced at a rate of 2% by volume (2% v / v) of Gencar medium (liquid culture medium), then supplemented with ampicillin at a rate of 25 pg / cm3 for strains TA97a, TA98, TA100 and TA102 and also 2 pg / cm3 of tetracycline for strain TA102. C2. From an isolated culture: A colony of each of the isolated strains is introduced into 7 cm3 (7 ml) of Gencar medium then supplemented with ampicillin at a rate of 25 pg / cm3 for strains TA97a, TA98, TA100 and TA102 and also 2 pg / cm3 of tetracycline for strain TA102. The quantities used are listed in Table 2 below: Strain Volumes of ingredients used Gencar medium Ampicillin (10 mg / cm3) Tetracycline (1 mg / cm3) TA98 140 mm3 (140 pl) (or 1 colony) 7 cm3 (7 ml) 17.5 mm3 (17.5 ml) 0 TA100 140 mm3 (140 pl) (or 1 colony) 7 cm3 (7 ml) 17.5 mm3 (17.5 pl) 0 TA102 140 mm3 (140 pl) (or 1 colony) 7 cm3 (7 ml) 17.5 mm3 (17.5 pl) 14 mm3 (14 pl) TA1535 140 mm3 (140 pl) (or 1 colony) 7 cm3 (7 ml) 0 0 TA97a 140 mm3 (140 pl) (or 1 colony) 7 cm3 (7 ml) 17.5 mm3 (17.5 pl) 0 C3. The solutions prepared in paragraphs CL and C2. above are left overnight in a water bath at a temperature of 37°C and then stored at 4°C as soon as the water bath is turned off. At the end of this period, the bacterial cultures obtained contain between 5.108 and 5.109 cells per cubic centimeter. D. Preparation of negative control solutions: These solutions are prepared in the wells of ninety-six-well plates according to a distribution detailed in paragraph G. below. - Dl. Negative control solution without metabolic activator: 1.5 mm3 (1.5 pl) of each bacterial culture prepared in the previous step C. are mixed with 150 mm3 (150 pl) of Gencar medium, 6 mm3 (6 pl) of phosphate buffer and 1.2 mm3 (1.2 pl) of the solvent used to prepare the initial solution of said test chemical. D2. Negative control solution with metabolic activator: 1.5 mm3 (1.5 µl) of each bacterial culture prepared in the previous step C. are mixed with 150 mm3 (150 µl) of Gencar medium, 6 mm3 (6 µl) of the metabolic activator S9-Mix as defined in the previous paragraph B. and 1.2 mm3 (1.2 µl) of the solvent used to prepare the solution of said test chemical substance. E. Preparation of positive control solutions: These solutions are prepared in the wells of ninety-six-well plates according to a distribution detailed in the following paragraph G. - El. Positive control solution without metabolic activator: 1.5 mm3 (1.5 μl) of each bacterial culture prepared in the previous step C. are mixed with 150 mm3 (150 μl) of Gencar medium, 1.2 mm3 (1.2 μl) of the reference chemical solution and 6 mm3 (6 μl) of phosphate buffer. E2. Negative control solution with metabolic activator: 1.5 mm3 (1.5 pl) of each bacterial culture prepared in step C. above are mixed with 150 mm3 (150 pl) of Gencar medium, 1.2 mm3 (1.2 pl) of the reference chemical substance solution and 6 mm3 (6 pl) of the metabolic activator S9-mix as defined in paragraph B. above. E3. Reference chemicals used: The initial solutions of the reference chemicals used in the absence and presence of metabolic activator are listed in Tables 3 and 4 below: Reference chemical used in the absence of metabolic activator Test strain Solution concentration TA98 2-nitro fluorene 25 pg / cm3 TA100 4-nitro quinoline-N-oxide 50 pg / cm3 TA102 Mitomycin 50 pg / cm3 TA1535 Sodium azide 150 pg / cm3 TA97a 9-amino acridine 200 pg / cm3 Reference substance used in the presence of metabolic activator Test strain Solution concentration TA98 2-amino anthracene 50 pg / cm3 TA100 2-amino anthracene 50 pg / cm3 TA102 2-amino anthracene 300 pg / cm3 TA1535 2-amino anthracene 300 pg / cm3 TA97a 2-amino anthracene 50 pg / cm3 F. Preparation of solutions of chemical substances whose mutagenicity is to be detected: These solutions are prepared in the wells of ninety-six-well plates according to a distribution detailed in paragraph G. below. For each test chemical substance to be analyzed, solutions of five different concentrations are prepared. - Fl.Solution without metabolic activator: 1.5 mm3 (1.5 pl) of each bacterial culture prepared in the previous step C. are mixed with 150 mm3 (150 pl) of Gencar medium, 1.2 mm3 (1.2 pl) of the initial solution of said test chemical, and 6 mm3 (6 pl) of phosphate buffer to maintain the pH around 7.4. F2. Solution with metabolic activator: 1.5 mm3 (1.5 μl) of each bacterial culture prepared in step C. above are mixed with 150 mm3 (150 μl) of Gencar medium, 1.2 mm3 (1.2 μl) of the initial solution of said test chemical and 6 mm3 (6 μl) of the metabolic activator S9-Mix as defined in paragraph B. above. - G. Preincubation stage of the strains - Gl. Preparation of preincubation plates: For each test strain, a 96-well plate is prepared, comprising 12 columns of 8 wells. For tests without metabolic activator, - 5 wells of said 96-well plate contain 157.5 mm3 (157.5 μl) of the negative control solution, as prepared in paragraph Dl. previous; - 5 wells of said plate contain 158.7 mm3 of the positive control solution, as prepared in paragraph El. previous; - For the 5 each concentrations chosen, 5 wells of said plate contain 158.7 mm3 of the solution of the test chemical substance, as prepared in paragraph Fl. - The remaining wells, i.e. 61 wells, each contain the Gencar medium. The same distribution is adopted for the plates concerning the tests with metabolic activation with the different solutions as prepared in paragraphs D2., E2. and F2.. G2. Preincubation: The plates as prepared in paragraphs Gl. and G2. above with each of the test strains are surrounded by a film (Parafilm type) and left to incubate overnight at 37°C with shaking. H. Liquid medium incubation step - Hl. Preparation of solutions for incubation: The contents of each well after preincubation are poured into tubes containing 3 cm3 (3 ml) of Gencar medium and then 720 mm3 (720 μl) of phosphate buffer are added. Each tube contains approximately 3879 mm3 (3879 μl) of liquid, of which 3225 mm3 are finally distributed into 5 wells at a rate of 645 mm3 (645 μl) per well. H2.Incubation: The product in quantities of the order of picograms to micrograms is incubated in the presence or absence of S9 in a culture medium for a maximum of one night. I. Analysis of samples - II. Design of primers required for qPCR: qPCR technology allows the specific amplification of each allele type. The proportion of wild-type and mutated genes is determined in this test by comparing the results of two separate qPCRs performed with different types of primers and probes. A first mixture specific for the unmutated wild-type gene, called the Wt mixture, and a second mixture specific for the mutated gene, called the Mut mixture. The primers specific for each gene are designed using the sequence of the histidine operon of Salmonella typhimurium (NCBI number: JO 1804.1) as a reference in order to amplify the region of the gene that covers the mutation of each of the strains TA100, TA98, TA1535, TA102 and TA97a. I2. Extraction of Salmonella typhimurium cell DNA from the tubes after incubation: The 645 mm3 (645 μl) samples resulting from the previous incubation step H are centrifuged if necessary to remove any supernatant. 200 mm3 (200 μl) of phosphate buffer are then added to each sample under a microbiological safety cabinet (under PSM). After vigorous shaking, the optical density (OD) at 600 nm of each sample is measured using an hnplen NP80 spectrophotometer. If necessary, the samples are centrifuged again, then their DNA is extracted using the kit called "Mag Bind Bacterial DNA 96 kit" marketed by the company OMEGA bio teck. The DNA collected from each sample is then eluted in 50 mm3 of elution buffer and the quantity and concentration of the DNA obtained is measured using the same hnplen NP80 spectrophotometer (OD at 260, 230 and 280 nm). Dilutions in cascade of recombinant plasmids carrying the fragments of interest are previously prepared so that the copy numbers (amplified for each of the strains in mutated version and in revertant version) range from 2.5 copies / mm3 to 2.5 106 copies / mm3. 2 mm3 of each DNA sample are mixed with 2 mm3 of water, 5 mm3 of reagent from the “Genotyping Master Mix” kit marketed by Ther-moFisher Scientific and 1 mm3 of the following specific mixtures of primers and probes for each strain: - The TA100WT mixtures to specifically amplify the DNAs of the revertant strains of the strain and TA100 and TA100MUT to specifically amplify the DNAs of the mutated strains of this strain, - The TA98WT mixtures to specifically amplify the DNAs of the revertant strains of the strain TA98 and TA98MUT to specifically amplify the DNAs of the mutated strains of this strain,- The TA102WT mixtures to specifically amplify the DNAs of the revertant strains of the TA102 strain and TA102MUT to specifically amplify the DNAs of the mutated strains of this strain, - The mixtures - TA97aWT to specifically amplify the DNAs of the revertant strains of the TA97a strain and TA97aMUT to specifically amplify the DNAs of the mutated strains of this strain, and - The mixtures TA1535WT to specifically amplify the DNAs of the revertant strains of the TA1535 strain, and TA1535MUT to specifically amplify the DNAs of the mutated strains of this strain. I3. Sample analysis: Two qPCRs are performed for each strain sample, in order to quantify for each strain, the quantity of non-mutated wild-type genes and that of mutated genes. These amplifications are carried out with a QuantStudio™ 3.0 (Applied Biosystems), activating the attack at 90°C for 10 minutes, performing 45 PCR cycles (95°C 15 s; 66°C 60s) with a temperature ramp of 1.6°C / s. The normalization of the qPCR results is enabled thanks to the ROX reagent contained in the “Genotyping Master Mix” kit. I4. Analysis of results: The regression lines established from the threshold cycle values ​​(Ct values) obtained for each of the plasmid dilution ranges make it possible to determine the quantity of wild-type (Wt) and mutated (Mut) genes in each of the treated samples and their respective control (untreated sample). These quantities are calculated automatically by the software associated with QuantStudio ™ called: “QuantStudio™ Design & Analysis Desktop Software”. The ratio of the number of revertant genes (Wt) to the number of total genes (Wt + Mut) is then calculated for each of the samples. The proportion of revertants in each of the samples exposed to the chemical substance whose potential mutagenicity is to be detected is then compared to the proportion observed in the untreated samples. A ratio greater than 1 suggests a potential mutagenic effect induced by the said test substance. List of cited documents

[0058] 1. Dorothy M. Maron and Bruce N. Ames, Revised methods for the Salmonella mutagenicity test, Mutation Research, 113 (1983) 173-215; 2. OECD Guidelines for the Testing of Chemicals; Section 4; Guideline No. 471; Reverse Mutation Test on Bacteria » OECD, June 26, 2000; 3. Kristien Mortelmans and Errol Zeiger, The Ames SaZmoneZZa / microsome mutagenicity assay, Mutation Research 455 (2000) 29-60.

Claims

1. Claims 1. Method for detecting the potential mutagenicity of a chemical substance, hereinafter referred to as the test chemical substance, using the bacterial strains of Salmonella typhimurium carrying a mutation in one of the genes governing the synthesis of the amino acid histidine, respectively referred to as strain TA97a, strain TA98, strain TA100, strain TA1535 and strain TA102, said method being characterized in that it comprises, for each of the above-mentioned strains, hereinafter referred to as the test strains, the following steps: • A step A. of quantification by a polymerase chain reaction, hereinafter referred to as qPCR, of the proportion of wild-type genes present in a first sample of an elution of deoxyribonucleic acids, hereinafter referred to as DNAs, extracted from a population of said test strain, after it has been exposed to said test chemical substance, said first sample having been furthermore, prior to said qPCR, added with a non-zero proportion of a mixture of primers and specific probes to highlight the revertant bacteria of said test strain; • A step B. of quantification by qPCR of the proportion of mutated genes present in a second sample of the same DNA elution as that used in step A., said second sample having been furthermore, prior to said qPCR, added with a non-zero proportion of a mixture of primers and specific probes to highlight the mutated bacteria of said test strain; • A step C. implemented by computer, of determination in the sample of said DNA elution subjected to step A. and in the sample of said DNA elution subjected to step B., of the quantities of wild genes (WtEXp) and mutated genes (MutEXp); A step D. implemented by computer, of calculation of the ratio: [Math 1] Rexp = WtEXp / (WtExp+MutEXp) A step E. of quantification by qPCR of the proportion of wild genes present in a first sample of a DNA elution, extracted from the population of the same test strain as that used in the preceding steps A. and B. and which was only exposed to the solvent used to dissolve said test chemical substance, said first sample having been furthermore, prior to said qPCR, added with a non-zero proportion of said mixture of specific primers and probes mentioned in the preceding step A.; A step F. of quantification by qPCR of the proportion of mutated genes present in a second sample of the same DNA elution as that carried out in step E., said second sample having been furthermore, prior to said qPCR, added with a non-zero proportion of said mixture of specific primers and probes mentioned in the preceding step B.; A computer-implemented step G. of determining in the sample of said DNA elution subjected to step E. and in the sample of said DNA elution subjected to step F., the quantities of wild-type genes (WtNEG) and mutated genes (MutNEG); and A step H. implemented by computer, of calculation of the ratio: [Math 2] Rneg = WtNEG / (WtNEG+MutNEG).

2. 2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises a step I. implemented by computer, of calculating the Rexp / Rneg ratio.

3. 3. Method according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that it further comprises, for each of said test strains, the following steps: • A step J. of quantification by qPCR, of the proportion of wild genes, present in a first sample of an elution of DNAs extracted from the population of the same test strain as that implemented in the preceding steps ABE and F., after it has been exposed to a reference chemical substance, said first sample having been furthermore, prior to said qPCR, added with a non-zero proportion of said mixture of specific primers and probes mentioned in step A.; • A step K. of quantification by qPCR, of the proportion of mutated genes, present in a second sample of the same elution of DNAs as that implemented in step J., said second sample having been furthermore, prior to said qPCR, added with a non-zero proportion of said mixture of specific primers and probes mentioned in step B.; • A step L. implemented by computer, of determination in the sample of said DNA elution subjected to step J. and in the sample of said DNA elution subjected to step K., of the quantities of wild-type genes (WtPOs) and mutated genes (Mutpos); • A step M. of calculation of the ratio: [Math 3] Rpos = Wtpos / (Wtpos+Mutpos).

4. 4. Method according to claim 3, characterized in that it further comprises a step N. implemented by computer, of calculating the ratio Rexp / Rpos..

5. 5. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it further comprises, for each of said test strains: A step O. of preparing DNA samples extracted from the population of said test strain, the samples of which are used in steps AB, E. and F. and, if desired, in steps J. and K. above, said step O. comprising the following sub-steps: • A sub-step 01, of preparing a culture of said test strain by introducing it into a liquid culture medium supplemented either with ampicillin for each of said strains TA97a, TA98, TA100, TA102 and TA1535, or with ampicillin and tetracycline for said strain TA102, then allowing said colony to grow therein under appropriate light, temperature and duration conditions, to obtain within said bacterial culture, between 108 and 1010 cells per cubic centimeter of culture; • A sub-step 02, of preparing a negative control solution without metabolic activator, by mixing between 0.5 volume and 2.5 volumes, more particularly between 0.75 volume and 1.5 volumes of said culture of the test strain prepared in sub-step 01, with between 100 volumes and 200 volumes of a liquid culture medium, between 2 volumes and 10 volumes of a buffered aqueous solution and between 0.4 volume and 2 volumes of the solvent used to prepare the solution of said test chemical substance; • A sub-step 03. of preparing a negative control solution with metabolic activator, by mixing between 0.5 volumes and 2.5 volumes, more particularly between 0.75 volumes and 1.5 volumes of said culture of the test strain prepared in sub-step 01, with between 100 volumes and 200 volumes of the same liquid culture medium as that used in the previous sub-step 02, between 2 volumes and 10 volumes of a metabolic activator and between 0.4 volumes and 2 volumes of the solvent used to prepare the solution of said test chemical substance; A sub-step 04, of preparing a solution without metabolic activator, of said test chemical substance, by mixing between 0.5 volume and 2.5 volumes, more particularly between 0.75 volume and 1.5 volumes of said culture of the test strain prepared in sub-step 01, with between 100 volumes and 200 volumes of the same liquid culture medium as that used in the previous sub-step 02, between 2 volumes and 10 volumes of a buffered aqueous solution and between 0.4 volume and 2 volumes of an initial solution comprising between 2.5 pg / cm3 and 300 pg / cm3 of said test chemical substance; A sub-step 05. of preparing a solution with metabolic activator, of said test chemical substance, by mixing between 0.5 volume and 2.5 volumes, more particularly between 0.75 volume and 1.5 volumes of said culture of the test strain prepared in sub-step Ol., with between 100 and 200 volumes of the same liquid culture medium as that used in the previous sub-step 02, between 2 volumes and 10 volumes of a metabolic activator and between 0.4 volume and 2 volumes of an initial solution comprising between 2.5 pg / cm3 and 300 pg / cm3 of said test chemical substance; Optionally a sub-step 06. of preparing a positive control solution without metabolic activator, by mixing between 0.5 volume and 2.5 volumes, more particularly between 0.75 volume and 1.5 volumes of said culture of the test strain prepared in sub-step Ol., with between 100 and 200 volumes of the same liquid culture medium as that used in the previous sub-step 02, between 2 volumes and 10 volumes of a buffered aqueous solution and between 0.4 volume and 2 volumes of a solution comprising between 2.5 pg / cm3 and 300 pg / cm3 of said reference chemical substance; and Optionally a sub-step 07, of preparing a positive control solution with metabolic activator tabolic, by mixing between 0.5 volume and 2.5 volumes, more particularly between 0.75 volume and 1.5 volumes of said culture of the test strain prepared in sub-step 01, with between 100 and 200 volumes of the same liquid culture medium as that used in the previous sub-step 02, between 2 volumes and 10 volumes of a metabolic activator and between 0.4 volume and 2 volumes of a solution comprising between 2.5 pg / cm3 and 300 pg / cm3 of said reference chemical substance; A sub-step 08. of preincubation of each of the solutions prepared in sub-steps 02, 03, 04, and 05, and optionally in sub-steps 06 and 07, by leaving them to stand, away from light, for a period of between eight and sixteen hours, at a temperature of between 35°C and 45°C and more particularly between 36°C and 38°C; A sub-step 09. of incubation of each of the solutions resulting from the preincubation sub-step 08., by mixing 1 volume of each of them with between 15 volumes and 25 volumes of a culture medium and between 3 volumes and 6 volumes of a buffered aqueous solution, then leaving each of the resulting dilutions to stand, protected from light for a period of between sixty and eighty-four hours, at a temperature of between 35°C and 45°C and more particularly between 36°C and 38°C; Optionally a sub-step 010, of freezing each of the solutions resulting from sub-step 09. of incubation; Optionally a sub-step 011, of thawing each frozen solution resulting from sub-step 010; A sub-step 012, of extraction then elution of the DNAs from each of the solutions, either from the incubation sub-step 09, or thawed at the end of sub-step 011,, to obtain the eludons implemented in steps A., B., R, and F. and optionally in steps F and K, of DNAs extracted from the populations of each of the said test strains.

6. 6. Method according to claim 5, characterized in that the reference chemical substance used in sub-step 06. is racridine-9-amine when said test strain is strain TA97a, 2-nitro-9 / / -fluorene when said test strain is strain TA98, 4-nitroquinoline-N-oxide when said test strain is strain TA 100, Mitomycin C when said test strain is strain TA102 and sodium azide when said test strain is strain TA1535. and in that the reference chemical substance used in sub-step 07, for all said test strains is anthracen-2-amine.

7. 7. Method according to any one of claims 5 or 6, characterized in that the incubation sub-step 09. is carried out in the absence of any solid culture medium at a temperature below 60°C, and more particularly in the absence of agar-agar, or modified agar-agar.

8. 8. Method according to any one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that said liquid culture medium used in each of sub-steps 02 to 07, and said culture medium used in sub-step 09. of incubation, are identical.

9. 9. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that said test chemical substance is a component of cleaning products, cosmetic products, pharmaceutical products or industrial products such as lacquers, paints or additives used in any type of industry, said component being one of the excipients or one of the active ingredients.