Real-time multiplex SYBR green I-based PCR assay for simultaneous detection of Salmonella serovars and Listeria monocytogenes

A multiplex SYBR Green I-based PCR assay has been developed for simultaneous detection of Salmonella serovars and Listeria monocytogenes using a LightCycler. Primers were designed to amplify an 85-bp sequence from the gene encoding a fimbrinlike protein (fimI) of Salmonella Enteritidis and a 98-bp sequence from the hemolysin gene (hly) of L. monocytogenes. These primers allowed the amplification of PCR products having distinct melting temperature values, resulting in the formation of two distinct peaks representing the two targets. Background signals, resulting from primer-dimer formation in the late cycles of PCR, are eliminated through the acquisition of data at a high temperature (>75 degrees C), but several degrees lower than required for detection of the specific PCR products. A rapid and simple method for the extraction of bacterial genomic DNA from liquid culture, coupled with duplex PCR using LightCycler SYBR Green-based PCR assays, detected the presence of 2.5 cells and 1 cell of Salmonella serovars and L. monocytogenes, respectively, within an hour. Following overnight enrichment, target DNA was present in sufficient quantities in 1 microl of culture to enable direct detection with the LightCycler.     

Development of a multiplex real-time PCR method for simultaneous detection of Salmonella enterica, Shigella flexneri and Listeria monocytogenes in processed food samples

The present work is focused on the development of a TaqMan multiplex real-time PCR method for the detection of Salmonella, Shigella and L. monocytogenes in seafood, meat and ready-to-eat products. The aim of this study is to detect the three pathogens in one single test including an enrichment medium for the simultaneous growth of the bacteria of interest and an Internal Amplification Control (IAC) to monitor PCR inhibitors. For this purpose, three genes were selected, invA for Salmonella, ipaH for Shigella and hlyA for L. monocytogenes. Also, no. 17 broth without dextrose and further modified by adding Tween 80 was used for the enrichment step. Specificity of the method was checked against a panel of 24 non-target bacterial strains. RT-PCR efficiency obtained for the simultaneous amplification of all three pathogens was 102.5% for Salmonella, 108.9% for Shigella and 106.4% for L. monocytogenes. The limit of detection (LOD) was evaluated in seafood, meat and ready-to-eat products, being established within 3 and 22 cfu in 25 g of sample for the three bacteria analyzed. Seventy-eight samples were analyzed with multiplex RT-PCR including spiked and natural samples collected from different laboratories. Even though several RT-PCR methods have been developed for the detection of Salmonella, Shigella and L. monocytogenes, as far as we know this is the first method developed for the simultaneous detection of these three pathogens, coupling RT-PCR with an enrichment in the same broth and being tested in a wide range of different processed food samples with a low LOD. The application of this method can significantly reduce costs and time of analysis in laboratories, what would be reflected in a faster response in those risk situations when they are detected.     

Simultaneous detection of Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella by multiplex PCR in cooked ham

A multiplex PCR (m-PCR) assay with an internal amplification control (IAC) was developed for the simultaneous detection of Salmonella spp. and Listeria monocytogenes through invA and prfA genes, respectively. To ensure the detection of the pathogens in cooked ham, samples were enriched in both buffered peptone-water and Half Fraser broth. Subsequently, equal volumes of enrichment broths were mixed and DNA purification was performed prior to m-PCR reaction, saving considerable time and effort. The m-PCR also proved to be very useful as a simple and ready-to-go method for simultaneous confirmation of presumptive L. monocytogenes and Salmonella spp. colonies directly from agar plates without any DNA extraction steps.     

双重荧光定量PCR检测沙门菌和单核细胞增生李斯特菌方法的建立

目的建立双重荧光定量PCR方法,快速检测沙门菌和单核细胞增生李斯特菌。方法通过设计特异性引物和探针,扩增沙门菌的fimY基因和单核细胞增生李斯特菌的hly基因,采用倍比梯度稀释法检测该体系的灵敏度,以另外7株肠道致病菌评价检测体系的特异性;建立了沙门菌和单核细胞增生李斯特菌感染小鼠的检测模型以验证方法的适用性。结果建立了同时检测沙门菌和单核细胞增生李斯特菌的双重荧光定量PCR方法,从DNA提取到检测完毕仅需2.5 h。检测两种病原菌的灵敏度分别为11和12.8 copies/μl,特异性为100%,符合率为93.3%。结论该法缩短了检测时间,并有良好的灵敏性和特异性,在疾病防控及食品卫生行业中很有应用前景。     

多重荧光定量PCR法检测海产品中副溶血性弧菌、沙门菌和单增李斯特菌

目的建立检测海产品中副溶血性弧菌、沙门菌和单增李斯特菌的多重荧光定量PCR体系。方法针对副溶血性弧菌tlh基因,沙门菌Ompc基因和单增李斯特菌hly基因设计引物和Taq Man探针,建立多重荧光定量PCR体系,进行特异性与敏感性研究;利用该体系检测海产品中的副溶血性弧菌、沙门菌和单增李斯特菌。结果副溶血性弧菌、沙门菌和单增李斯特菌可得到特异性扩增,而共存于海产品中的其他细菌均未见扩增曲线。敏感性试验显示,该体系对副溶血性弧菌、沙门菌和单增李斯特菌的最低检测限分别为72、40、80 cfu/ml。对舟山采集的150份样品进行检测,检出32份副溶血性弧菌、11份沙门菌、5份单增李斯特菌,与国标法检测结果一致。结论本研究建立的基于Taq Man探针的多重荧光定量PCR检测方法可以特异、灵敏、简单快速地实现对海产品中副溶血性弧菌、沙门菌和单增李斯特菌的检测。     

Multiplex PCR for simultaneous detection of Salmonella spp., Listeria monocytogenes, and Escherichia coli O157:H7 in meat samples

A multiplex PCR method was developed for simultaneous detection of Salmonella spp., Listeria monocytogenes, and Escherichia coli O157:H7 in meat samples. DNA detection sensitivity for this method was 10(3) CFU/ml for each pathogen. When this protocol was used for the detection of each of the above pathogenic bacteria in spiked pork samples, 1 cell per 25 g of inoculated sample could be detected within 30 h. In the samples of naturally contaminated meat, Salmonella spp., L. monocytogenes, and E. coli O157:H7 were detected over the same time period. Excellent agreement was obtained for the results of multiplex PCR and the conventional culture method, which suggests that the multiplex PCR is a reliable and useful method for rapid screening of meat products for Salmonella spp., L. monocytogenes, and E. coli O157:H7 contamination.     

实时定量荧光PCR快速鉴定食品中单核细胞增生李斯特氏菌

目的建立实时定量荧光PCR法(real-time PCR)快速鉴定食品中的单核细胞增生李斯特氏菌(Listeria monocytogenes,LM)。方法选取2016年国家食品风险监测样本134例与模拟灭活LM样本10例,采用GB/T4789.30-2010与real-time PCR方法同步检测单核细胞增生李斯特菌。结果共检测食品134份,包括肉制品、水产品、快餐和即食食品等。共检出8株LM,检出率为5.97%。以GB/T4789.30-2010为金标准判断,real-time PCR方法检测样本中LM的灵敏度与特异度均达到100%。模拟灭活LM样本real-time PCR方法检出率为100%,标准法检出率为0%。结论本方法可以简化实验程序,减少工作量,节约检测试剂,为可能发生的食物中毒尽早提供实验依据。     

单增李斯特菌毒力因子多重荧光PCR法 建立与应用

目的建立同时检测单增李斯特菌(Listeria monocytogenes)及其3种毒力因子的多重荧光PCR快速检测方法,并应用于日常食品的检测。方法根据单增李斯特菌溶血素基因hly A、内化素基因inl A和表面蛋白act A基因的保守序列,分别设计合成特异性引物和探针,优化多重荧光PCR反应体系。对该方法的特异性、敏感性和重复性进行评估。结果该法特异性强、敏感性高,对单增李斯特菌纯培养物的最低检出限410cfu/m L;重复性好,变异系数均小于2%。对84份食品检测结果与传统国标法相符,共检出单增李斯特菌4份,检出率为4.76%。多重荧光PCR检测方法耗时1 h,比传统方法节约2~5 d。4株单增李斯特菌分离株中2株同时含有inl A、act A、hly A 3种毒力基因,另2株为毒力基因act A缺失株,提示目前流行株并非同一来源。结论本研究建立的多重实时荧光PCR方法能同时对单增李斯特菌及其3种毒力因子进行快速检测,且灵敏度高、特异性好,为食源性疾病的病原学检测提供了快速可靠的方法。     

Development of multiplex real-time PCR with Internal amplification control for simultaneous detection of Salmonella and Cronobacter in powdered infant formula

Contamination of powdered infant formula (PIF) by the bacteria Cronobacter spp. and Salmonella enterica was deemed a matter of great concern by the World Health Organization and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in 2004. Therefore, we developed a rapid and sensitive multiplex real-time PCR assay for the simultaneous detection of Cronobacter and Salmonella in PIF. In addition, an internal amplification control (IAC) was also included for exclusion of false negative results in this study. The quantitative detection range for pure cultures in this optimized multiplex real-time PCR assay was 10³ to 10⁸ CFU/ml for both Salmonella and Cronobacter. When our established multiplex real-time PCR system was applied to artificially contaminated PIF, the detection limit was 10³ CFU/ml for Salmonella and Cronobacter without enrichment. The commercial PIF was then inoculated with Salmonella and Cronobacter at 10, 1 and 0.1 CFU per gram of formula and the single enrichment broth samples were analyzed by multiplex real-time PCR after enrichment for 9, 12, and 24 h. At 12 h post-enrichment, we could detect Salmonella and Cronobacter at initial inoculation levels of approximately 0.1 CFU/g in PIF. Additionally, stable fluorescent IAC signals could be assessed between 29 and 34 cycles of PCR amplification. Results from this study showed that the multiplex real-time PCR assay is an effective method for the rapid and simultaneous detection and quantification of Cronobacter and Salmonella in PIF.     

Combined PCR and slot blot assay for detection of Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes

Detection of Salmonella typhimurium and Listeria monocytogenes by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay coupled with slot blot detection was investigated in this study. After being extracted from diluted bacterial culture with the extraction buffer, bacterial DNA was subjected to PCR. The slot blot assay was optimized and used to detect PCR products. The lowest detection level of this method was 10(3) cfu/ml in the original culture media for both pathogens, or 5 bacterial cells in the PCR reaction. Combined with immunomagnetic separation (IMS) to separate and concentrate bacteria from samples, the detection limit could be 40 cfu/ml of bacteria from milk samples. The whole detection procedure was completed within 7 h. After multiplex PCR (amplification of DNA from two different bacteria in the same PCR tube) and slot blot, a detection level of 10(3) cfu/ml was achieved in the simultaneous detection for both pathogens, which was similar to that of individual detection for each pathogen. The combination of PCR and slot-blot seems to be highly sensitive and time-efficient, and is therefore promising for routine use in the detection of Salmonella and L. monocytogenes in food samples such as milk.     

Application of a multiplex PCR for the simultaneous detection of Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella and Shigella in raw and ready-to-eat meat products

Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella and Shigella might contaminate similar types of meat products and cause deadly diseases in humans. Traditional microbiological analyses to detect these pathogens are labor-intensive and time-consuming. The objective of this study was to apply a multiplex PCR for simultaneous detection of the pathogenic bacteria in certain raw and ready-to-eat meat matrices. The tested samples had aerobic plate counts ranging from non-detectable, in chicken nuggets and salami, to 8.36log(10)CFU/g in ground pork. The pH of homogenates spanned from 6.86, in ground beef, to 7.17 in salami. Following a 24-h enrichment, the multiplex PCR assay could concurrently detect the three pathogens at 0.2log(10)CFU/g in ground beef, roast beef, beef frankfurters, chicken nuggets, salami and turkey ham, and 1.2log(10)CFU/g in ground pork. This multiplex PCR offers an efficient microbiological tool for presumptive detection of E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella and Shigella in meat.     

Rapid detection of Listeria monocytogenes by nanoparticle-based immunomagnetic separation and real-time PCR

The objective of this study was to develop a method combining nanoparticle-based immunomagnetic separation (IMS) with real-time PCR for a rapid and quantitative detection of Listeria monocytogenes. Carboxyl modified magnetic nanoparticles were covalently bound with rabbit anti-L. monocytogenes via the amine groups. Several factors, such as the amount of immunomagnetic nanoparticles (IMNPs), reaction and collection times, and washing step, were optimized, and the nanoparticle-based IMS in combination with real-time PCR was further evaluated for detecting L. monocytogenes from artificially contaminated milk. The cell numbers calculated from the means of threshold cycles (CT) of PCR amplification curves were compared to those from plate counts in order to determine the correspondence degree of quantitative data. The capture efficiency (CE) by plating from IMNP-based IMS was 1.4 to 26 times higher than those of Dynabeads-based IMS depending on the initial cell concentrations inoculated into milk samples. When combined with real-time PCR, L. monocytogenes DNA was detected in milk samples with L. monocytogenes >or=10(2) CFU/0.5 ml. In the range of 10(3) to 10(7)L. monocytogenes CFU/0.5 ml, cell numbers calculated from CT values were 1.5 to 7 times higher than those derived from plate counts. Our results demonstrated that both the use of nanoparticles and the choice of anti-L. monocytogenes in our IMNP-based IMS in combination with real-time PCR has improved the sensitivity of L. monocytogenes detection from both nutrient broth and milk samples.     

Simultaneous detection of Escherichia coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella strains by real-time PCR

A protocol enabling simultaneous detection of Escherichia coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella strains was devised and evaluated using artificially contaminated fresh produce. Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC)-approved polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detection methods for three human pathogens were modified to enable simultaneous and real-time detection with high throughput capability. The method includes a melting-curve analysis of PCR products, which serves as confirmatory test. The modified protocol successfully detected all three pathogens when fresh produce was washed with artificially contaminated water containing E. coli O157:H7 and S. typhimurium down to the predicted level of 1 to 10 cells/ml and L. monocytogenes at 1000 cells/ml. The ability to monitor several pathogens simultaneously will save time and increase our ability to assure food safety.     

Development of a multiplex real-time PCR assay for the detection of ruminant DNA

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has previously validated a real-time PCR-based assay that is currently being used by the FDA and several state laboratories as the official screening method. Due to several shortcomings to the assay, a multiplex real-time PCR assay (MRTA) to detect three ruminant species (bovine, caprine, and ovine) was developed using a lyophilized bead design. The assay contained two primer or probe sets: a "ruminant" set to detect bovine-, caprine-, and ovine-derived materials and a second set to serve as an internal PCR control, formatted using a lyophilized bead design. Performance of the assay was evaluated against stringent acceptance criteria developed by the FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine's Office of Research. The MRTA for the detection of ruminant DNA passed the stringent acceptance criteria for specificity, sensitivity, and selectivity. The assay met sensitivity and reproducibility requirements by detecting 30 of 30 complete feed samples fortified with meals at 0.1 % (wt/wt) rendered material from each of the three ruminant species. The MRTA demonstrated 100 % selectivity (0.0 % false positives) for negative controls throughout the assessment period. The assay showed ruggedness in both sample selection and reagent preparation. Second and third analyst trials confirmed the quality of the written standard operating procedure with consistency of results. An external laboratory participating in a peer-verification trial demonstrated 100 % specificity in identifying bovine meat and bone meal, while exhibiting a 0.03 % rate of false positives. The assay demonstrated equal levels of sensitivity and reproducibility compared with the FDA's current validated real-time PCR assay. The assay detected three prohibited species in less than 1.5 h of total assay time, a significant improvement over the current real-time assay. These results demonstrated this assay's suitability for routine regulatory use both as a primary screening tool and as a confirmatory test.     

FTA滤膜用于PCR检测单核细胞增生李斯特氏菌的研究

建立单核细胞增生李斯特氏菌(Listeria moncytones,LM)快速、敏感、特异的PCR检测方法.利用FTA滤膜提取模板DNA,采用PCR特异性扩增单增李斯特菌的溶血素基因(HIyA),并评价该方法的特异性与灵敏性.引物能特异性的扩增单增李斯特的HIyA基因,而其他细菌的扩增结果均呈现阴性:利用FTA滤膜提取模板直接检测单增李斯特具有较高的灵敏度,灵敏度为l 02 cfu/mL.利用FFA滤膜提取模板,操作简便,成本低且具有较高的灵敏度,为食品中单核细胞增生李斯特氏菌的快速检测提供新的手段.     

Nonaplex real-time PCR detection of Listeria monocytogenes, Campylobacter, Salmonella and enteropathogene E. coli after universal enrichment in food samples

A universal cultivation media for Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella and enteropathogenic Escherichia coli in conjunction with a highly efficient nonaplex PCR for the determination of L. monocytogenes, Campylobacter, Salmonella and enteropathogenic E. coli was developed and compared to classical microbiological assays. The achieved detection limit was at 2 colony-forming units per g for all analytes. The method allows screening of food samples within 24 h and is partly automatable. A ring trial showed that it can be easily established in other laboratories showing its robustness. The presented method yields results similar to the classical ISO methods based on cultivation.     

Novel multiplex PCR for the detection of the Staphylococcus aureus superantigen and its application to raw meat isolates in Korea

A multiplex PCR assay that allows for the rapid screening of the 19 genes that encode staphylococcal enterotoxins (SEs) (sea to see, and seg to sei), SE-like (SEl) toxins (sej to ser, and seu), and toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSST-1) (tst) was developed in this study. These toxins are included in the pyrogenic toxin superantigen (PTSAg) family and are responsible for many diseases such as staphylococcal food poisoning (SFP) and TSS. The primers were designed based on dual priming oligonucleotide (DPO) technology to detect all of the 19 SAg genes in three sets of PCR. The developed multiplex PCR was applied to 143 Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from pork and chicken meat in Korea. Almost 50% of the strains possessed at least one of the 19 SAg genes. The most frequently found genes were seg, sei, sem, and sen (53 isolates, 37%), which were often found simultaneously in the same isolate. In those isolates, the seo (39 isolates, 27%) or seu (6 isolates, 4%) genes were frequently found together and this combination (seg, sei, sem, sen, and seo or seu) was considered to be a part of the enterotoxin gene cluster (egc). The sea gene (10 isolates, 7%) was the gene most frequently detected out of all the classical SE genes (sea to see). Although these classical SEs are considered to be major etiological factors in SFP, newly described SE or SEl genes (seg to ser, and seu) were more frequently detected than the classical SE genes in this study. There was no isolate detected containing the seb, sec, sek, sel, or seq genes. S. aureus possessing mobile genetic elements known to encode these SAg genes, such as egc, were presumed to be widely distributed among pork and chicken meats in Korea. The multiplex PCR developed in this study could be applied to the investigation of SAg genes in S. aureus strains isolated from various sources.     

食品中单核增生性李斯特菌的PCR快速检测研究

为提高食品中单增李斯特菌的检测水平,针对单增李斯特菌中多个稳定的特异性基因hlyA、plcB、prfA、iap,设计并筛选出7对引物组成多重-巢式PCR联合检测体系,并结合高灵敏性的聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳,对单增李斯特菌进行快速检测,多重PCR的灵敏度达到1×102CFU ml,巢式PCR的灵敏度达到1×10CFU ml。结果表明该检测体系具有快速可靠、灵敏准确及特异性好的特点,而且有效缩短了检验周期,从传统的7～14d缩短到1～2d。     

A PCR method based on 16S rRNA sequence for simultaneous detection of the genus Listeria and the species Listeria monocytogenes in food products

The genus Listeria comprises six closely related species, of which only Listeria monocytogenes is a human pathogen. The rapid and sensitive detection of L. monocytogenes is important in the food industry as well as in medical diagnosis. In this study, a PCR-based method for the rapid, specific, and sensitive detection of L. monocytogenes in food products was developed. The PCR is based on DNA sequences and primer pairs that are found within the 16S subunit of the rRNA gene and are specific to the Listeria genus and to L. monocytogenes within the Listeria genus. The primers for the Listeria genus and for L. monocytogenes were used in the same reaction mix for their simultaneous detection. In addition, a pair of bacterial primers universal to any bacterial DNA at the 16S subunit of the rRNA gene were developed as a positive control. For the detection of Listeria and L. monocytogenes in food products, the method includes selective enrichment for Listeria followed by DNA extraction and a specific PCR reaction. The method detects 1 to 5 CFU in a 25-g sample in < or = 24 h. It can be easily incorporated into the routine screening of diverse food products and readily adapted for clinical use.