Bacterial detection using unlabeled phage amplification and mass spectrometry through structural and nonstructural phage markers.

According to the World Health Organization, food safety is an essential public health priority. In this context, we report a relevant proof of feasibility for the indirect specific detection of bacteria in food samples using unlabeled phage amplification coupled to ESI mass spectrometry analysis and illustrated with the model phage systems T4 and SPP1. High-resolving power mass spectrometry analysis (including bottom-up and top-down protein analysis) was used for the discovery of specific markers of phage infection.

Aminodextran containing magnetite nanoparticles for molecular biology applications: preparation and evaluation.

Within the framework of medical diagnosis, the main objective is the development of hydrophilic magnetic particles for the generic capture of the nucleic acids in order to enhance the sensitivity. The strategy used in this work is based on the synthesis of cationic and hydrophilic magnetic nanoparticles bearing aminodextran. The synthesis was performed using two different processes: (i) coprecipitation of the ferrous and ferric salts in the presence of an aqueous solution of aminodextran and (ii) via adsorption of aminodextran on iron oxide nanoparticles.

Synthesis of quantum dot-tagged submicrometer polystyrene particles by miniemulsion polymerization.

Submicrometer fluorescent polystyrene (PS) particles have been synthesized via miniemulsion polymerization using CdSe/ZnS core-shell quantum dots (QDs). The influence of QD concentration, QD coating (either trioctylphosphine oxide (TOPO)-coated or vinyl-functionalized), and surfactant concentration on the polymerization kinetics and the photoluminescence properties of the prepared particles has been analyzed. Polymerization kinetics were not altered by the presence of QDs, whatever their surface coating.