Evaluation of a new one-step enrichment in conjunction with a chromogenic medium for the detection of Cronobacter spp. (Enterobacter sakazakii) in powdered infant formula.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate a new one-step enrichment protocol, consisting of a combined preenrichment and enrichment broth (Cronobacter Enrichment Broth [CEB]) used in conjunction with selective-differential agar ChromID Sakazakii, to facilitate a shortened 2-day cultural method for detection of Cronobacter spp. (Enterobacter sakazakii) in powdered infant formula (PIF). The CEB was evaluated using samples artificially inoculated with low concentrations of 10 lyophilized strains, representative of the genus Cronobacter.

Characterization of Cronobacter recovered from dried milk and related products.

Background: Cronobacter is a recently proposed genus consisting of six genomospecies that encompass the organisms previously identified as Enterobacter sakazakii. Cronobacter are opportunistic pathogens and are known to cause serious infections in infants, particularly neonates. High case fatality rates have been associated with infections and acute sequelae can occur in survivors with severe ramifications on neurological development.

A novel real-time ultrasonic method for prion protein detection using plasminogen as a capture molecule.

Background: High resolution ultrasonography (HR-US) can monitor the molecular changes and biochemical interactions between proteins in real-time. The aim of this study was to use HR-US to characterize the real-time interactions between plasminogen coated beads and PrPSc and to determine if this approach could be applied to the identification of animals affected by prion diseases. Plasminogen, immobilized to beads, was used as a capturing tool for PrPSc in brain homogenates from scrapie affected sheep and the binding reaction was monitored in real-time in an ultrasonic cell.