Flow-Cytometry-Based Method to Detect Escherichia coli and Shigella Spp. Using 16S rRNA-Based Probe.

Detection of microbial contamination in foods before they go on to the market can help prevent the occurrence of foodborne illness outbreaks. Current methods for the detection of Escherichia coli are limited by time-consuming procedures, which include multiple culture incubation steps, and require several days to get results. This unit describes the development of an improved rapid flow-cytometry-based detection method that has greater sensitivity and specificity.

Development of a Flow Cytometry-Based Method for Rapid Detection of Escherichia coli and Shigella Spp. Using an Oligonucleotide Probe.

Standard methods to detect Escherichia coli contamination in food use the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and agar culture plates. These methods require multiple incubation steps and take a long time to results. An improved rapid flow-cytometry based detection method was developed, using a fluorescence-labeled oligonucleotide probe specifically binding a16S rRNA sequence.

Level 2 validation of a flow cytometric method for detection of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in raw spinach.

The Bacteriological Analytical Manual (BAM) method currently used by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to detect Escherichia coli O157:H7 in spinach was systematically compared to a new flow cytometry based method. This Food and Drug Administration (FDA) level 2 external laboratory validation study was designed to determine the latter method's sensitivity and speed for analysis of this pathogen in raw spinach. Detection of target cell inoculations with a low cell count is critical, since enterohemorrhagic strains of E.

An integrated flow cytometry-based system for real-time, high sensitivity bacterial detection and identification.

Foodborne illnesses occur in both industrialized and developing countries, and may be increasing due to rapidly evolving food production practices. Yet some primary tools used to assess food safety are decades, if not centuries, old. To improve the time to result for food safety assessment a sensitive flow cytometer based system to detect microbial contamination was developed.