ARS | Publication request: A microarray approach for simultaneous detection of multiple pathogens in food

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: October 1, 2009
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: A pathogen detection microarray was developed for simultaneous detection of the four most prominent foodborne pathogens including Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella enterica, Listeria monocytogenes and Campylobacter jejuni. The approach utilized 14 species-specific gene targets to design a variety of 70-mer oligonucleotides specifically targeting the above pathogens. To reduce the cost of detection, each microarray chip was designed and fabricated to accommodate 12 identical arrays which could be used for screening up to 12 different samples. To achieve high detection sensitivity and specificity, target-specific DNA amplification instead of whole genome random amplification was used prior to microarray analysis. Combined with 14-plex PCR amplification of target sequences, the microarray unambiguously distinguished all of these pathogens with a detection sensitivity of 1x10-4 ng (approximately 20 copies) of each genomic DNA. Applying the assay to 39 fresh meat samples, 16 samples were found to be contaminated by either 1 or 2 of these pathogens. The co-occurrences of Salmonella and E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella and L. monocytogenes in the same meat samples were also observed. Overall, the microarray combined with multiplex PCR method was able to effectively screen single or multiple pathogens in food samples and to provide important genotypic information related to pathogen virulence.