ARS | Publication request: Detection and Recovery of Shiga Toxins and Escherichia Coli O157

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: May 12, 2009
Publication Date: May 12, 2009
Citation: Clotilde, L.M., Carter, J.M., Bernard Iv, C. 2009. Detection and Recovery of Shiga Toxins and Escherichia Coli O157. [Abstract]. Planet xMAP Luminex meeting Abstract #16.

Technical Abstract: Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) are among the most costly foodborne pathogens. In the United States, recent annual cost estimates for acute care ranged from $1 to $2 billion. These were based on the assumption that E. coli O157:H7 led to 73,000 illnesses and 61 deaths each year. The pathogenesis of these infections depends on the production of Shiga toxin 1 (Stx1) and/or Shiga toxin 2 (Stx2). Currently, there are no commercially available kits capable of detecting Stx1, Stx2, and O157 lipopolysaccharides (LPS) simultaneously. As STEC strains producing Stx1, Stx2, or both toxins have often been linked to outbreaks of human illnesses and most of these are traced to consumption of E. coli O157-contaminated foods, this study focused on this specific STEC serotype as well as the main virulence factors. Here, we developed a Luminex-based immunoassay to screen for Stx1, Stx2, and E. coli O157 LPS simultaneously in spiked foods. Using minimal sample preparation, we were able to detect the three analytes simultaneously and our results showed the same specificity and sensitivity as ones obtained from testing pure STEC cultures. Conventional sandwich ELISA using the same antibodies was not as sensitive. Our newly developed Luminex-based immunoassay will serve as a milestone for developing a multiplex immunoassay for additional foodborne pathogens.