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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Athens, Georgia » U.S. National Poultry Research Center » Quality and Safety Assessment Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #338624
Research Project: Develop Rapid Optical Detection Methods for Food Hazards

Location: Quality and Safety Assessment Research Unit

Title: Label-free SERS detection of Salmonella Typhimurium on DNA aptamer modified AgNR substrates

Author
item CHEN, JING - US Department Of Agriculture (USDA)
item Park, Bosoon
item HUANG, YAO-WEN - University Of Georgia
item ZHAO, YIPING - University Of Georgia
item KWON, YONGKUK - Animal And Plant Quarantine Agency

Submitted to: Journal of Food Measurement and Characterization
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/27/2017
Publication Date: 6/2/2017
Citation: Chen, J., Park, B., Huang, Y., Zhao, Y., Kwon, Y. 2017. Label-free SERS detection of Salmonella Typhimurium on DNA aptamer modified AgNR substrates. Journal of Food Measurement and Characterization. 11: 1773-1779.

Interpretive Summary: High prevalence of Salmonella enterica in poultry products is one of the major causes of gastrointestinal infections in the US, resulting in significant public health and economical burdens each year. S. Typhimurium is one of the mostly common Salmonella serotypes responsible for foodborne outbreaks. Timely detection of S. Typhimurium is a key measure in prevention and control of outbreaks. Aptamers are a promising substitute for antibodies as specific recognitioni elements in rapid immunoassays due to their high stability and low cost. In this study we developed a surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy method based on aptamer recognition of S. Typhimurium. The potential and limitations of this method have been discussed as well in this paper.

Technical Abstract: Salmonella Typhimurium is an important foodborne pathogen which causes gastroenteritis in both humans and animals. Currently available rapid methods have relied on antibodies to offer specific recognition of the pathogen from the background. As a substitute of antibodies, nucleic acid aptamers offer higher stability and cost less. The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential of an aptamer-based surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS)detection. Silver nanorod array substrates were modified with anti-S. Typhimurium DNA aptamer, and reacted with S. Typhimurium and control species (S. Enteritidis, E. coli, and E. faecalis). Some noticeable spectral changes, including a significantly higher ratio of the 725 and 680 cm-1 peak intensities was found in the SERS spectra of S. Typhimurium compared to the negative and blank controls. Such spectral changes were confirmed by principle component analysis, and can potentially be used for specific detection of S. Typhimurium. Some limitations of this label-free SERS method with aptamers are also discussed.