Rapid Methods for Detecting Foodborne Pathogens

Rapid Methods

The rapid detection of pathogens and other microbial contaminants in food is critical for ensuring the safety of consumers. Traditional methods to detect foodborne bacteria often rely on time-consuming growth in culture media, followed by isolation, biochemical identification, and sometimes serology.

Recent advances in technology make detection and identification faster, more convenient, more sensitive, and more specific than conventional assays -- at least in theory.

These new methods are often referred to as "rapid methods", a subjective term used loosely to describe a vast array of tests that includes miniaturized biochemical kits, antibody- and DNA-based tests, and assays that are modifications of conventional tests to speed up analysis (8, 15, 16, 24, 36).

Some of these assays have also been automated to reduce hands-on manipulations. With few exceptions, almost all assays used to detect specific pathogens in foods require some growth in an enrichment medium before analysis.

Experts who were surveyed in 1981 (19) about future developments in methods used for food microbiology, accurately predicted the widespread use of miniaturized biochemical kits for the identification of pure cultures of bacteria isolated from food. Most consist of a disposable device containing 15 - 30 media or substrates specifically designed to identify a bacterial group or species. With the exception of a few kits where results can be read in 4 hrs, most require 18-24 hrs incubation.

In general, miniaturized biochemical tests are very similar in format and performance, showing 90-99% accuracy in comparison to conventional methods (5, 16, 21). However, kits that have been in use longer may have a more extensive identification database than newer tests.

Most miniaturized kits are designed for enteric bacteria, but kits for the identification of non-Enterobacteriaceae are also available, including for Campylobacter, Listeria, anaerobes, non-fermenting Gram-negative bacteria and for Gram-positive bacteria (Table 1).

Advances in instrumentation have enabled automation of the miniaturized biochemical identification tests. These instruments can incubate the reactions and automatically monitor biochemical changes to generate a phenotypic profile, which is then compared with the provided database stored in the computer to provide an identification (8, 23, 35). Other automated systems identify bacteria based on compositional or metabolic properties, such as fatty acid profiles, carbon oxidation profiles (28) or other traits (Table 1).

Not forecast in that 1981 survey were the potential applications of immunological and genetic techniques in food microbiology (19). During the 1980s, major advances in basic research were transferred rapidly to applied areas, as "biotechnology" companies emerged and sought markets in the diagnostic field (11). DNA and antibody-based assays for numerous microbes or their toxins are now available commercially (12).

There are many DNA-based assay formats, but only probes, PCR and bacteriophage have been developed commercially for detecting foodborne pathogens.

Probe assays generally target ribosomal RNA (rRNA), taking advantage of the fact that the higher copy number of bacterial rRNA provides a naturally amplified target and affords greater assay sensitivity (6, 14, 25, 37) (Table 2).

The basic principle of DNA hybridization is also being utilized in other technologies, such as the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay, where short fragments of DNA (probes) or primers are hybridized to a specific sequence or template, which is then enzymatically amplified by Taq polymerase using a thermocycler (2, 22). Theoretically, PCR can amplify a single copy of DNA by a million fold in less than 2 hrs; hence its potential to eliminate, or greatly reduce the need for cultural enrichment.

However, the presence of inhibitors in foods and in many culture media can prevent primer binding and diminish amplification efficiency (26, 34), so that the extreme sensitivity achievable by PCR with pure cultures is often reduced when testing foods. Therefore, some cultural enrichment is still required prior to analysis (Table 2).

The highly specific interaction of phage with its bacterial host has also been used to develop assays for foodborne pathogens (38). One example is an assay for Salmonella, in which a specific bacteriophage was engineered to carry a detectable marker (ice nucleation gene). In the presence of Salmonella, the phage confers the marker to the host, which then expresses the phenotype to allow detection (Table 2).

The highly specific binding of antibody to antigen, especially monoclonal antibody, plus the simplicity and versatility of this reaction, has facilitated the design of a variety of antibody assays and formats, and they comprise the largest group of rapid methods being used in food testing (3, 10, 12, 33).

There are 5 basic formats of antibody assays (12), the simplest of which is latex agglutination (LA), in which antibody-coated colored latex beads or colloidal gold particles are used for quick serological identification or typing of pure culture isolates of bacteria from foods (7, 12).

A modification of LA, known as reverse passive latex agglutination (RPLA), tests for soluble antigens and is used mostly in testing for toxins in food extracts or for toxin production by pure cultures (12) (Table 3).

In the immunodiffusion test format, an enrichment sample is placed in a gel matrix with the antibody; if the specific antigen is present, a visible line of precipitation is formed (30).

The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is the most prevalent antibody assay format used for pathogen detection in foods (3, 33). Usually designed as a "sandwich" assay, an antibody bound to a solid matrix is used to capture the antigen from enrichment cultures and a second antibody conjugated to an enzyme is used for detection. The walls of wells in microtiter plates are the most commonly used solid support; but ELISAs have also been designed using dipsticks, paddles, membranes, pipet tips or other solid matrices (12) (Table 3).

Antibodies coupled to magnetic particles or beads are also used in immunomagnetic separation (IMS) technology to capture pathogens from pre-enrichment media (31).

IMS is analogous to selective enrichment, but instead of using antibiotics or harsh reagents that can cause stress-injury, an antibody is used to capture the antigen, which is a much milder alternative. Captured antigens can be plated or further tested using other assays.

Immunoprecipitation or immunochromatography, still another antibody assay format, is based on the technology developed for home pregnancy tests. It is also a "sandwich" procedure but, instead of enzyme conjugates, the detection antibody is coupled to colored latex beads or to colloidal gold. Using only a 0.1 ml aliquot, the enrichment sample is wicked across a series of chambers to obtain results (9).

These assays are extremely simple, require no washing or manipulation and are completed within 10 minutes after cultural enrichment (Table 3).

The last mentioned "category" of rapid methods includes a large variety of assays, ranging from specialized media to simple modifications of conventional assays, which result in saving labor, time, and materials. Some, for instance, use disposable cardboards containing dehydrated media, which eliminates the need for agar plates, constituting savings in storage, incubation and disposal procedures (4, 5). Others incorporate specialized chromogenic and fluorogenic substrates in media to rapidly detect trait enzymatic activity (13, 17, 20, 27, 29).

There are also tests that measure bacterial adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which (although not identifying specific species), can be used to rapidly enumerate the presence of total bacteria (Table 4).

Applications and Limitations of Rapid Methods

Almost all rapid methods are designed to detect a single target, which makes them ideal for use in quality control programs to quickly screen large numbers of food samples for the presence of a particular pathogen or toxin. A positive result by a rapid method however, is only regarded as presumptive and must be confirmed by standard methods (11). Although confirmation may extend analysis by several days, this may not be an imposing limitation, as negative results are most often encountered in food analysis.

Most rapid methods can be done in a few minutes to a few hours, so they are more rapid than traditional methods. But, in food analysis, rapid methods still lack sufficient sensitivity and specificity for direct testing; hence, foods still need to be culture-enriched before analysis (12). Although enrichment is a limitation in terms of assay speed, it provides essential benefits, such as diluting the effects of inhibitors, allowing the differentiation of viable from non-viable cells and allowing for repair of cell stress or injury that may have resulted during food processing.

Evaluations of rapid methods show that some perform better in some foods than others. This can be attributed mostly to interference by food components, some of which can be especially troublesome for the technologies used in rapid methods.

For example, an ingredient can inhibit DNA hybridization or Taq polymerase, but has no effect on antigen-antibody interactions and the converse situation may also occur (12). Since method efficiencies may be food dependent, it is advisable to perform comparative studies to ensure that a particular assay will be effective in the analysis of that food type.

The specificity of DNA based assays is dictated by short probes; hence, a positive result, for instance with a probe or primers specific for a toxin gene, only indicates that bacteria with those gene sequences are present and that they have the potential to be toxigenic. But, it does not indicate that the gene is actually expressed and that the toxin is made. Likewise, in clostridial and staphylococcal intoxication, DNA probes and PCR can detect only the presence of cells, but are of limited use in detecting the presence of preformed toxins (12).

Currently, there are at least 30 assays each for testing for E. coli O157:H7 and for Salmonella. Such a large number of options can be confusing and overwhelming to the user, but, more importantly, has limited the effective evaluation of these methods. As a result, only few methods have been officially validated for use in food testing (1,11).

Conclusions

As a rapid method is used more frequently, its benefits and at the same time, its limitations also become more apparent. This section only briefly described some of the rapid method formats and selected problems encountered when using these assays in food analysis. However, because of the complex designs and formats of these tests, coupled with the difficulties of testing foods, users must exercise caution when selecting rapid methods and to also evaluate these tests thoroughly, as some may be more suitable than others for distinct testing situations or for assaying certain types of food.

Lastly, technology continues to advance at a great pace and next generation assays, such as biosensors (18) and DNA chips (32) already are being developed that potentially have the capability for near real-time and on-line monitoring of multiple pathogens in foods.

References:

http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~ebam/bam-a1.html

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