Rapid detection of Listeria monocytogenes by nanoparticle-based immunomagnetic separation and real-time PCR

Development of a Novel Phagomagnetic-Assisted Isothermal DNA Amplification System for Endpoint Electrochemical Detection of Listeria monocytogenes

The hitherto implemented Listeria monocytogenes detection techniques are cumbersome or require expensive non-portable instrumentation, hindering their transposition into on-time surveillance systems. The current work proposes a novel integrated system resorting to loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), assisted by a bacteriophage P100-magnetic platform, coupled to an endpoint electrochemical technique, towards L. monocytogenes expeditious detection. Molybdophosphate-based optimization of the bacterial phagomagnetic separation protocol allowed the determination of the optimal parameters for its execution (pH 7, 25 °C, 32 µg of magnetic particles; 60.6% of specific capture efficiency). The novel LAMP method targeting prfA was highly specific, accomplishing 100% inclusivity (for 61 L. monocytogenes strains) and 100% exclusivity (towards 42 non-target Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria). As a proof-of-concept, the developed scheme was successfully validated in pasteurized milk spiked with L. monocytogenes. The phagomagnetic-based approach succeeded in the selective bacterial capture and ensuing lysis, triggering Listeria DNA leakage, which was efficiently LAMP amplified. Methylene blue-based electrochemical detection of LAMP amplicons was accomplished in 20 min with remarkable analytical sensitivity (1 CFU mL^-1). Hence, the combined system presented an outstanding performance and robustness, providing a 2.5 h-swift, portable, cost-efficient detection scheme for decentralized on-field application.

Recent Advances in the Detection of Listeria monocytogenes

Listeria monocytogenes is the third-most severe pathogen causing a yearly outbreak of food poisoning in the world that proliferates widely in the environment. Infants, pregnant mothers, and immuno-compromised people are at high risk. Its ability to grow in both biotic and abiotic environments leads to epidemics that infect 5 out of 10 people annually. Because of the epithelial adhesion (by E-cadherin binding), it can suppress immune cells and thrive in the gastrointestinal tract till the brain through blood flow (E-cadherin). Microbial culture is still used as a gold standard, but takes a long time and often yields false positive results due to incompetence and temperature variations. Therefore, in order to treat it rather than using broad spectrum antibiotics, a standardized time-saving and highly specific technology for early detection is very important. It has been observed that the production of a particular antibody is delaying (so does the detection process) as a result of the inadequate understanding of the pathophysiology of the bacteria. This book chapter provides a brief summary of a pathogen as well as the scientific advances that led to its identification more easily.

Application of Iron Nanoparticle-Based Materials in the Food Industry

Due to their different properties compared to other materials, nanoparticles of iron and iron oxides are increasingly used in the food industry. Food technologists have especially paid attention to their ease of separation by magnetic fields and biocompatibility. Unfortunately, the consumption of increasing amounts of nanoparticles has raised concerns about their biotoxicity. Hence, knowledge about the applicability of iron nanoparticle-based materials in the food industry is needed not only among scientists, but also among all individuals who are involved in food production. The first part of this article describes typical methods of obtaining iron nanoparticles using chemical synthesis and so-called green chemistry. The second part of this article describes the use of iron nanoparticles and iron nanoparticle-based materials for active packaging, including the ability to eliminate oxygen and antimicrobial activity. Then, the possibilities of using the magnetic properties of iron nano-oxides for enzyme immobilization, food analysis, protein purification and mycotoxin and histamine removal from food are described. Other described applications of materials based on iron nanoparticles are the production of artificial enzymes, process control, food fortification and preserving food in a supercooled state. The third part of the article analyzes the biocompatibility of iron nanoparticles, their impact on the human body and the safety of their use.

Application of Nanomaterials to Enhance Polymerase Chain Reaction

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) is one of the most common technologies used to produce millions of copies of targeted nucleic acid in vitro and has become an indispensable technique in molecular biology. However, it suffers from low efficiency and specificity problems, false positive results, and so on. Although many conditions can be optimized to increase PCR yield, such as the magnesium ion concentration, the DNA polymerases, the number of cycles, and so on, they are not all-purpose and the optimization can be case dependent. Nano-sized materials offer a possible solution to improve both the quality and productivity of PCR. In the last two decades, nanoparticles (NPs) have attracted significant attention and gradually penetrated the field of life sciences because of their unique chemical and physical properties, such as their large surface area and small size effect, which have greatly promoted developments in life science and technology. Additionally, PCR technology assisted by NPs (NanoPCR) such as gold NPs (Au NPs), quantum dots (QDs), and carbon nanotubes (CNTs), etc., have been developed to significantly improve the specificity, efficiency, and sensitivity of PCR and to accelerate the PCR reaction process. This review discusses the roles of different types of NPs used to enhance PCR and summarizes their possible mechanisms.

Recent Progress in Nanotechnology-Based Approaches for Food Monitoring

Throughout the food supply chain, including production, storage, and distribution, food can be contaminated by harmful chemicals and microorganisms, resulting in a severe threat to human health. In recent years, the rapid advancement and development of nanotechnology proposed revolutionary solutions to solve several problems in scientific and industrial areas, including food monitoring. Nanotechnology can be incorporated into chemical and biological sensors to improve analytical performance, such as response time, sensitivity, selectivity, reliability, and accuracy. Based on the characteristics of the contaminants and the detection methods, nanotechnology can be applied in different ways in order to improve conventional techniques. Nanomaterials such as nanoparticles, nanorods, nanosheets, nanocomposites, nanotubes, and nanowires provide various functions for the immobilization and labeling of contaminants in electrochemical and optical detection. This review summarizes the recent advances in nanotechnology for detecting chemical and biological contaminations in the food supply chain.

Comparison of DNA Extraction Methods for the Quantification of Listeria monocytogenes in Dairy Products by Real-Time Quantitative PCR>

ABSTRACT

Listeria monocytogenes is a common foodborne pathogen affecting public health. Thus, detecting L. monocytogenes, even at low levels, in food matrices is essential. However, the current culture methods used for its detection and quantification are time consuming and difficult owing to background flora and interference by food matrices. DNA-based assays depend on DNA extraction and purification techniques. No optimal DNA extraction kit has been developed for analyzing L. monocytogenes in dairy products by real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). Therefore, in this study, we aimed to determine the efficiency of three DNA extraction kits for detecting L. monocytogenes in dairy products by RT-qPCR. We tested the efficiency of three commercial kits for DNA extraction from L. monocytogenes artificially inoculated in milk and dairy products. For the PrepSEQ rapid spin sample preparation kit and Exgene Cell SV mini, the limit of detection of was 100, 100, and 101 CFU/mL L. monocytogenes in milk, processed cheese, and infant formula, respectively, whereas that of the QIAamp DNA mini kit was 101, 103, and 102 CFU/mL, respectively. In addition, the Exgene Cell SV mini was better than the PrepSEQ rapid spin sample preparation kit for obtaining a standard curve for RT-qPCR of L. monocytogenes DNA in milk and dairy products, with a high correlation coefficient and amplification efficiency. The results of this study may be valuable for diagnostic laboratories and for developing an effective extraction method for processing food samples, such as dairy products, to subsequently detect and quantify L. monocytogenes by RT-qPCR.

HIGHLIGHTS

Advances in magnetic nanoparticles for the separation of foodborne pathogens: Recognition, separation strategy, and application

Foodborne pathogens contamination is one of the main sources of food safety problems. Although the existing detection methods have been developed for a long time, the complexity of food samples is still the main factor affecting the detection time and sensitivity, and the rapid separation and enrichment of pathogens is still an objective to be studied. Magnetic separation strategy based on magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) is considered to be an effective tool for rapid separation and enrichment of foodborne pathogens in food. Therefore, this study comprehensively reviews the development of MNPs in the separation of foodborne pathogens over the past decade. First, various biorecognition reagents for identification of foodborne pathogens and their modifications on the surface of MNPs are introduced. Then, the factors affecting the separation of foodborne pathogens, including the size of MNPs, modification methods, separation strategies and separation forms are discussed. Finally, the application of MNPs in integrated detection methods is reviewed. Moreover, current challenges and prospects of MNPs for the analysis of foodborne pathogens are discussed. Further research should focus on the design of multifunctional MNPs, the processing of large-scale samples, the simultaneous analysis of multiple targets, and the development of all-in-one small analytical device with separation and detection.

Application of MinION sequencing as a tool for the rapid detection and characterization of Listeria monocytogenes in smoked salmon

Microbial pathogens may be present in different types of foods, and hence the development of novel methods to assure consumers' safeness is of great interest. Molecular methods are known to provide sensitive and rapid results; however, they are typically targeted approaches. In recent years, the advent of non-targeted approaches based on next-generation sequencing (NGS) has emerged as a rational way to proceed. This technology allows for the detection of several pathogens simultaneously. Furthermore, with the same set of data, it is possible to characterize the microorganisms in terms of serotype, virulence, and/ or resistance genes, among other molecular features. In the current study, a novel method for the detection of Listeria monocytogenes based on the "quasimetagenomics" approach was developed. Different enrichment media and immunomagnetic separation (IMS) strategies were compared to determine the best approach in terms of L. monocytogenes sequences generated from smoked salmon samples. Finally, the data generated were analyzed with a user-friendly workflow that simultaneously provided the species identification, serotype, and antimicrobial resistance genes. The new method was thoroughly evaluated against a culture-based approach, using smoked salmon inoculated with L. monocytogenes as the matrix of choice. The sequencing method reached a very low limit of detection (LOD50, 1.2 CFU/ 25 g) along with high diagnostic sensitivity and specificity (100%), and a perfect correlation with the culture-based method (Cohen's k = 1.00). Overall, the proposed method overcomes all the major limitations reported for the implementation of NGS as a routine food testing technology and paves the way for future developments taking its advantage into consideration.

Potential of bacteriophage proteins as recognition molecules for pathogen detection

Bacterial pathogens are leading causes of infections with high mortality worldwide having a great impact on healthcare systems and the food industry. Gold standard methods for bacterial detection mainly rely on culture-based technologies and biochemical tests which are laborious and time-consuming. Regardless of several developments in existing methods, the goal of achieving high sensitivity and specificity, as well as a low detection limit, remains unaccomplished. In past years, various biorecognition elements, such as antibodies, enzymes, aptamers, or nucleic acids, have been widely used, being crucial for the pathogens detection in different complex matrices. However, these molecules are usually associated with high detection limits, demand laborious and costly production, and usually present cross-reactivity. (Bacterio)phage-encoded proteins, especially the receptor binding proteins (RBPs) and cell-wall binding domains (CBDs) of endolysins, are responsible for the phage binding to the bacterial surface receptors in different stages of the phage lytic cycle. Due to their remarkable properties, such as high specificity, sensitivity, stability, and ability to be easily engineered, they are appointed as excellent candidates to replace conventional recognition molecules, thereby contributing to the improvement of the detection methods. Moreover, they offer several possibilities of application in a variety of detection systems, such as magnetic, optical, and electrochemical. Herein we provide a review of phage-derived bacterial binding proteins, namely the RBPs and CBDs, with the prospect to be employed as recognition elements for bacteria. Moreover, we summarize and discuss the various existing methods based on these proteins for the detection of nosocomial and foodborne pathogens.

Efficient capturing and sensitive detection of hepatitis A virus from solid foods (green onion, strawberry, and mussel) using protamine-coated iron oxide (Fe3O4) magnetic nanoparticles and real-time RT-PCR

Hepatitis A virus (HAV) continues to be a public health concern and has caused large foodborne outbreaks and economic losses worldwide. Rapid detection of HAV in foods can help to confirm the source of outbreaks in a timely manner and prevent more people getting infected. In order to efficiently detect HAV at low levels of contamination in foods, rapid and easy-to-use techniques are required to separate and concentrate viral particles to a small volume. In the current study, HAV particles were eluted from green onion, strawberry, and mussel using glycine buffer (0.05 M glycine, 0.14 M NaCl, 0.2% (v/v) Tween 20, pH 9.0) and suspended viral particles were captured using protamine-coated magnetic nanoparticles (PMNPs). This process caused a selective concentration of the viral particles, which could be followed by quantitative real-time RT-PCR analysis. Results showed that pH, NaCl concentration, and PMNP amount used for the capturing had significant effects on the recovery efficiency of HAV (P < 0.05). The highest recovery rate was obtained at pH 9.0, 0.14 M NaCl, and 50 μL of PMNPs. The optimized PMNP capturing method enabled the rapid capture and concentration of HAV. A sensitive real-time RT-PCR test was developed with detection limits of 8.3 × 10⁰ PFU/15 g, 8.3 × 10¹ PFU/50 g, and 8.3 × 10⁰ PFU/5 g of HAV in green onion, strawberry, and mussel, respectively. In conclusion, the PMNP method is rapid and convenient in capturing HAV from complex solid food samples and can generate concentrated HAV sample solutions suitable for high-sensitivity real time RT-PCR detection of the virus.

Surveillance of Listeria monocytogenes: Early Detection, Population Dynamics, and Quasimetagenomic Sequencing during Selective Enrichment

In this study, we addressed different aspects regarding the implementation of quasimetagenomic sequencing as a hybrid surveillance method in combination with enrichment for early detection of Listeria monocytogenes in the food industry. Different experimental enrichment cultures were used, comprising seven L. monocytogenes strains of different sequence types (STs), with and without a background microbiota community. To assess whether the proportions of the different STs changed over time during enrichment, the growth and population dynamics were assessed using dapE colony sequencing and dapE and 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. There was a tendency of some STs to have a higher relative abundance during the late stage of enrichment when L. monocytogenes was enriched without background microbiota. When coenriched with background microbiota, the population dynamics of the different STs was more consistent over time. To evaluate the earliest possible time point during enrichment that allows the detection of L. monocytogenes and at the same time the generation of genetic information that enables an estimation regarding the strain diversity in a sample, quasimetagenomic sequencing was performed early during enrichment in the presence of the background microbiota using Oxford Nanopore Technologies Flongle and Illumina MiSeq sequencing. The application of multiple displacement amplification (MDA) enabled detection of L. monocytogenes (and the background microbiota) after only 4 h of enrichment using both applied sequencing approaches. The MiSeq sequencing data additionally enabled the prediction of cooccurring L. monocytogenes strains in the samples.

IMPORTANCE We showed that a combination of a short primary enrichment combined with MDA and Nanopore sequencing can accelerate the traditional process of cultivation and identification of L. monocytogenes. The use of Illumina MiSeq sequencing additionally allowed us to predict the presence of cooccurring L. monocytogenes strains. Our results suggest quasimetagenomic sequencing is a valuable and promising hybrid surveillance tool for the food industry that enables faster identification of L. monocytogenes during early enrichment. Routine application of this approach could lead to more efficient and proactive actions in the food industry that prevent contamination and subsequent product recalls and food destruction, economic and reputational losses, and human listeriosis cases.

The untapped potential of magnetic nanoparticles for forensic investigations: A comprehensive review

With a growing interest in precise and sensitive diagnosis for criminal investigations, nanoparticles (NPs) have intrigued scientific minds working in the field of forensic science due to their exceptional properties. Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) have emerged as a powerful tool for improving forensic analysis due to their super magnetic behavior combined with smaller dimensions. MNP-based applications can benefit criminologists to solve criminal mysteries with greater precision and pace. This review highlights the different types of MNP-based applications and their developmental and implicational aspects of forensic science. It also renders insight into the future prospects of a splendid blend of nanotechnology and forensic science, leading to a better scientific analysis.

Development of a High-Efficiency Immunomagnetic Enrichment Method for Detection of Human Norovirus via PAMAM Dendrimer/SA-Biotin Mediated Cascade-Amplification

Human norovirus is a common cause of acute gastroenteritis worldwide, and oysters have been found to be the main carriers for its spread. The lack of efficient pre-treatment methods has been a major bottleneck limiting the detection of viruses in oysters. In this study, we established a novel immunomagnetic enrichment method using polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimer/SA-biotin-mediated cascade amplification for reverse transcriptase quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) detection. We compared the capture efficiency of traditional immunomagnetic enrichment, biotin-amplified immunomagnetic enrichment, and PAMAM dendrimer/SA-biotin-mediated cascade-amplification immunomagnetic enrichment. The optimal capture efficiency of the novel method was 44.26 ± 1.45%, which increased by 183.17% (P < 0.01) and 18.09% (P < 0.05) compared with the first two methods, respectively. Three methods were all applied in detecting norovirus in 44 retail oysters, the detection rate of the PAMAM dendrimer/SA-biotin-mediated method was 25.0%, which was higher than those of traditional IME (15.90%) and SA-biotin-amplified IME (18.80%) by 9.1 and 6.2%, respectively. In conclusion, the novel method can be applied for the rapid detection of norovirus in oysters, which can help reduce the cost and time of detection and improve detection rates.

Development of Nanosensors Based Intelligent Packaging Systems: Food Quality and Medicine

The issue of medication noncompliance has resulted in major risks to public safety and financial loss. The new omnipresent medicine enabled by the Internet of things offers fascinating new possibilities. Additionally, an in-home healthcare station (IHHS), it is necessary to meet the rapidly increasing need for routine nursing and on-site diagnosis and prognosis. This article proposes a universal and preventive strategy to drug management based on intelligent and interactive packaging (I2Pack) and IMedBox. The controlled delamination material (CDM) seals and regulates wireless technologies in novel medicine packaging. As such, wearable biomedical sensors may capture a variety of crucial parameters via wireless communication. On-site treatment and prediction of these critical factors are made possible by high-performance architecture. The user interface is also highlighted to make surgery easier for the elderly, disabled, and patients. Land testing incorporates and validates an approach for prototyping I2Pack and iMedBox. Additionally, sustainability, increased product safety, and quality standards are crucial throughout the life sciences. To achieve these standards, intelligent packaging is also used in the food and pharmaceutical industries. These technologies will continuously monitor the quality of a product and communicate with the user. Data carriers, indications, and sensors are the three most important groups. They are not widely used at the moment, although their potential is well understood. Intelligent packaging should be used in these sectors and the functionality of the systems and the values presented in this analysis.

Detection and Aggregation of Listeria Monocytogenes Using Polyclonal Antibody Gold-Coated Magnetic Nanoshells Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy Substrates

Magnetic nanoshells with tailored surface chemistry can enhance bacterial detection and separation technologies. This work demonstrated a simple technique to detect, capture, and aggregate bacteria with the aid of end-functionalized polyclonal antibody gold-coated magnetic nanoshells (pAb-Lis-AuMNs) as surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) probes. Listeria monocytogenes were used as the pathogenic bacteria and the pAb-Lis-AuMNs, 300 nm diameter, were used as probes allowing facile magnetic separation and aggregation. An optimized covalent bioconjugation procedure between the magnetic nanoshells and the polyclonal antibody was performed at pH six via a carbodiimide crosslinking reaction. Spectroscopic and morphological characterization techniques confirmed the fabrication of stable pAb-Lis-AuMNs. The resulting pAb-Lis-AuMNs acted as a SERS probe for L. monocytogenes based on the targeted capture via surface binding interactions and magnetically induced aggregation. Label-free SERS measurements were recorded for the minimum detectable amount of L. monocytogenes based on the SERS intensity at the 1388 cm−1 Raman shift. L. monocytogenes concentrations exhibited detection limits in the range of 104–107 CFU ml−1, before and after aggregation. By fitting these concentrations, the limit of detection of this method was ∼103 CFU ml−1. Using a low-intensity magnetic field of 35 G, pAb-Lis-AuMNs aggregated L. monocytogenes as demonstrated with microscopy techniques, including SEM and optical microscopy. Overall, this work presents a label-free SERS probe method comprised of a surface-modified polyclonal antibody sub-micron magnetic nanoshell structures with high sensitivity and magnetic induced separation that could lead to the fabrication of multiple single-step sensors.

Vancomycin-dendrimer based multivalent magnetic separation nanoplatforms combined with multiplex quantitative PCR assay for detecting pathogenic bacteria in human blood

Sepsis caused by bacteria has high morbidity and mortality, and it is neccerssay to establish a fast, convenient, and facility assays for detection of bacteria. In this study, we have developed established a simple, rapid, and ultrasensitive vancomycin (Van) and dendrimer nanoparticles-based method to isolate and detect bacteria in human blood using a multivalent binding strategy. The proposed Bio-den-Van multivalent capture nanoplatform combined with m-qPCR for simultaneous detection of two kinds of bacteria was demonstrated with rapid 2 min bacteria isolation with a linear range at 3.2 × 10¹-3.2 × 10⁶ CFU·mL^-1 for L. monocytogenes and 4.1 × 10¹-4.1 × 10⁶ CFU·mL^-1 for S. aureus, respectively. The limit of detection (LOD) for simultaneous detection of L. monocytogenes and S. aureus were 32 and 41 CFU·mL^-1 in spiked human blood samples, respectively. Other bacteria had an insignificant interference with the test results. This Bio-den-Van multivalent capture nanoplatform combined with m-qPCR detection exhibited rapid, high sensitivity and specificity in simultaneous detection of various bacteria. To our knowledge, this is the first time that Bio-den-Van multivalent capture nanoplatform was used with Van as a recognition molecule for the simultaneous capture and subsequent detection of two bacteria from spiked human blood sample. This method holds great potential for future clinical applications.

Solvothermal synthesis of α-Fe2O3 polyhedrons and its application in an immunochromatographic strip test for the detection of foodborne pathogen Listeria monocytogenes

The immunochromatographic strip test (ICST) is a powerful on-site detection technology due to its unique advantages of simplicity, rapidity, and readability by the naked eye. Here we illustrate the potential of α-Fe₂O₃ polyhedrons as a novel visual label, which exhibit advantages of high stability and economy, for the detection of Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes) as a model foodborne pathogen. A low-cost and simple one-step solvothermal approach was developed for the synthesis of α-Fe₂O₃ polyhedrons; the average diameter of the α-Fe₂O₃ polyhedrons is about 200 nm. The crystal structure and morphology of α-Fe₂O₃ polyhedrons were characterized by x-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscope. α-Fe₂O₃ polyhedrons were immunized with anti-L. monocytogenes antibody to prepare an antibody-colloidal α-Fe₂O₃ polyhedron ICST. Visual detection can be obtained directly by the naked eye within 10 min. The detection limit of L. monocytogenes by α-Fe₂O₃ polyhedron ICST assay was 3.8 × 10⁶ and 5.6 × 10⁶ CFU/ml of pure culture and artificially spiked orange juice drink sample, respectively. Results indicated that the antibody-colloidal α-Fe₂O₃ polyhedron ICST is a rapid, simple, and low-cost assay. This approach showed great potential in the application of foodborne pathogen detection concerning food safety.

Highly adaptable and sensitive FRET-based aptamer assay for the detection of Salmonella paratyphi A

Here we demonstrate a facile and versatile fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) based aptasensor for rapid detection of Salmonella paratyphi A. The assay shows a detection limit up to 10 cfu·mL^-1 with no cross-reactivity with other bacterial species. Less than 8% of inter-assay coefficient variance and recovery rate between 85 and 102% attests the assay reliability. The advantages of FRET-based aptamer assay over the conventional immunoassay formats such as ELISA are the specificity, speed, reliability, and simplicity of the assay. The ssDNA aptamers specific towards pathogenic Salmonella paratyphi A were generated via whole-cell SELEX. The aptamer was conjugated onto quantum dot (QD) that served as the molecular beacon and graphene oxide (GO) was used as a fluorescence quencher. Thus the proposed method enables detection of target pathogen using FRET-based assay. Further interaction of aptamer with pathogen protein DNA gyrase was explored using classical molecular dynamics simulation.

Immunomagnetic separation: An effective pretreatment technology for isolation and enrichment in food microorganisms detection

The high efficiency and accurate detection of foodborne pathogens and spoilage microorganisms in food are a task of great social, economic, and public health importance. However, the contamination levels of target bacteria in food samples are very low. Owing to the background interference of food ingredients and negative impact of nontarget flora, the establishment of efficient pretreatment techniques is very crucial for the detection of food microorganisms. With the significant advantages of high specificity and great separation efficiency, immunomagnetic separation (IMS) assay based on immunomagnetic particles (IMPs) has been considered as a powerful system for the separation and enrichment of target bacteria. This paper mainly focuses on the development of IMS as well as their application in food microorganisms detection. First, the basic principle of IMS in the concentration of food bacteria is presented. Second, the effect of different factors, including the sizes of magnetic particles (MPs), immobilization of antibody and operation parameters (the molar ratio of antibody to MPs, the amount of IMPs, incubation time, and bacteria concentration) on the immunocapture efficiency of IMPs are discussed. The performance of IMPs in different food samples is also evaluated. Finally, the combination of IMS and various kinds of detection methods (immunology-based methods, nucleic acid-based methods, fluorescence methods, and biosensors) to detect pathogenic and spoilage organisms is summarized. The challenges and future trends of IMS are also proposed. As an effective pretreatment technique, IMS can improve the detection sensitivity and shorten their testing time, thus exhibiting broad prospect in the field of food bacteria detection.

Rapid Detection of Hypervirulent Serovar 4h Listeria monocytogenes by Multiplex PCR

Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes) is a ubiquitous foodborne pathogen that comprises 14 serotypes, of which serovar 4h is a novel serotype recently reported. Serovar 4h L. monocytogenes belonging to hybrid sub-lineage II exhibit hypervirulent features. Conventional biochemical tests and widely used PCR-based serogrouping schemes could not distinguish serovar 4h strains. In this study, we developed a new multiplex PCR assay for rapid detection of serotype 4h L. monocytogenes. Three primer pairs based on the target genes, LMxysn_1095, lmo1083, and smcL, were designed. The multiplex PCR results showed that serovar 4h strains could be specifically identified from all tested strains, including various L. monocytogenes serovars, Listeria spp., and other species. The detection limits of the multiplex PCR were 291 fg/μL for genomic DNA and 5.5 × 10⁶ CFU/mL for bacterial suspension. Furthermore, pork meat artificially contaminated with serovar 4h L. monocytogenes in a concentration of 1.8 × 10³–1.8 × 10⁰ CFU/10 g were successfully detected within 10–16 h. These results demonstrate that the multiplex PCR with high specificity and sensitivity is applicable for the rapid detection of L. monocytogenes serotype 4h strains.

Evaluation and implementation of commercial antibodies for improved nanoparticle-based immunomagnetic separation and real-time PCR for faster detection of Listeria monocytogenes

L. monocytogenes continues to be a major health issue in Europe, as well as worldwide. Faster methods, not only for detection, but also for sample preparation are of great interest particularly for this slow-growing pathogen. Immunomagnetic separation has been previously reported to be an effective way to concentrate bacteria, and remove inhibitors. In the present study, different commercial antibodies were evaluated to select the most appropriate one, in order to develop a highly specific method. Additionally, magnetic nanoparticles, instead of microparticles, were selected due to their reported advantages (higher surface-volume ration and faster kinetics). Finally, the separation protocol, with a calculated capture efficiency of 95%, was combined with real-time PCR for highly sensitive detection of the concentrated bacteria. The optimized IMS-qPCR allowed to reduce hands-on time in the sample treatment, without affecting the overall performance of the method as a very low limit of detection was still obtained (9.7 CFU/ 25 g) with values for sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive and negative predictive values of 100%, resulting in a kappa index of concordance of 1.00. These results were obtained in spiked food samples of different types (chicken, fish, milk, hard and fresh cheese), further demonstrating the applicability of the optimized methodology presented.

Detection of Escherichia coli O157:H7 Using Automated Immunomagnetic Separation and Enzyme-Based Colorimetric Assay

The food industry requires rapid and simple detection methods for preventing harm from pathogenic bacteria. Until now, various technologies used to detect foodborne bacteria were time-consuming and laborious. Therefore, we have developed an automated immunomagnetic separation combined with a colorimetric assay for the rapid detection of E. coli O157:H7 in food samples. The colorimetric detection method using enzymatic reaction is fascinating because of its simplicity and rapidity and does not need sophisticated devices. Moreover, the proposed procedures for the detection of bacteria in food take less than 3 h including pre-enrichment, separation and detection steps. First, target-specific immunomagnetic beads were introduced to contaminated milk in a pre-enrichment step. Second, the pre-enriched sample solution containing target bacteria bound on immunomagnetic beads was injected into an automated pretreatment system. Subsequently, the immunomagnetic beads along with target bacteria were separated and concentrated into a recovery tube. Finally, released β-galactosidase from E. coli O157:H7 after lysis was reacted with chlorophenol red β-galactopyranoside (CPRG) used as a substrate and the colorimetric change of CPRG was determined by absorbance measuring or the naked eye. By the proposed approach in this study, we could detect 3 × 10² CFU/mL of E. coli O157:H7 from a milk sample within 3 h.

Step-by-step monitoring of a magnetic and SERS-active immunosensor assembly for purification and detection of tau protein

We report a bottom-up synthesis of iron oxide and gold nanoparticles, which are functionalized and combined to form a nanohybrid serving as an immune sensor, which selectively binds to tau protein, a biomarker for diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. Detection of the target analyte is achieved by surface-enhanced Raman scattering originating from the diagnostic part of the nanohybrid that was prepared from Au nanoparticles functionalized with 5,5'-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid) as a Raman reporter and monoclonal anti-tau antibody. The magnetic part consists of Fex Oy nanoparticles functionalized with polyclonal anti-tau antibody and is capable to separate tau protein from a complex matrix such as cerebrospinal fluid. We further identified and validated a set of analytical tools that allow monitoring the success of both nanoparticle preparation and each functionalization step performed during the assembly of the two binding sites by an immune reaction. By applying UV/Vis spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, zeta potential measurements, X-ray diffraction, small-angle X-ray scattering, and transmission electron microscopy, we demonstrate a proof-of-concept for a controlled and step-by-step traceable synthesis of a tau protein-specific immune sensor.

Lenz's Law-Based Virtual Net for Detection of Pathogenic Bacteria from Water

We have developed a method for rapid detection of pathogenic bacteria from water using a virtual net comprising magnetic nanoparticle clusters (MNC). When an external magnetic field was applied to the antibody-functionalized MNC (Ab-MNC) solution in a glass tube (GT), the Ab-MNCs were aligned along the direction of the applied magnetic field to form a wall of MNCs. The injection of a liquid into the GT pushed the MNCs to flow when the drag force exceeded the magnetic force that held the MNCs. In contrast, injection of a liquid into the GT wrapped with a copper tape (Cu-GT) created a magnetic field in the opposite direction of the liquid flow according to Lenz's law, which retained the MNCs inside Cu-GT even at a flow rate 2.5 times higher than the maximum flow rate at which the MNCs were retained inside the GT. As proof of concept, E. coli O157:H7-spiked aqueous solutions were injected into Cu-GT containing Ab-MNCs. The structural flexibility of the Ab-MNC wall allowed the liquid to pass through but induced binding of the bacteria to the Ab-MNC wall, just as the wall acted like a virtual net. The detection limit was 10² CFU/mL of E. coli as measured by an ATP luminometer, and the total assay time was 15 min including 10 min for the isolation and separation steps.

Magnetic Particles-Based Analytical Platforms for Food Safety Monitoring

Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) have attracted growing interest as versatile materials for the development of analytical detection and separation platforms for food safety monitoring. This review discusses recent advances in the synthesis, functionalization and applications of MNPs in bioanalysis. A special emphasis is given to the use of MNPs as an immobilization support for biomolecules and as a target capture and pre-concentration to increase selectivity and sensitivity of analytical platforms for the monitoring of food contaminants. General principles and examples of MNP-based platforms for separation, amplification and detection of analytes of interest in food, including organic and inorganic constituents are discussed.

Concentration of hepatitis A virus in milk using protamine-coated iron oxide (Fe3O4) magnetic nanoparticles

Hepatitis A virus (HAV) continues to be the leading cause of viral hepatitis. HAV outbreaks have been linked to the consumption of milk, but methods for HAV detection in milk are very limited. We developed a method to concentrate HAV in milk using protamine-coated iron oxide (Fe₃O₄) magnetic nanoparticles (PMNPs). In this study, protamine was covalently coated on the surface of the MNPs (20-30 nm) by a three-step chemical reaction. The successful linkage of protamine to the MNPs was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), zeta potential, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). When used for concentrating HAV from 40 mL of milk, 50 μL of PMNPs were added to the sample and mixed for 20 min by gentle rotation, followed by a magnet capture for 30 min. The captured PMNPs were washed with glycine buffer (0.05 M glycine, 0.14 M NaCl, 0.2% (v/v) Tween 20, pH 9.0) and HAV RNA was extracted using the QIAamp MinElute Virus Spin Kit and quantified by real-time RT-PCR. The method showed a detection limit of 8.3 × 10⁰ PFU of HAV in milk. The whole concentration procedure could be completed in approximately 50 min. The developed method was simple, inexpensive, and easy-to-perform.

Development of a loop-mediated isothermal amplification assay targeting lmo0753 gene for detection of Listeria monocytogenes in wastewater

Contaminated wastewater plays an important role in the transmission of Listeria monocytogenes in the environment. In this study, a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay for sensitive detection of L.  monocytogenes in wastewater from treatment plants was developed, validated and compared to conventional PCR. The lmo0753 gene which codes for a Crp/Fnr family transcription factor, was targeted to design four specific primers to detect L.  monocytogenes in 60 min at 63°C in a water bath. Amplification products were visualized by agarose gel electrophoresis. The detection limit of the LAMP assay was 65 fg µl^-1 of DNA and 38 CFU per ml. Conventional PCR was 10 times less sensitive than LAMP assay with primers targeting the HlyA gene. A total of 70 crude wastewater samples collected at different treatment stages (aeration tank, pre chlorination and post chlorination), were tested directly by LAMP and PCR. Samples from aeration and pre-chlorination stages tested positive with LAMP and culture method but not with conventional PCR. LAMP assay was tolerant to inhibitors present in wastewater and circumvented the need for isolation of pure DNA for detection. Both LAMP assay and culture method failed to detect L.  monocytogenes in post-chlorinated wastewater, confirming the efficiency of the treatment process in the removal of L.  monocytogenes. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Treated wastewater effluent contains Listeria monocytogenes which survives conventional wastewater treatment processes and can re-enter human food chain, thus it is imperative to detect L.  monocytogenes using a rapid and an inexpensive method. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay, targeting the lmo0753 gene for detection of L.  monocytogenes in wastewater from treatment plants. The LAMP assay detects L.  monocytogenes in 60 min at 63°C in a water bath. LAMP does not require isolation of pure genomic DNA hence it is a user friendly method for L.  monocytogenes detection.

Combination of Immunomagnetic Separation and Real-Time Recombinase Polymerase Amplification (IMS-qRPA) for Specific Detection of Listeria monocytogenes in Smoked Salmon Samples

Nowadays, Listeria monocytogenes continues to be a major health issue. Therefore, improvements in the speed and reliability of its detection are still needed. In the present study, the combination of real-time Recombinase Polymerase Amplification (qRPA) with immunomagnetic separation (IMS) is described. The proposed methodology was tested against a real-time PCR method, and was successfully applied to 50 smoked salmon samples spiked at levels ranging from 2 to 9.3 × 10² cfu/25 g. L. monocytogenes was detected after a 24 hr pre-enrichment, which represents a great improvement over other previously published RPA methods. Additionally, the evaluation of the method reported a Limit of dDetection 50 (LoD₅₀ ) of 6.3 cfu/25 g, along with relative sensitivity, specificity and accuracy values higher than 90%. Finally, the index of kappa concordance was calculated to be 0.93 which is interpreted as "almost complete concordance" between the reference and alternative method. Overall, the described methodology proved to be faster, specific, and as sensitive as other methods based on RPA or real-time PCR. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: The methodology described in this study significantly reduces the detection time of L. monocytogenes, when compared with culture-based methods, and it requires fewer steps than other molecular methods, making it a reliable and more convenient method for routine testing. Finally, the evaluation of the methodology in spiked food samples, confirms its reliability.

Maximizing Ion-Tagged Oligonucleotide Loading on Magnetic Ionic Liquid Supports for the Sequence-Specific Extraction of Nucleic Acids

Targeted nucleic acid analysis requires the highly selective extraction of desired DNA fragments in order to minimize interferences from samples with abundant heterogeneous sequences. We previously reported a method based on functionalized oligonucleotide probes known as ion-tagged oligonucleotides (ITOs) that hybridize with complementary DNA targets for subsequent capture using a hydrophobic magnetic ionic liquid (MIL) support. Although the ITO-MIL approach enriched specific DNA sequences in quantities comparable to a commercial magnetic bead-based method, the modest affinity of the ITO for the hydrophobic MIL limited the yield of DNA targets, particularly when stringent wash conditions were applied to remove untargeted DNA. Here, we report the synthesis and characterization of a series of ITOs in which functional groups were installed within the cation and anion components of the tag moiety in order to facilitate loading of the ITO to the MIL support phase. In addition to hydrophobic interactions, we demonstrate that π-π stacking and fluorophilic interactions can be exploited for loading oligonucleotide probes onto MILs. Using a disubstituted ion-tagged oligonucleotide (DTO) possessing two linear C₈ groups, nearly quantitative loading of the probe onto the MIL support was achieved. The enhanced stability of the DTO within the MIL solvent permitted successive wash steps without the loss of the DNA target compared to a monosubstituted ITO with a single C₈ group that was susceptible to increased loss of analyte. Furthermore, the successful capture of a 120 bp KRAS fragment from human plasma samples followed by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) amplification is demonstrated.

Identification of bacteria in juice/lettuce using magnetic nanoparticles and selected reaction monitoring mass spectrometry

Ensuring food safety requires a rapid and reliable method for detecting food-borne pathogens. Mass spectrometry has been demonstrated as a powerful tool to classify pure bacterial species. However, matrix interference from food backgrounds may lead to false results because of the suppression of microbial signals. It is useful to develop a method for bacterial enrichment and marker identification in food samples. Magnetic zirconia nanoparticles were used to concentrate spiked microorganisms from apple juice/lettuce under specific conditions (pH 4.5). Bacterial identification was achieved using nanoLC-MS. Selected reaction monitoring of bacteria-related peptides was applied for the first time to identify bacteria including Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. This study presents an accurate means for bacterial identification in food matrixes using MS. The analysis time is less than 90 min and the minimum concentration of E. coli detected was 5 × 103 CFU/mL. The interaction between bacteria and the magnetic nanoparticles was electrostatic and nonspecific, in contrast to immunoassays which require specific antibodies. The targeted peptide analysis focuses on the bacterial markers, thus significantly simplifying the analysis and leading to an accurate identification of bacteria.

Isolation and separation of Listeria monocytogenes using bacteriophage P100-modified magnetic particles

A bacteriophage-assisted magnetic separation method was developed for the isolation of Listeria monocytogenes from complex food matrices. The aim of this study is to understand the effect of phage immobilization methods and the magnetic particle sizes on the phage coupling and infectivity retention of the magnetic particles. In this study, bacteriophage P100-modified magnetic particles (PMMPs) were developed for the separation of L. monocytogenes from food matrices. Three sizes of magnetic particles (MP) (150 nm, 500 nm, and 1 μm) were used for phage immobilization via chemical and physical methods. The coupling ratio of phage was investigated, and the performance of each PMMP complex was evaluated by their L. monocytogenes capture efficiency. When compared to the chemical immobilization method, the physically immobilized PMMP complex achieved a higher capture efficiency initially, with excellent selectivity towards target bacteria. The PMMPs were further tested for selective isolation of L. monocytogenes using real food samples such as ground beef and whole milk.

A comprehensive perspective of food nanomaterials

Nanotechnology is a rapidly developing toolbox that provides solutions to numerous challenges in the food industry and meet public demands for healthier and safer food products. The diversity of nanostructures and their vast, tunable functionality drives their inclusion in food products and packaging materials to improve their nutritional quality through bioactive fortification and probiotics encapsulation, enhance their safety due to their antimicrobial and sensing capabilities and confer novel sensorial properties. In this food nanotechnology state-of-the-art communication, matrix materials with particular focus on food-grade components, existing and novel production techniques, and current and potential applications in the fields of food quality, safety and preservation, nutrient bioaccessibility and digestibility will be detailed. Additionally, a thorough analysis of potential strategies to assess the safety of these novel nanostructures is presented.

Fast and Highly Sensitive Detection of Pathogens Wreathed with Magnetic Nanoparticles Using Dark-Field Microscopy

Cryptosporidium parvum ( C. parvum) is a highly potent zoonotic pathogen, which can do significant harm to both human beings and livestock. However, existing technologies or methods are deficient for rapid on-site detection of water contaminated with C. parvum. Better detection approaches are needed to allow water management agencies to stop major breakouts of the pathogen. Herein, we present a novel detection method for cryptosporidium in a tiny drop of sample using a magnetic nanoparticle (MNP) probe combined with dark-field microscopy in 30 min. The designed MNP probes bind with high affinity to C. parvum, resulting in the formation of a golden garland-like structure under dark-field microscopy. This MNP-based dark-field counting strategy yields an amazing PCR-like sensitivity of 8 attomolar (aM) (5 pathogens in 1 μL). Importantly, the assay is very rapid (∼30 min) and is very simple to perform as it involves only one step of mixing and magnetic separation, followed by dropping on a slide for counting under dark-field microscope. By combining the advantages of the specific light-scattering characteristic of MNP probe under dark field and the selective magnetic separation ability of functionalized MNP, the proposed MNP-based dark-field enumeration method offers low cost and significant translational potential.

Rapid Detection of Escherichia coli in Fresh Foods Using a Combination of Enrichment and PCR Analysis

The objective of this study was to determine the minimum enrichment time for different types of food matrix (pork, beef, and fresh-cut lettuce) in an effort to improve Escherichia coli detection efficiency. Fresh pork (20 g), beef (20 g), and fresh-cut lettuce (20 g) were inoculated at 1, 2, and 3 Log CFU/g of Escherichia coli. Samples were enriched in filter bags for 3 or 5 h at 44.5°C, depending on sample type. E. coli cell counts in the samples were enriched in E. coli (EC) broth at 3 or 5 h. One milliliter of the enriched culture medium was used for DNA extraction, and PCR assays were performed using primers specific for uidA gene. To detect E. coli (uidA) in the samples, a 3-4 Log CFU/mL cell concentration was required. However, E. coli was detected at 1 Log CFU/g in fresh pork, beef, and fresh-cut lettuce after 5, 5, and 3-h enrichment, respectively. In conclusion, 5-h enrichment for fresh meats and 3-h enrichment for fresh-cut lettuce in EC broth at 44.5°C, and PCR analysis using uidA gene-specific primers were appropriate to detect E. coli rapidly in food samples.

Simple Screening of Listeria monocytogenes Based on a Fluorescence Assay via a Laminated Lab-On-Paper Chip

Monitoring food safety is essential for protecting the health and safety of consumers. Conventional methods used are time consuming and laborious, requiring anywhere from three to seven days to obtain results. Thus, better monitoring methods are required. In this study, a laminated lab-on-paper chip was developed, and its use for the screening of ready-to-eat seafood was demonstrated. The assay on a chip was based on loop-mediated isothermal DNA amplification (LAMP) of the hly gene of Listeria monocytogenes and fluorescence signal detection via SYBR Gold^TM. Overall assay processes were completed in 4.5 h., (including 3.5 h. incubation for the bacteria enrichment, direct DNA amplification with no DNA extraction, and signal detection), without relying on standard laboratory facilities. Only positive samples induced fluorescence signals on chip upon illumination with UV light (λ = 460). The method has a limit of detection of 100 copies of L. monocytogenes DNA per 50 g of sample. No cross-reactivity was observed in samples contaminated with other bacteria. On-site monitoring of the seafood products using this chip revealed that one of 30 products from low sanitation vendors (3.33%) were contaminated, and these agreed with the results of PCR. The results demonstrated a benefit of this chip assay for practical on-site monitoring.