title: Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detection of Listeria monocytogenes in diluted milk and reversal of PCR inhibition caused by calcium ions.
abstract: DNA from Listeria monocytogenes was used as the model system from this investigation, with PCR primers based on the listeriolysin O gene. Under standard polymerase chain reaction (PCR) conditions and with no prior treatment, amplification failed in the presence of more than 5% milk. Since inhibition of the PCR occurred at the same milk concentrations with full fat, half fat and fat-free milk, inhibition was not attributed to the fat content of the milk. Calcium ions were, however, identified as a major source of PCR inhibition. The results demonstrated that the inhibitory effects of calcium ions and milk could be partially reversed by increasing the magnesium concentration in the reaction to well above the standard levels normally required for PCR. This work has important implications for the use of the PCR in the direct detection of food pathogens.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of the Government Chemist, Analytical Molecular Biology Group, Teddington, Middlesex, UK.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bickley
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Short
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: McDowell
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Parkes
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002118:Calcium; D002417:Cattle; D002614:Chelating Agents; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004533:Egtazic Acid; D005516:Food Microbiology; D006801:Humans; D008089:Listeria monocytogenes / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D008088:Listeriosis / Q000209:etiology; D008274:Magnesium; D008892:Milk / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D011137:Polystyrenes; D011145:Polyvinyls
chemical_list: D002614:Chelating Agents; D017931:DNA Primers; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D011137:Polystyrenes; D011145:Polyvinyls; D004533:Egtazic Acid; C006960:chelex; D008274:Magnesium; D002118:Calcium