title: Direct detection and identification of lactic acid bacteria in a food processing plant and in meat products using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis.
abstract: We established a novel system using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) to quickly identify bacteria known to be responsible for spoilage in meat processing plants and meat products. We extracted bacterial DNA from swabbed samples at various locations in the plant and from meat products and performed PCR amplification, targeting 16S rDNA from the dominant organisms. The amplification products were subjected to DGGE, and the contaminating bacteria in the meat products and the plant were analyzed. This analysis indicated that lactic acid bacteria and spoilage-causing bacteria are widely distributed within the meat processing plant. We developed molecular size markers to identify the dominant organisms obtained from the plant and meat products. The establishment of the present method allows quick and simple identification of bacteria causing the possible deterioration of products and contamination and thus permits constant monitoring of any harmful bacteria within meat processing plants.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science and Technology, Faculty of Marine Science, Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, 4-5-7 Konan, Minato, Tokyo 108-8477, Japan.
authors.forename: Hajime
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Bon
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kimura
authors.forename: Miwako
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yoshikawa
authors.forename: Seitaro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gotou
authors.forename: Itaru
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Tateo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fujii
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis*; D004587:Electrophoresis, Agar Gel / Q000379:methods; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis*; D005516:Food Microbiology; D005525:Food-Processing Industry / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D005784:Gene Amplification; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D008461:Meat Products / Q000382:microbiology*; D008970:Molecular Weight
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial