title: Application of real-time PCR for quantitative detection of Clostridium botulinum type A toxin gene in food.
abstract: The TaqMan real-time PCR method for the quantitative detection of C. botulinum type A was developed based on sequence-specific hybridization probes. The validity of this assay was verified by using 10 genera of 20 strains, including reference strains of C. botulinum types A, B, C, D, E and F. The detection limit of this assay was evaluated on C. botulinum type A, using a 10-fold dilution series of DNA and spores . The DNA and spores were detected up to level of 0.1 ng/ml and 10(2)spores/ml, respectively. Spore spiked food sample preparation prior to the real-time PCR was performed by two methods, heat treatment and GuSCN. The detection limits after heat treatment showed 10(2) spores/ml for spiked sausage slurry, and 10(3) spores/ml for spiked canned corn slurry, while detection limits after GuSCN precipitation showed 10(2) spores/ml in both sausage and canned corn. Therefore the real-time PCR assay after GuSCN precipitation is useful for the quantification of C. botulinum type A because it showed identical CT values in both pure spore solutions and food slurries. We suggest that quantitative analysis of C. botulinum type A by TaqMan real-time PCR can be a rapid and accurate assessment method for botulinal risk in food samples.
authors.affiliation: Research Center for Pathogen Control, Department of Bacteriology, National Institute of Health, 5-Nokbun-dong, Eunpyung-gu, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: So-Yeon
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Gyung Tae
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Do-Hyun
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Chunsun
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ryu
authors.forename: Cheon-Kwon
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.forename: Won-Keun
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Seong
mesh_terms: D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D003014:Clostridium botulinum / Q000235:genetics*; D005506:Food Contamination; D005516:Food Microbiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A