Development and application of a novel peptide nucleic acid probe for the specific detection of Cronobacter genomospecies (Enterobacter sakazakii) in powdered infant formula.
Here, we report a fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) method for rapid detection of Cronobacter strains in powdered infant formula (PIF) using a novel peptide nucleic acid (PNA) probe. Laboratory tests with several Enterobacteriaceae species showed that the specificity and sensitivity of the method were 100%. FISH using PNA could detect as few as 1 CFU per 10 g of Cronobacter in PIF after an 8-h enrichment step, even in a mixed population containing bacterial contaminants.
Almeida
C
C
Institute for Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Centre of Biological Engineering, Universidade do Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal.
Azevedo
N F
NF
Iversen
C
C
Fanning
S
S
Keevil
C W
CW
Vieira
M J
MJ
D044083:Cronobacter sakazakii / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005516:Food Microbiology; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods; D041943:Infant Formula; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes / Q000235:genetics*; D020135:Peptide Nucleic Acids; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes; D020135:Peptide Nucleic Acids