title: A rapid low-cost high-density DNA-based multi-detection test for routine inspection of meat species.
abstract: The increasing occurrence of food frauds suggests that species identification should be part of food authentication. Current molecular-based species identification methods have their own limitations or drawbacks, such as relatively time-consuming experimental steps, expensive equipment and, in particular, these methods cannot identify mixed species in a single experiment. This project proposes an improved method involving PCR amplification of the COI gene and detection of species-specific sequences by hybridisation. Major innovative breakthrough lies in the detection of multiple species, including pork, beef, lamb, horse, cat, dog and mouse, from a mixed sample within a single experiment. The probes used are species-specific either in sole or mixed species samples. As little as 5 pg of DNA template in the PCR is detectable in the proposed method. By designing species-specific probes and adopting reverse dot blot hybridisation and flow-through hybridisation, a low-cost high-density DNA-based multi-detection test suitable for routine inspection of meat species was developed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology and Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong, China. Electronic address: cclin@cityu.edu.hk.
authors.forename: Chun Chi
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Lai Ling
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Fung
authors.forename: Po Kwok
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Cheuk Man
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kwok Fai
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Chow
authors.forename: Shuk Han
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Cheng
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats; D002417:Cattle; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis*; D004285:Dogs; D005513:Food Inspection / Q000379:methods*; D006736:Horses; D008460:Meat / Q000032:analysis* / Q000145:classification*; D051379:Mice; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013045:Species Specificity; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D004247:DNA
keywords: COI; Flow-through hybridisation; Food inspection; Species identification