title: Identification of heat resistant Escherichia coli by qPCR for the locus of heat resistance.
abstract: Three qPCR assays targeting the locus of heat resistance to identify heat resistant clinical Escherichia coli isolates are described. Of 613 isolates, 3 (0.5%) possessed the locus. The assays are a rapid, highly sensitive and specific alternative to screening by heat shock and can be used in food safety surveillance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; Alberta Provincial Laboratory for Public Health, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Electronic address: Linda.Chui@albertahealthservices.ca.
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chui
mesh_terms: D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis; D005516:Food Microbiology; D059022:Food Safety / Q000379:methods; D056426:Genetic Loci; D006358:Hot Temperature; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial
keywords: Escherichia coli; Heat-shock response; Thermotolerance; qPCR