Frontiers in Microbiology (Jul 2016)

Detection of Cronobacter Genus in Powdered Infant Formula by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay using Anti-Cronobacter Antibody

  • Xinjie Song,
  • Shruti Shukla,
  • Gibaek Lee,
  • Sunhyun Park,
  • Myunghee Kim

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2016.01124
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 7

Abstract

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Cronobacter species (Cronobacter spp.) are hazardous foodborne pathogens associated with baby food, powdered infant formula (PIF). To develop a rapid and sensitive method for simultaneous detection of seven Cronobacter spp. in PIF, an indirect non-competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (INC-ELISA) was developed based on a novel immunoglobulin G (IgG), anti-Cronobacter IgG. The developed INC-ELISA was able to detect seven Cronobacter spp. at concentrations ranging from 5.6×103 to 2.1×105 colony forming unit (CFU)/mL in pure culture. Further, INC-ELISA employing anti-Cronobacter IgG was applicable for analysis of PIF samples contaminated with less than <10 cells of Cronobacter spp. per 25 g of PIF in 36 h. The developed antibody showed slight cross-reactivity with Franconibacter pulveris (LMG 24057) at higher concentration (108 CFU/mL). The INC-ELISA method displayed excellent specificity without compromising cross-reactivity with other foodborne pathogens. The INC-ELISA assay method developed in this study using a novel anti-Cronobacter IgG facilitated highly sensitive, efficient, and rapid detection of Cronobacter spp. in baby food.

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