PCR targeting 16S rRNA genes for speeding enumeration of Listeria monocytogenes in minimally processed vegetables compared to the classical method

• Grant number: 06/06401-3
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: June 01, 2007
• End date: May 31, 2009
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Food Science and Technology - Food Science
• Principal Investigator: Elaine Cristina Pereira de Martinis
• Grantee: Elaine Cristina Pereira de Martinis
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto (FCFRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The modern lifestyle has changed food habits worldwide and, there is increasing demand for ready to eat foods, minimally processed and refrigerated. Among this kind of foods, minimally processed vegetables are of great importance. The packaging and storage conditions of these products may favor the growth of psychrothrophic bacteria, such as Listeria monocytogenes. This bacterium is of great concern for public health due to the severity of the disease it causes (listeriosis). Quantitative data on L. monocytogenes in food are important to better define its minimum infectious dose for humans and for microbiological risk assessment studies. The current methods available for enumeration of L. monocytogenes are laborious and require from 4 to 7 days for confirmed results. More recently, methods based on Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) have been applied for the detection of this bacterium. De Martinis et al. (2006) developed an NMP method based on Real Time PCR targeting genes of 16 S rRNA. In this project, the referred method will be applied to the quantification of L. monocytogenes in 120 samples of minimally processed vegetables. The results of this project should provide data for assessing the risk of the presence of L. monocytogenes in foods in our country. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

DE OLIVEIRA, MARIA APARECIDA; ABEID RIBEIRO, ELIANA GUIMARAES; MORATO BERGAMINI, ALZIRA MARIA; PEREIRA DE MARTINIS, ELAINE CRISTINA. Quantification of Listeria monocytogenes in minimally processed leafy vegetables using a combined method based on enrichment and 16S rRNA real-time PCR. FOOD MICROBIOLOGY, v. 27, n. 1, p. 19-23, FEB 2010. (06/06401-3)

DE OLIVEIRA, MARIA APARECIDA; DE SOUZA, VANESSA MACIEL; MORATO BERGAMINI, ALZIRA MARIA; PEREIRA DE MARTINIS, ELAINE CRISTINA. Microbiological quality of ready-to-eat minimally processed vegetables consumed in Brazil. FOOD CONTROL, v. 22, n. 8, p. 1400-1403, AUG 2011. (06/06401-3)