Bacterial pathogen detection by conventional culture-based and recent alternative (polymerase chain reaction, isothermal amplification, enzyme linked immunosorbent assay, bacteriophage amplification, and gold nanoparticle aggregation) methods in food samples: A review

The rapid, sensitive, and selective detection of foodborne pathogens is important to ensure food safety. Culture medium-based methods for bacteria detection have long been used since Robert Koch's first finding. These methods are simple and cheap but have limitations, such as being time-consuming, labor-intensive, and having low selectivity. In this regard, several alternative detection methods have been reported. Among these, recent studies related to the application of polymerase chain reaction, isothermal amplification, bacteriophage amplification, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and gold nanoparticle aggregation for detection of pathogens in food are discussed in this review. The principles, advantages, and disadvantages of alternative methods are covered, including their rapidity, sensitivity, and selectivity. Finally, regulations related to bacterial pathogen detection in the United States and South Korea were compared with remarks for their progress.

Automated summary

The rapid, sensitive, and selective detection of foodborne pathogens is crucial for ensuring food safety. Various alternative detection methods, such as polymerase chain reaction, isothermal amplification, bacteriophage amplification, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and gold nanoparticle aggregation, have been studied and discussed for their principles, advantages, and disadvantages in this review. Regulations related to bacterial pathogen detection in the United States and South Korea were also compared for their progress.