Detection of foodborne pathogens using surface plasmon resonance biosensors

Salmonella enteritidis and Listeria monocytogenes were detected in real time using a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor based on prism excitation of surface plasmons and spectral interrogation. The respective antibodies against the pathogens were immobilized on the gold sensor surface as a covalently crosslinked double-layer or covalently bound on a cross-linked albumin layer. Salmonella and Listeria could be detected by the sensor at concentrations down to 10(6) cell/ml. The sensor sensitivity was comparable with that of standard ELISA in which the same antibodies were used. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.