Strategies for the detection of Escherichia coli O157 : H7 in foods

This review assesses the various methods used to detect Escherichia coli O157: H7 in foods. As this organism has been involved in many outbreaks of disease, it is essential to develop a rapid, yet reliable, method of detection. Conventional methods such as culturing and biochemical tests are covered, followed by a discussion of immunological methods. Both enzymatic and nonenzymatic approaches are discussed, and commercially available kits based on these principles are described. PCR has allowed the rapid amplification of very small numbers of organisms and standard PCR along with multiplex and real-time PCR are discussed. Biosensors and microarrays can provide real-time detection and the current status of each of these is reviewed. It is believed that molecular beacons and integrated systems (lab-on-a-chip) can offer potential advantages for the detection of this pathogen and both are analysed. Drawbacks and advantages of each method described are considered throughout the article.