Development of Immunoassays for Foodborne Pathogenic Bacteria Detection Using PolyHRP for Signal Enhancement

The rapid and accurate detection of foodborne pathogens is essential for ensuring food safety. <i>Escherichia coli</i> O157:H7 (<i>E. coli</i> O157:H7) and <i>Salmonella Typhimurium</i> (<i>S. Typhimurium</i>) are major foodborne pathogenic bacteria th...

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Main Authors: Yijia Zhang, Junkang Pan, Qiyi He, Zhihao Xu, Bruce D. Hammock, Dongyang Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Biosensors
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6374/15/5/318
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author Yijia Zhang
Junkang Pan
Qiyi He
Zhihao Xu
Bruce D. Hammock
Dongyang Li
author_facet Yijia Zhang
Junkang Pan
Qiyi He
Zhihao Xu
Bruce D. Hammock
Dongyang Li
author_sort Yijia Zhang
collection DOAJ
description The rapid and accurate detection of foodborne pathogens is essential for ensuring food safety. <i>Escherichia coli</i> O157:H7 (<i>E. coli</i> O157:H7) and <i>Salmonella Typhimurium</i> (<i>S. Typhimurium</i>) are major foodborne pathogenic bacteria that pose significant public health risks, highlighting the need for effective detection methods. In this study, highly sensitive double-antibody sandwich-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) were developed for the rapid detection of <i>E. coli</i> O157:H7 and <i>S. Typhimurium</i>, utilizing a streptavidin-polymerized horseradish peroxidase (SA-PolyHRP)-based signal enhancement system. Systematic optimization was performed on key parameters, including the capture antibody concentration, detection antibody, and blocking agent. Compared to the method using SA-HRP, substitution with SA-PolyHRP significantly improved detection sensitivity, achieving limits of detection (LODs) of 1.4 × 10<sup>4</sup> CFU/mL for <i>E. coli</i> O157:H7 and 6.0 × 10<sup>3</sup> CFU/mL for <i>S. Typhimurium</i>, with sensitivity enhancements of 7.86-fold and 1.83-fold, respectively. Specificity tests confirmed no cross-reactivity with non-target or closely related pathogenic strains. The matrix effect was effectively mitigated through 10-fold and 100-fold dilutions for <i>E. coli</i> O157:H7 and <i>S. Typhimurium</i>, respectively. Both pathogens were successfully detected in beef samples spiked with 5 CFU after 5 h of incubation. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of PolyHRP-based signal enhancement for the highly sensitive and specific detection of foodborne pathogens, offering a promising approach for rapid food safety monitoring and public health protection.
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spelling doaj-art-68a9f8f7e7f1454792acb8b0db08e76c2025-08-20T02:33:42ZengMDPI AGBiosensors2079-63742025-05-0115531810.3390/bios15050318Development of Immunoassays for Foodborne Pathogenic Bacteria Detection Using PolyHRP for Signal EnhancementYijia Zhang0Junkang Pan1Qiyi He2Zhihao Xu3Bruce D. Hammock4Dongyang Li5College of Biosystems Engineering and Food Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, ChinaCollege of Biosystems Engineering and Food Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, ChinaCollege of Biosystems Engineering and Food Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, ChinaCollege of Biosystems Engineering and Food Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, ChinaDepartment of Entomology and Nematology and UCD Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USACollege of Biosystems Engineering and Food Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, ChinaThe rapid and accurate detection of foodborne pathogens is essential for ensuring food safety. <i>Escherichia coli</i> O157:H7 (<i>E. coli</i> O157:H7) and <i>Salmonella Typhimurium</i> (<i>S. Typhimurium</i>) are major foodborne pathogenic bacteria that pose significant public health risks, highlighting the need for effective detection methods. In this study, highly sensitive double-antibody sandwich-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) were developed for the rapid detection of <i>E. coli</i> O157:H7 and <i>S. Typhimurium</i>, utilizing a streptavidin-polymerized horseradish peroxidase (SA-PolyHRP)-based signal enhancement system. Systematic optimization was performed on key parameters, including the capture antibody concentration, detection antibody, and blocking agent. Compared to the method using SA-HRP, substitution with SA-PolyHRP significantly improved detection sensitivity, achieving limits of detection (LODs) of 1.4 × 10<sup>4</sup> CFU/mL for <i>E. coli</i> O157:H7 and 6.0 × 10<sup>3</sup> CFU/mL for <i>S. Typhimurium</i>, with sensitivity enhancements of 7.86-fold and 1.83-fold, respectively. Specificity tests confirmed no cross-reactivity with non-target or closely related pathogenic strains. The matrix effect was effectively mitigated through 10-fold and 100-fold dilutions for <i>E. coli</i> O157:H7 and <i>S. Typhimurium</i>, respectively. Both pathogens were successfully detected in beef samples spiked with 5 CFU after 5 h of incubation. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of PolyHRP-based signal enhancement for the highly sensitive and specific detection of foodborne pathogens, offering a promising approach for rapid food safety monitoring and public health protection.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6374/15/5/318PolyHRPfoodborne pathogenic bacteriaimmunoassaysignal enhancement
spellingShingle Yijia Zhang
Junkang Pan
Qiyi He
Zhihao Xu
Bruce D. Hammock
Dongyang Li
Development of Immunoassays for Foodborne Pathogenic Bacteria Detection Using PolyHRP for Signal Enhancement
Biosensors
PolyHRP
foodborne pathogenic bacteria
immunoassay
signal enhancement
title Development of Immunoassays for Foodborne Pathogenic Bacteria Detection Using PolyHRP for Signal Enhancement
title_full Development of Immunoassays for Foodborne Pathogenic Bacteria Detection Using PolyHRP for Signal Enhancement
title_fullStr Development of Immunoassays for Foodborne Pathogenic Bacteria Detection Using PolyHRP for Signal Enhancement
title_full_unstemmed Development of Immunoassays for Foodborne Pathogenic Bacteria Detection Using PolyHRP for Signal Enhancement
title_short Development of Immunoassays for Foodborne Pathogenic Bacteria Detection Using PolyHRP for Signal Enhancement
title_sort development of immunoassays for foodborne pathogenic bacteria detection using polyhrp for signal enhancement
topic PolyHRP
foodborne pathogenic bacteria
immunoassay
signal enhancement
url https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6374/15/5/318
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