Identifier

etd-11192010-085050

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

School of Nutrition and Food Sciences

Document Type

Dissertation

Abstract

In the US there are about 76 million foodborne illness cases reported every year, in spite of initiatives by federal agencies. This emphasizes the need for the development of novel detection techniques which are sensitive, specific and rapid. A detection technique should be rapid enough to give results same day, allowing companies to release food lots without delay and decreasing storage costs. This kind of screening would also allow immediate measures, if needed, before releasing the lots. In the case of Vibrio vulnificus (V. vulnificus), conventional methods are available to identify and enumerate this pathogen in oysters, but they are labor-intensive and time consuming. To maintain a constant supply of safe oysters, methods need to be developed that are sensitive and rapid. Application of species-specific monoclonal antibody (MAB) can increase the sensitivity and speed of V. vulnificus detection by eliminating enrichment steps, hence the objective of our study was to develop antibody based rapid and sensitive V .vulnificus detection methods. In the first method monoclonal antibodies were utilized in the development of an immunomagnetic separation (IMS) protocol, which was then combined with rt-PCR to develop rapid method which can detect presence of V. vulnificus in oysters within 3 h with a sensitivity of 102 CFU/ml oyster homogenate. We have also used our anti V. vulnificus -H species specific monoclonal antibodies to develop a lateralflow detection device (dipstick) which when combined with a short 5 h enrichment step was successfully able to identify less than 10 CFU/ ml of V. vulnificus from oyster homogenate. Our IMS rt-PCR and dip stick assay could be an answer to seafood industries rapid pathogen detection needs.

Date

2010

Document Availability at the Time of Submission

Secure the entire work for patent and/or proprietary purposes for a period of one year. Student has submitted appropriate documentation which states: During this period the copyright owner also agrees not to exercise her/his ownership rights, including public use in works, without prior authorization from LSU. At the end of the one year period, either we or LSU may request an automatic extension for one additional year. At the end of the one year secure period (or its extension, if such is requested), the work will be released for access worldwide.

Committee Chair

Janes, Marlene E

DOI

10.31390/gradschool_dissertations.529

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