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Improved multiplex PCR assay for simultaneous detection of Bacillus cereus emetic and enterotoxic strains

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Abstract

Toxin producing Bacillus cereus can cause enterotoxic and/or emetic food poisoning. In the present study, a multiplex PCR assay was developed to detect all toxin genes known to be involved in food poisoning of B. cereus in a single reaction. Specific primers for the detection of enterotoxic (entFM, hblC, nheA, and cytK) genes and emetic toxin production (2 primer pairs: ces, CER) were designed based on the GeneBank sequences. The developed multiplex PCR assay was evaluated in pure culture and artificially inoculated milk, using 43 B. cereus strains and non-target strains. In brief, sensitivity in pure culture was 10-fold or more higher than artificially inoculated milk in multiplex PCR detection limit assay. The presented PCR assay is a developed molecular tool for the rapid simultaneous detection of emetic and enterotoxin producing B. cereus strains.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Food Science and Biotechnology and Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Gangwon, 200-701, Korea

    Jae-Myung Kim, Fereidoun Forghani, Myoung-Su Park, Jun Wang, Joong Hyun Park & Deog-Hwan Oh

  2. Division of Health Research and Planning, Gyeonggi-do Research Institute of Health and Environment, Suwon, Gyeonggi, 440-290, Korea

    Jung-Beom Kim & Yong-Bae Park

Authors
  1. Jae-Myung Kim
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  2. Fereidoun Forghani
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  3. Jung-Beom Kim
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  4. Yong-Bae Park
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  5. Myoung-Su Park
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  6. Jun Wang
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  7. Joong Hyun Park
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  8. Deog-Hwan Oh
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Correspondence to Deog-Hwan Oh.

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Kim, JM., Forghani, F., Kim, JB. et al. Improved multiplex PCR assay for simultaneous detection of Bacillus cereus emetic and enterotoxic strains. Food Sci Biotechnol 21, 1439–1444 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10068-012-0189-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10068-012-0189-8

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