RRNA stability in heat-killed and UV-irradiated enterotoxigenic Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli O157:H7.

ABSTRACT: Differentiation of viable cells from nonviable cells is of considerable importance in the development of methods to detect foodborne pathogens. To study the suitability of 16S rRNA as an indicator of cell viability in nucleic acid-based detection assays, we examined rRNA stability in two representative foodborne pathogens, Escherichia coli O157:H7 and enterotoxigenic Staphylococcus aureus, which were inactivated by extreme heat, moderate heat, and UV irradiation. Cell death under all conditions was confirmed by a failure to grow in brain heart infusion broth after incubation for 48 h at 37 degrees C. rRNA stability was monitored by a Northern blot analysis, and detection was evaluated by using reverse transcription (RT)-PCR performed with two primer sets (which produced 325- and 1, 400-bp

SUBMITTER: McKillip JL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC106637 | biostudies-literature | 1998 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature