应用ELISA和ELFA定量检测牛奶中葡萄球菌肠毒素A方法的建立

探讨了Tecra SEs SET(ELISA法)和Vidas SET2(ELFA法)两种葡萄球菌肠毒素定性检测试剂盒用于定量检测牛奶中葡萄球菌肠毒素A(SEA)的可行性。根据GB/T27404-2008《实验室质量控制规范食品理化检测》的要求,对两种方法应用于定量检测时的检出限、校正曲线范围、相关系数和加标回收率指标进行了分析比较。实验结果显示,Tecra SEs SET对牛奶中SEA的检出限为0.79 ng/mL,校正曲线范围为0.79~10 ng/mL,相关系数r=0.997,SEA加标浓度为0.80、2.5和10 ng/mL时的回收率分别为110%、81%和100%。Vidas SET2的检出限为0.09 ng/mL,校正曲线范围为0.09~1.0 ng/mL,相关系数r=0.998,SEA加标浓度为0.1、0.25和1.0 ng/mL时的回收率分别为90%、95%和104%。上述结果结合对阳性样品的检测表明:这两种定性检测试剂盒能满足牛奶中SEA定量检测的要求。     

Degradation of staphylococcal enterotoxin A by a Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolate from raw milk

Recently, we found that staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA)-producing Staphylococcus aureus strains produced SEA in raw milk with microbial contaminants at high temperatures like 40 °C only. Moreover, the concentration of SEA produced in raw milk gradually decreased after the peak. The reason(s) for SEA degradation in raw milk was studied in this study. Degradation of SEA spiked in raw milk was observed at 40 °C, but not at 25 °C. A Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolate from raw milk degraded SEA spiked in broth at 40 °C. A sample partially purified with a chromatographic method from culture supernatant of the isolate degraded SEA. Two main proteolytic bands were observed in the sample by zymographic analysis with casein. These results suggested that the SEA in raw milk might be degraded by a protease(s) produced by the P. aeruginosa isolate. This finding might be the first report on SEA degradation by a proteolytic enzyme(s) derived from Pseudomonas bacteria to our knowledge.     

Direct detection of lactococcal bacteriophages in cheese whey using DNA probes

Abstract We have designed a new method for the rapid detection of lactococcal phage directly in milk samples. The method was based on a dot blot analysis and did not require a biological assay with sensitive indicator strains. Culture media or whey permeate samples containing phage were spotted directly onto a nylon membrane and the phage were lysed in situ prior to hybridization. For skim milk, whole milk and whey samples, the samples were first treated with 50 mM EDTA, 20% Triton X-100 and heated at 60°C for 5 min, prior to spotting on the membrane. The detection limit was approximately between 10⁵ and 10⁷ pfu/spot. A large number of samples could be processed simultaneously and the results were obtained within 24 h.     

安徽不同地区奶站牛奶中金黄色葡萄球菌及其肠毒素污染状况评估

目的评定安徽地区各奶站牛奶中金黄色葡萄球菌以及肠毒素的污染情况。方法通过从安徽省不同地区30所奶站采集乳样,进行乳源性金黄色葡萄球菌的分离与生化鉴定,并采用PCR技术对分离出的菌株进行金黄色葡萄球菌肠毒素血清型鉴定。结果安徽省30个奶站中有4个地区奶站的牛奶中污染金黄色葡萄球菌;从污染牛奶中共分离出5株金黄色葡萄球菌,检出率为16.7%。经鉴定,所分离出的金黄色葡萄球菌中2株为肠毒素A型,1株为肠毒素C型,2株为同时产肠毒素A和肠毒素C。结论安徽省不同地区奶站中的牛奶污染的金黄色葡萄球菌产肠毒素类型以肠毒素A为主。     

Detection of antibodies to staphylococcal enterotoxins in the serum and milk of healthy goats

A study was made of the presence of antibodies (Ab) to staphylococcal enterotoxins A to E (SEA-SEE) in the serum and milk of 133 healthy goats, using a competitive ELISA method. Antibodies to some enterotoxins were detected in 83 sera (62.4%) and in 41 (30.8%) milk samples. In serum, antibodies to all SE types were detected, the most frequent being antibodies to SEA (24.8%). Milk contained antibodies to SEA, SEB and SEC, the latter being the most frequent (24.8%). A statistical study was performed to correlate the number of animals harbouring antibodies to a given enterotoxin with the presence in these animals of staphylococci producing that enterotoxin.     

CD154 as a potential early molecular biomarker for rapid quantification analysis of active Staphylococcus enterotoxin A

Staphylococcus aureus is a major bacterial pathogen producing a group of 21 enterotoxins (SEs). These enterotoxins have two separate but related biological activities. They cause gastroenteritis, and they function as superantigens that activate large numbers of T cells. In the current study, we demonstrate that short-term ex vivo exposure of primary na?ve CD4(+) T-cells to SEA induces differential expression of the T cell surface receptor CD154 in a time- and dose-dependent manner. In addition, we show that SEA induces higher CD154 protein expression and higher splenocyte cell proliferation compared with SEB. We also demonstrate that expression of CD154 can be used for rapid detection of active SEA in milk.     

Detection and characterization of Streptococcus thermophilus bacteriophages by use of the antireceptor gene sequence

In the dairy industry, the characterization of Streptococcus thermophilus phage types is very important for the selection and use of efficient starter cultures. The aim of this study was to develop a characterization system useful in phage control programs in dairy plants. A comparative study of phages of different origins was initially performed based on their morphology, DNA restriction profiles, DNA homology, structural proteins, packaging mechanisms, and lifestyles and on the presence of a highly conserved DNA fragment of the replication module. However, these traditional criteria were of limited industrial value, mainly because there appeared to be no correlation between these variables and host ranges. We therefore developed a PCR method to amplify VR2, a variable region of the antireceptor gene, which allowed rapid detection of S. thermophilus phages and classification of these phages. This method has a significant advantage over other grouping criteria since our results suggest that there is a correlation between typing profiles and host ranges. This association could be valuable for the dairy industry by allowing a rational starter rotation system to be established and by helping in the selection of more suitable starter culture resistance mechanisms. The method described here is also a useful tool for phage detection, since specific PCR amplification was possible when phage-contaminated milk was used as a template (detection limit, 10(5) PFU ml(-1)).     

Applicability of an immunoblot technique combined with a semiautomated electrophoresis system for detection of staphylococcal enterotoxins in food extracts.

We studied the usefulness of an immunoblot technique for the detection of staphylococcal enterotoxins (SEs) in strains and food extracts. Food samples (milk, yogurt, hot dog sausage, cheese, and mayonnaise) were artificially contaminated with SEA through SEE. Protein A did not interfere with the results; it appeared on electrophoresis gels as bands with molecular weights higher than those of the SEs. Other food proteins were not revealed by the technique. The immunoblot technique proved to be fast, specific, and sensitive for the detection of SEs in foods.     

Applicability of an immunoblot technique combined with a semiautomated electrophoresis system for detection of staphylococcal enterotoxins in food extracts.

We studied the usefulness of an immunoblot technique for the detection of staphylococcal enterotoxins (SEs) in strains and food extracts. Food samples (milk, yogurt, hot dog sausage, cheese, and mayonnaise) were artificially contaminated with SEA through SEE. Protein A did not interfere with the results; it appeared on electrophoresis gels as bands with molecular weights higher than those of the SEs. Other food proteins were not revealed by the technique. The immunoblot technique proved to be fast, specific, and sensitive for the detection of SEs in foods.     

Stable expression of the Lactobacillus casei bacteriophage A2 repressor blocks phage propagation during milk fermentation

A general strategy was applied to implement resistance against temperate bacteriophages that infect food fermentation starters through cloning and expression of the phage repressor. Lactobacillus casei ATCC 393 and phage A2 were used to demonstrate its feasibility as milk fermentation is drastically inhibited when the strain is infected by this phage. The engineered strain Lact. casei EM40::cI, which has the A2 repressor gene (cI) integrated into the genome, was completely resistant and able to ferment milk whether phage was present or not. In addition, viable phages were eliminated from the milk, probably through adsorption to the cell wall. Finally, the integration of cI in the genome resulted in a stable resistance phenotype, being unnecessary selective pressure during milk fermentation.     

Methods of express analysis of staphylococcal enterotoxin a in food products

Instrument-free methods for detection of staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA) in samples of drinkable dairy products and meat broth using immunochromatography (IC) and dot-assay were developed. A conjugate of monoclonal antibodies (MA) to SEA with colloid gold (CG) was used as the detecting component in IC; the MA-CG conjugate or biotinylated SEA antibodies and streptavidin-peroxidase conjugate (STR-HRP) were used for conducting the dot-assay. The results of the SEA analysis with the developed method and with the immunoenzymatic assay (IEA) were compared. The limit of detection in ng/mL was: 10 (IC), 20 (dot analysis, MA-CG), 10 (dot analysis, STR-HRP), and 4 (IEA). The analysis time in min was: 25 (IC), 60 (dot-assay, MA-CG), 70 (dot-assay, STR-HRP), and 150 (IEA). The simplicity and availability of the developed instrumentless detection methods allow conducting single and mass testing in low-resource laboratories as well as outside laboratories.     

Development of a new, combined rapid method using phage and PCR for detection and identification of viable Mycobacterium paratuberculosis bacteria within 48 hours

The FASTPlaqueTB assay is an established diagnostic aid for the rapid detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis from human sputum samples. Using the FASTPlaqueTB assay reagents, viable Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis cells were detected as phage plaques in just 24 h. The bacteriophage used does not infect M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis alone, so to add specificity to this assay, a PCR-based identification method was introduced to amplify M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis-specific sequences from the DNA of the mycobacterial cell detected by the phage. To give further diagnostic information, a multiplex PCR method was developed to allow simultaneous amplification of either M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis or M. tuberculosis complex-specific sequences from plaque samples. Combining the plaque PCR technique with the phage-based detection assay allowed the rapid and specific detection of viable M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis in milk samples in just 48 h.     

In vitro cell-based assay for activity analysis of staphylococcal enterotoxin A in food

Staphylococcal enterotoxins (SEs) are a leading cause of food poisoning and have two separate biological activities; it causes gastroenteritis and functions as a superantigen that activates large numbers of T cells. In vivo monkey or kitten bioassays were developed for analysis of SEs emetic activity. To overcome the inherent limitations of such bioassays, this study describes an in vitro splenocyte proliferation assay based on SEs superantigen activity as an alternative method for measuring the activity of staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA). After incubation of splenocytes with SEA, cell proliferation was measured by labeling the proliferating cells' DNA with bromodeoxyuridine (5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine, BrdU) and quantifying the incorporated BrdU by immunohistochemistry. BrdU labeling is shown to be highly correlated with SEA concentration ( R ²=0.99) and can detect 20 pg mL⁻¹ of SEA, which is far more sensitive than most enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Our assay can also distinguish between active toxin and inactive forms of the toxin in milk. By applying immunomagnetic beads that capture and concentrate the toxin, our assay was able to overcome matrix interference. These results suggest that our in vitro cell-based assay is an advantageous practical alternative to the in vivo monkey or kitten bioassays for measuring SEA and possibly other SEs activity in food.     

Production of enterotoxin A by supposedly nonenterotoxigenic Staphylococcus aureus strains

The production of staphylococcal enterotoxins A (SEA) and B (SEB) was studied by inoculating six well-defined staphylococcal collection strains into cow's, goat's, or sheep's milk (individually or as a 50% mixture of cow's + goat's or cow's + sheep's), into brain heart infusion, and into a medium generally used to enhance the synthesis of enterotoxins (3+3 medium). Four of the strains used are considered to be SEB producers, another is considered an SEA producer, and the remaining strain is nonenterotoxigenic but produces large quantities of staphylococcal protein A. Staphylococcal protein A masked the results in most cases. Only one strain secreted exclusively SEB, while the other three SEB producers synthesized SEA in different amounts. We conclude that enterotoxin production depends on the natural substrate and may differ from the results obtained when the strain is grown on cellophane over agar to determine its toxigenicity.     

Production of enterotoxin A by supposedly nonenterotoxigenic Staphylococcus aureus strains.

The production of staphylococcal enterotoxins A (SEA) and B (SEB) was studied by inoculating six well-defined staphylococcal collection strains into cow's, goat's, or sheep's milk (individually or as a 50% mixture of cow's + goat's or cow's + sheep's), into brain heart infusion, and into a medium generally used to enhance the synthesis of enterotoxins (3+3 medium). Four of the strains used are considered to be SEB producers, another is considered an SEA producer, and the remaining strain is nonenterotoxigenic but produces large quantities of staphylococcal protein A. Staphylococcal protein A masked the results in most cases. Only one strain secreted exclusively SEB, while the other three SEB producers synthesized SEA in different amounts. We conclude that enterotoxin production depends on the natural substrate and may differ from the results obtained when the strain is grown on cellophane over agar to determine its toxigenicity.     

Mass Outbreak of Food Poisoning Disease Caused by Small Amounts of Staphylococcal Enterotoxins A and H

It was believed that food poisoning in Osaka in 2000 was due to small amounts of staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA) in reconstituted milk. Results of this study clearly indicate that SEH was also present in the raw material of reconstituted milk, indicating that the food poisoning was caused by multiple staphylococcal enterotoxins.     

Effect of urea treatment on recovery of staphylococcal enterotoxin A from heat-processed foods.

The effects of urea treatment on the potential reactivation of heat-damaged antigenic components of staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA) were examined with cooked foods, including mushrooms, ham, bologna, salami, and turkey. The thermal stability of purified SEA spiked into foods and native SEA produced by Staphylococcus aureus in foods was also examined. Food samples containing either spiked or native SEA were thermally processed by autoclaving or retorting. This was followed sequentially by toxin extraction, urea treatment, dialysis, reconstitution, and SE assays with the reversed passive latex agglutination and/or enzyme immunoassay kit. The results indicate that (i) urea treatment did not result in any reactivation of heat-inactivated antigenic components of SEA in any of the foods tested, (ii) the serological components of purified SEA were destroyed (> or = 96%) by autoclaving at 121.1 degrees C for 5 to 15 min or by retorting at an F0 of 4 to 18, and (iii) the immunological property of the native SEA was approximately threefold-more heat resistant than that of the purified SEA. The study suggested that the current urea method is not suitable for the detection of heat-denatured SEA in the thermally processed foods.     

Mass outbreak of food poisoning disease caused by small amounts of staphylococcal enterotoxins A and H

It was believed that food poisoning in Osaka in 2000 was due to small amounts of staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA) in reconstituted milk. Results of this study clearly indicate that SEH was also present in the raw material of reconstituted milk, indicating that the food poisoning was caused by multiple staphylococcal enterotoxins.     

Development of a Protein Standard Absolute Quantification (PSAQ™) assay for the quantification of Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin A in serum

Enterotoxin A (SEA) is a staphylococcal virulence factor which is suspected to worsen septic shock prognosis. However, the presence of SEA in the blood of sepsis patients has never been demonstrated. We have developed a mass spectrometry-based assay for the targeted and absolute quantification of SEA in serum. To enhance sensitivity and specificity, we combined an immunoaffinity-based sample preparation with mass spectrometry analysis in the selected reaction monitoring (SRM) mode. Absolute quantification of SEA was performed using the PSAQ™ method (Protein Standard Absolute Quantification), which uses a full-length isotope-labeled SEA as internal standard. The lower limit of detection (LLOD) and lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) were estimated at 352 pg/mL and 1057 pg/mL, respectively. SEA recovery after immunocapture was determined to be 7.8 ± 1.4%. Therefore, we assumed that less than 1 femtomole of each SEA proteotypic peptide was injected on the liquid chromatography column before SRM analysis. From a 6-point titration experiment, quantification accuracy was determined to be 77% and precision at LLOQ was lower than 5%. With this sensitive PSAQ-SRM assay, we expect to contribute to decipher the pathophysiological role of SEA in severe sepsis. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Proteomics: The clinical link.