Rapid detection of Salmonella spp. using magnetic resonance

The globalization of the world's food trade calls for rapid and accurate detection of foodborne pathogens to ensure safety of foods for human consumption, to prevent outbreaks and management of foodborne infectious diseases. Currently, commercial detection methods for pathogenic microbials require multiple days for sample-to-answer results. In this study, we demonstrated a highly sensitive and rapid detection of a microbial pathogen using Molecular Mirroring (M-2) technology and Lab-in-the-Box system based on nuclear magnetic resonance that works rapidly and efficiently for the detection of Salmonella. This technology detected Salmonella at 1 cfu/reaction in water. In tuna, the M-2 technology detected 1 cfu/g with 5 hr of enrichment and analysis with a T-2 signal of 342 ms. In addition to sensitive detection and minimal enrichment, this methodology detected pathogens from inhibitory mediums. Therefore, this technology can be widely applied to other fields such as environmental monitoring, public health and safety, national security, and medical diagnosis. Practical applicationsThe combination of molecular biology and nuclear magnetic resonance technology represents a novel, rapid, sensitive, and highly specific methodology for the detection of Salmonella spp. in tuna compared to standard conventional methods. Practical applications of the M-2 technology have been tested with human samples, animal samples, and food samples to detect microbial pathogens before and after food processing, thus is ideal to protect public health and to ensure food safety. Furthermore, this biosensor analytical technology can be applied to almost any medium or target of interest in the field of food safety, clinical diagnostics, and biosurveillance.