Methods for detecting live pathogens

摘要

Disclosed are methods and kits pertaining to detecting live bacterial pathogens using sortase enzymes and reflective spectroscopy such as reflective interferometry.

主权项

1. A method for detecting Listeria monocytogenes in a food matrix, the method comprising:
contacting the food matrix with one or more bacterial sortase substrates, wherein the one or more sortase substrates consist of one or more peptides selected from the group consisting of the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:126, SEQ ID NO:132, or SEQ ID NO:133, and a biosensor comprising a porous membrane, wherein the porous membrane excludes intact sortase substrates and admits the product of a cleaved sortase substrate; measuring the reflectivity spectrum of the biosensor; and comparing the reflectivity spectrum to that of a biosensor not contacted with the food matrix, wherein an altered reflectivity spectrum indicates the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in the food matrix.