THE POLYMERASE CHAIN-REACTION - APPLICATIONS FOR THE DETECTION OF FOODBORNE PATHOGENS

Faster methods for the detection of foodborne microbial pathogens are needed. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) can amplify specific segme nts of DNA and is used to detect and identify bacterial genes responsi ble for causing diseases in humans. The major features and requirement s for the PCR are described along with a number of important variation s. A considerable number of PCR-based assays have been developed, but they have been applied most often to clinical and environmental sample s and more rarely for the detection of foodborne microorganisms. Much of the difficulty in implementing PCR for the analysis of food samples lies in the problems encountered during the preparation of template D NAs from food matrices; a variety of approaches and considerations are examined. PCR methods developed for the detection and identification of particular bacteria, viruses, and parasites found in foods are desc ribed and discussed, and the major features of these reactions are sum marized.