SPECIFIC OLIGONUCLEOTIDE PRIMERS FOR DETECTION OF LECITHINASE-POSITIVE BACILLUS SPP BY PCR

An assay based on the PCR has been developed to facilitate detection a nd identification of Bacillus cereus in foods. Three primers for the P CR have been designed within the sequence for cereolysin AB, a cytolyt ic determinant that encodes lecithin-hydrolyzing and hemolytic activit ies of B. cererus. With the PCR and hybridization, the specificity of the primers was tested with 39 isolates of the B. cereus group, with 1 7 other Bacillus spp., and with 21 non-Bacillus strains. Results demon strate a high specificity of the three oligonucleotides for isolates o f the B. cereus group. With a combined PCR-hybridization assay, the de tection limit for B. cereus in artificially contaminated milk nas 1 CF U/ml of milk.