Detection of foodborne pathogens using surface plasmon resonance biosensors

Salmonella enteritidis and Listeria monocytogenes were detected in real tim e using a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor based on prism excitation of surface plasmons and spectral interrogation. The respective antibodies a gainst the pathogens were immobilized on the gold sensor surface as a coval ently crosslinked double-layer or covalently bound on a cross-linked albumi n layer. Salmonella and Listeria could be detected by the sensor at concent rations down to 10(6) cell/ml. The sensor sensitivity was comparable with t hat of standard ELISA in which the same antibodies were used. (C) 2001 Else vier Science B.V. All rights reserved.