Listeria Proof of Concept Project

The Challenge

Listeria monocytogenes is a pathogenic bacterium that can cause serious infections in vulnerable populations, such as young children, elderly people, pregnant women and immunocompromised people. The pathogen causes high hospitalization and mortality rates (20-30%) and has been implicated as a causative agent of serious epidemic and sporadic food-borne illnesses in humans.
Improved and accurate techniques that provide fast detection are of great importance, since it is very crucial to detect the pathogen and withdraw the contaminated products from the markets before their distribution to consumers, thus preventing human infection.

The Solution

Aim of the project was to test and develop a biosensor specified in Listeria monocytogenes, in order to allow rapid and robust detection of the pathogen in fresh produce before they hit the market.

Results

•  Development of the first Listeria Biosensor that detects the pathogen in lettuce samples with 78% accuracy.
• Pathogen’s limit of detection in lettuce samples: 102 log10 CFU g-1.