Novel TaqMan real-time polymerase chain reaction assay for verifying the authenticity of meat and commercial meat products from game birds

Species-specific real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays using TaqMan probes have been developed for verifying the labeling of meat and commercial meat products from game birds, including quail, pheasant, partridge, guinea fowl, pigeon, Eurasian woodcock and song thrush. The method combines the use of species-specific primers and TaqMan probes that amplify small fragments (amplicons <150 base pairs) of the mitochondrial 12S rRNA gene, and an endogenous control primer pair that amplifies a 141-bp fragment of the nuclear 18S rRNA gene from eukaryotic DNA. Analysis of experimental raw and heat-treated binary mixtures as well as of commercial meat products from the target species demonstrated the suitability of the assay for the detection of the target DNAs.     

Application of real-time PCR for tree nut allergen detection in processed foods

Abstract

Currently, food allergies are an important health concern worldwide. The presence of undeclared allergenic ingredients or the presence of traces of allergens due to accidental contamination during food processing poses a great health risk to sensitized individuals. Therefore, reliable analytical methods are required to detect and identify allergenic ingredients in food products. Real-time PCR allowed a specific and accurate amplification of allergen sequences. Some processing methods could induce the fragmentation and/or degradation of genomic DNA and some studies have been performed to analyze the effect of processing on the detection of different targets, as thermal treatment, with and without applying pressure. In this review, we give an updated overview of the applications of real-time PCR for the detection of allergens of tree nut in processed food products. The different variables that contribute to the performance of PCR methodology for allergen detection are also review and discussed.     

A survey of the use of soy in processed Turkish meat products and detection of genetic modification

To screen for possible illegal use of soybeans in meat products, the performance characteristics of a commercial polymer chain reaction (PCR) kit for detection of soybean DNA in raw and cooked meat products were established. Minced chicken and beef products containing soybean at levels from 0.1% to 10.0% were analysed by real-time PCR to amplify the soybean lectin gene. The PCR method could reliably detect the addition of soybean at a level of 0.1%. A survey of 38 Turkish processed meat products found only six samples to be negative for the presence of soybean. In 32 (84%) positive samples, 13 (34%) contained levels of soy above 0.1%. Of soybean positive samples, further DNA analysis was conducted by real-time PCR to detect whether genetically modified (GM) soybean had been used. Of 32 meat samples containing soybean, two samples were positive for GM modification.     

Detection of allergenic parvalbumin of Atlantic and Pacific herrings in fish products by PCR

The conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method to detect the major allergenic protein parvalbumin beta 2 of Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) and Pacific herring (Clupea pallasii) was developed. The specific set of primers for the amplification of the partial genomic sequence of the pvalb 2 gene encoding the main fish allergen of both herrings was designed and applied to the investigation of 24 commercial fish products. The targeted amplicon size was 189 bp of pvalb 2 gene of Atlantic herring and Pacific herring. As the internal amplification control, the DNA of 18S rRNA gene for eukaryotes (141 bp) was successfully used. The specificity of designed primer pair using 26 various fish species was assessed. The intrinsic detection limit was 10 pg µl^?1 of the present specific DNA. Atlantic herring or Pacific herring allergenic parvalbumins were detected in 22 investigated fish products in conformity with the package declaration. Two fish products were negative in spite of the declaration. The proposed PCR method is specific enough and can be used for the detection of Atlantic and Pacific herrings’ major allergen parvalbumin beta 2 in fish food products.     

鱼肉制品中龙利鱼和巴沙鱼的鱼源性成分的双重实时荧光PCR快速检测法

目的 建立龙利鱼和巴沙鱼源性成分的双重实时荧光聚合酶链式反应(PCR)快速检测方法。方法 根据13种龙利鱼的线粒体16S rRNA序列,设计通用引物和探针,根据巴沙鱼的线粒体cytb基因序列设计引物和探针,通过优化扩增反应体系进行双重实时荧光PCR扩增,达到快速检测产物的目的。结果 本方法特异性良好,龙利鱼基因组DNA灵敏度可达到10^-3ng,在与鲤鱼粉混合的鱼肉制品中可检测,质量分数灵敏度达到1%。巴沙鱼基因组DNA灵敏度可达到10^-4ng,在与龙利鱼粉、大西洋鳕鱼粉混合的鱼肉制品中均可检测,质量分数灵敏度达到0.1%,在与米粉混合的鱼肉制品中可检测,质量分数灵敏度达到0.001%。结论 本方法检测特异性高、所需时间短、灵敏度高,可满足鱼肉制品中龙利鱼真伪鉴别和巴沙鱼掺假的检测要求。     

Rapid screening method for quinolone residues in livestock and fishery products using immobilised metal chelate affinity chromatographic clean-up and liquid chromatography-fluorescence detection

An efficient LC method was developed for screening the presence of quinolones (QLs) – comprising fluoroquinolones (FQs) and acidic quinolones (AQs) – residues in various livestock and fishery products. Targeted analytes were for nine FQs of marbofloxacin (MAR), ofloxacin (OFL), norfloxacin (NOR), ciprofloxacin (CIP), enrofloxacin (ENR), danofloxacin (DAN), orbifloxacin (ORB), difloxacin (DIF) and sarafloxacin (SAR), and three AQs of oxolinic acid (OXA), nalidixic acid (NAL) and flumequine (FMQ). Samples comprised ten different food products covering five matrices: muscle (cattle, swine and chicken), liver (chicken), raw fish (shrimp and salmon), egg (chicken), and processed food (ham, sausage and fish sausage). This method involved a simple extraction with (1:1) acetonitrile–methanol, a highly selective clean-up with an immobilised metal chelate affinity column charged with Fe³⁺, a fast isocratic LC analysis using a short column (20?mm?×?4.6?mm, 3?µm) with a mobile phase of (15:85:0.1) methanol/water/formic acid, and fluorescence detection (excitation/emission wavelengths of 295?nm/455?nm for FQs (495?nm for MAR), and 320?nm/365?nm for AQs). Among FQs, pairs of NOR/OFL, ORB/DIF and ENR/DAN were incompletely resolved. A confirmatory LC run with a Mg²⁺ containing methanolic mobile phase was also proposed for the samples suspected of being positive. The optimised method gave satisfactory recoveries of 88.5% (56.1–108.6%) and 78.7% (44.1–99.5%) for intra- and inter-day assays with relative standard deviations of 7.2% (0.7–18.4%) and 6.8% (1.4–16.6%), respectively. Limits of quantitation ranged from 0.8?µg?kg^?1 (DAN) to 6.5?µg?kg^?1 (SAR). This method was successfully employed to analyse 113 real samples and two positive samples were found: fish sausage (CIP 990?µg?kg^?1) and shrimp (ENR 20?µg?kg^?1).     

实时荧光定量PCR技术在肉及肉制品中的应用

实时荧光定量PCR技术作为一种DNA定量检测的工具,可应用于肉制品种类鉴别和定量分析中。相比于传统感官和理化的鉴别方法,该技术具有灵敏性高、特异性强、操作简便、省时省力等特点。使用Taq Man荧光探针和荧光染料可以直接测定PCR循环后产物的总量,确定扩增DNA片段的种类及数量,从而确定肉品种类及添加量。因此,可以将该技术应用到肉制品成分及安全的检测中。本文介绍了实时荧光定量PCR技术的基本原理,主要综述了该技术在肉品种类鉴定方面的应用,简述其在肉制品细菌污染检测的应用,并对该技术在肉类研究中的应用进行展望。      

Development of a real-time PCR protocol for the species origin confirmation of isolated animal particles detected by NIRM

At present, European legislation prohibits totally the use of processed animal proteins in feed for all farmed animals (Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1234/2003–extended feed ban). A softening of the feed ban for non-ruminants would nevertheless be considered if alternative methods could be used to gain more information concerning the species origin of processed animal proteins than that which can be provided by classical optical microscopy. This would allow control provisions such as the ban of feeding animals with proteins from the same species or intra-species recycling (Regulation (EC) No. 1774/2002). Two promising alternative methods, near-infrared microscopy (NIRM) and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), were combined to authenticate, at the species level, the presence of animal particles. The paper describes the improvements of the real-time PCR method made to the DNA extraction protocol, allowing five PCR analyses to be performed with the DNA extracted from a single particle.     

Molecular approaches for the detection of truffle species in processed food products

Molecular identification techniques were applied in order to analyse food products containing fragments of some Tuber species. Samples of fungal DNA were processed by analyses of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using truffle species‐specific primers, multiplex PCR, restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis, sequencing of the ITS region and specific oligonucleotide probe hybridisation were used. The results obtained demonstrate the applicability of these molecular strategies to the identification of truffles, even when their morphological characteristics are difficult to interpret owing to the drastic treatments utilised in food preparation or the use of unripe fruit bodies (lacking spores). Furthermore, testing was also possible starting from very small amounts of sample and degraded DNA. The methods described have important applications in both the production and sale of such food products, in order to avoid fraud and reveal the possible presence of other fungal species. © 2002 Society of Chemical Industry     

肉制品中牛源性成分多重实时荧光PCR检测 方法的建立及初步应用

目的建立肉制品中牛源性成分的荧光PCR检测方法。方法根据牛特异性线粒体DNA片段,设计合成两对引物,以生、熟牛肉及超市牛肉加工品为材料,建立肉制品中牛源性成分的多重实时荧光PCR检测方法,并用该法与国标法同时对市售的25份肉制品同时进行检测,通过对其他种类的肉源DNA进行扩增验证方法的特异性;对含有不同比例牛肉成分的DNA样本进行检测确定检出限。结果该方法可成功检测出肉制品中的牛源性成分。在25份肉制品检测中,与国标法检测结果一致。该法的特异性为100%,灵敏度检测线为1%。结论本研究成功建立牛源性肉制品的检测方法,该方法快速简便,且具有较高的特异性和灵敏度,可用于市售肉制品中牛源性成分的鉴定。     

肉制品中鸭源性成分的实时荧光PCR检测

目的：建立基于实时荧光PCR技术的鸭源性成分的快速检测方法。方法：以鸭线粒体DNA序列为目的基因,设计并筛选了鸭源性特异性引物及探针,进行荧光定量PCR扩增,建立鸭源性成分检测方法。通过特异性、灵敏性、及盲样检测试验,对该体系进行验证。结果：该方法能够快速有效的检测鸭源性成分,具有较强的特异性及灵敏性,灵敏度约为0．01％（质量分数）;通过市售盲样肉制品的检测,表明该体系可用于定性检测加工肉制品中的鸭源性成分。结论：该方法特异性强,灵敏度高,可用于对肉制品中鸭源性成分的掺假鉴别。     

水产品中副溶血性弧菌实时荧光PCR检测方法

建立了一种特异、灵敏、稳定的副溶血性弧菌(Vibrio parahemolyticus,VP)致病基因的检测方法。对已建立的副溶血性弧菌致病基因tdh、trh和tlh荧光PCR方法的特异性、灵敏度和重复性进行检测,以验证该方法的有效性。该方法与副溶血性弧菌反应良好,与其他弧菌属和非弧菌属的6株常见食源性致病菌无交叉反应;检测了6株副溶血性弧菌标准菌株和分离株,3种致病基因检出限分别为tlh 6～43 CFU/mL,tdh 97～1 700 CFU/mL,trh 1 100～4 000 CFU/mL;3种致病基因20次重复组内变异系数在0.96%～1.50%,组间变异系数在2.70%～4.10%。该方法操作简便,特异性强,灵敏度高,能够准确、快速、灵敏地检测水产品中副溶血性弧菌。     

A SYBR Green real-time PCR assay to detect and quantify pork meat in processed poultry meat products

Species identification in meat products has grown in interest in recent years since these foodstuffs are susceptible targets for fraudulent labelling. In this work, a real-time PCR approach based on SYBR Green dye was proposed for the quantitative detection of pork meat in processed meat products. For the development of the method, binary meat mixtures containing known amounts of pork meat in poultry meat were used to obtain a normalised calibration model from 0.1 to 25% with high linear correlation and PCR efficiency. The method revealed high specificity by melting curve analysis, being successfully validated through its application to blind meat mixtures, which confirmed its adequacy for pork meat determination. The fully applicability of the method was further demonstrated in commercial meat products, allowing verification of labelling compliance and identification of meat species in processed foods.     

Duplex PCR approach for the detection and quantification of donkey,horse and mule in raw and heat‐processed meat products

Donkey‐related products have been paid more attention for their high nutritional value to human beings. Due to donkey resource scarcity, coupled with gradually increasing market demand, adulterated donkey meat products with other low‐cost animal meat, especially with the similar species horse and mule, are often found in market. Therefore, detection of species fraud in donkey meat products is important for consumer protection and food industries. In this study, a simple and highly specific duplex PCR method, based on the simultaneous amplification of fragments of the mitochondrial ATP synthase subunit 8/6 and ND2, was developed and optimised for the identification of horse, donkey and mule species in raw and heat‐processed meat products. To the best of our knowledge, it was the first time for this strategy applied to these three genetically related animal meat products differentiation to date. The duplex PCR generated a 153‐bp and 83‐bp amplification products for horse and donkey, respectively. While for mule, both of the two length amplification products are appeared on the agarose gel. Target meat species could be detected at a level of 1%, and the results indicated that the duplex PCR assay could be used in the authentification of donkey‐related products with high specificity, cost‐effectiveness and simplicity.     

Development of three real-time PCR assays to detect peanut allergen residue in processed food products

Hypersensitivity to peanut is a public health problem, since the ingestion of even low amounts of peanut can trigger severe allergic reactions. Allergic consumers rely on the information provided on the label of foodstuffs to identify products that might endanger their health. In order to protect the allergic consumer methods are required for the detection of allergenic ingredients. For this purpose we have developed three real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays, based on TaqMan chemistry, that are capable of detecting peanut specific DNA sequences in food products. The peanut specific sequence targeted for detection is located within the gene family of the allergen Ara h 3. The occurrence of multiple Ara h 3 sequences in the peanut genome increases the chance to achieve a good sensitivity. DNA extraction is also known to affect detection by PCR, therefore the efficiency of several different DNA extraction methods was compared. The methods reported here are capable of detecting 2.5 pg peanut DNA (less than one copy of peanut genome equivalent) and all three assays were successfully applied to detect peanut traces in a model food product where they could detect 10 mg kg⁻¹ peanut.     

种属特异性PCR法鉴别罐头食品中猪、牛、羊、鸡、鸭源性成分

建立适用于肉类罐头等长时间高温加工食品中猪、牛、羊、鸡、鸭5种动物源成分种属特异性PCR鉴别方法。通过使用猪、牛、羊、鸡、鸭的种属特异性引物,对5种动物的总DNA模板进行PCR扩增,得到分别为212、147、202、131、201 bp的扩增产物,将测序结果在美国国家生物技术信息中心(US National Center for Biotechnology Information,NCBI)进行BLAST比对确认实验的准确性,并对市售罐头样品进行检测。该方法 5种动物引物种属特异性良好,对猪、牛、羊、鸭源性成分的检测灵敏度可达1%,对鸡源性成分的检测灵敏度为2.5%。在对市售肉类罐头样品的检测中,6.6%样品与标签标注结果不符。该方法操作简便,成本低,结果准确可靠,可广泛用于肉类罐头食品和长时间高温加工食品中猪、牛、羊、鸡、鸭5种动物源成分的鉴别,具有十分广泛的实际应用价值。     

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in the quality and safety assurance of food: Detection of soya in processed meat products

A new method for the specific and sensitive detection of soya (Glycine max) in processed meat products has been developed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology. The presence of soya deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) from several soya protein concentrates was determined with two pairs of specific oligonucleotides yielding a 414-bp (bp=base pair) fragment and an internal 118-bp fragment amplified from the soya lectinLe1 gene. The test detected DNA from textured soya protein concentrates in meat products at a level of 1% and was confirmed by a commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).     

Validation of a fast real-time PCR method to detect fraud and mislabeling in milk and dairy products

Fast real-time PCR TaqMan assays were developed and validated for species identification in dairy products. Based on the amplification of 12S rRNA and cytB partial genes of mitochondrial DNA, the methods were demonstrated to be sensitive, fast, and species-specific for Bos taurus, Ovis aries, Bubalus bubalis, and Capra hircus. The limit of detection calculated was lower than 1%, and the efficiency was reported to be higher than 96% in every assay. An internal amplification control was used to detect possible false negatives. The method was validated by means of laboratory-prepared samples mixing different species. Moreover, 18 commercial dairy samples were analyzed by both real-time PCR and isoelectric focusing, the official European Union reference method. The 4 TaqMan assays were confirmed to be a useful tool for milk and dairy product authentication.     

Development of a rapid method for codfish identification in processed fish products based on SYBR Green real-time PCR

Using species outside the order Gadiformes to prepare codfish products has been widely revealed as a new type of fraud in China, highlighting the necessity to establish proper methods for codfish species identification. This work aimed to develop a new SYBR Green real-time PCR assay for the detection of codfish ingredient (mainly the eight Gadiformes species, Gadus morhua, Gadus macrocephalus, Theragra chalcogramma, Pollachius virens, Melanogrammus aeglefinus, Merluccius merluccius, Merluccius australis and Albatrossia pectoralis) in processed fish products based on mitochondrial 12S rRNA gene. Results highlighted the positive Cq (cycle quantification value, average value 19.18 ± 1.49) only from the eight Gadiformes species, with no fluorescent signal (Cq > 32) for the other sixty-seven non-Gadiformes species. The absolute limit of detection was 0.048 ng genomic DNA. Methodology validation succeeded in twenty-six commercial products. These results demonstrated that the newly developed method is suitable for the identification of codfish ingredient in processed fish products.     

Duplex real-time PCR method for the detection of sesame (Sesamum indicum) and flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum) DNA in processed food products

The development of a duplex real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method allowing the simultaneous detection of sesame and flaxseed DNA in commercial food products is described. This duplex real-time PCR technique is based in the design of sesame- and flaxseed-specific primers based on the ITS1 region and two TaqMan fluorescent probes. The method was positive for sesame and flaxseed, and showed no cross-reactivity for all other heterologous plant and animal species tested. Sesame and flaxseed could be detected in a series of model samples with defined raw and heat-treated sesame in flaxseed, and flaxseed in sesame, respectively, with detection limits of 1.3 mg kg^?1 for sesame and 1.4 mg kg^?1 for flaxseed. The applicability of the assay for determining sesame and flaxseed in different food matrices was investigated by analysing a total of 238 commercial foodstuffs. This PCR method is useful for highly selective and sensitive detection of traces of sesame and flaxseed in commercial food products.