Quantification and evaluation of infectivity of shiga toxin-encoding bacteriophages in beef and salad

Appl Environ Microbiol. 2011 May;77(10):3536-40. doi: 10.1128/AEM.02703-10. Epub 2011 Mar 25.

Abstract

Stx bacteriophages in 68 samples of beef and salad were quantified by real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR). Stx phages from the samples were propagated in Escherichia coli C600, E. coli O157:H7, and Shigella strains and further quantified. Fifty percent of the samples carried infectious Stx phages that were isolated from plaques generated by lysis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bacteriophages / genetics
  • Bacteriophages / growth & development
  • Bacteriophages / physiology*
  • Escherichia coli / virology*
  • Food Microbiology*
  • Lysogeny*
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods
  • Shiga Toxin / genetics*
  • Shigella / virology*

Substances

  • Shiga Toxin