Biomarkers to Identify Specific Serotypes of Salmonella in Real-time

Description:

Various Salmonella strains are common food born microbes that cause disease in humans and animals. Some strains can cause intestinal infections, while others cause typhoid fever. Because of the large variety of Salmonella strains present and the different pathogenic effects of these strains, it is important to develop rapid and flexible assays that have the capacity to distinguish between these strains. Presently, Salmonella serotype determination takes several days to process and can be inaccurate.

 

A previous technology created by this same research group allows for the rapid detection and identification of a subset of Salmonella serotypes, and specifically distinguishes between those serotypes of interest for regulation in the United States and the European Union, allowing government and industry to make a determination of a serotype in a matter of hours. This benefit is especially important with regard to perishable food products. This new invention builds on the prior work.  The previous marker detected the presence of certain serotypes. This invention has developed four new real-time PCR markers that allow for differentiation of specific related serotypes, a capability not possible with the prior technology.

 

Reference Number: D-1113

 

Market Applications:

  • Food Safety
  • Food Technology

 

Features, Benefits & Advantages:

  • Solves the lack-of-discrimination issue posed by currently available, non-specific biomarkers
  • Faster way to differentiate between Salmonella serotypes

 

Intellectual Property:

A U.S. Utility Patent application, 15/563,838 was filed on 10/02/17.

 

Development Stage:

This invention has been produced and tested.

 

Researchers:

Maria Bugarel, Ph. D., Postdoctoral Research Associate, Animal and Food Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas.

Kendra Nightingale, Ph. D., Associate Professor, Animal and Food Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas.

Guy Loneragan, Ph. D., Professor, Animal and Food Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas.

Mindy Brashears, Ph. D., Professor, Animal and Food Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas.

 

Keywords: Salmonella, Real-time PCR, Molecular Serotyping, S. heidelberg, S. infantis, S. newport, S. hadar

Patent Information:
For Information, Contact:
Cameron Smith
Licensing Associate
Texas Tech Office of Research Commercialization
Cameron.smith@ttu.edu
Inventors:
Marie Bugarel
Guy Loneragan
Kendra Nightingale
Mindy Brashears
Keywords: