A Proof-of-Concept Protein Microarray-Based Approach for Serotyping of Salmonella enterica Strains

Salmonella enterica, a bacterium causing foodborne illnesses like salmonellosis, is prevalent in Europe and globally. It is found in food, water, and soil, leading to symptoms like diarrhea and fever. Annually, it results in about 95 million cases worldwide, with increasing antibiotic resistance posing a public health challenge. Therefore, it is necessary to detect and serotype Salmonella for several reasons. The identification of the serovars of Salmonella enterica isolates is crucial to detect and trace outbreaks and to implement effective control measures. Our work presents a protein-based microarray for the rapid and accurate determination of Salmonella serovars. The microarray carries a set of antibodies that can detect different Salmonella O- and H-antigens, allowing for the identification of multiple serovars, including Typhimurium and Enteritidis, in a single miniaturized assay. The system is fast, economical, accurate, and requires only small sample volumes. Also, it is not required to maintain an extensive collection of sera for the serotyping of Salmonella enterica serovars and can be easily expanded and adapted to new serovars and sera. The scientific state of the art in Salmonella serotyping involves the comparison of traditional, molecular, and in silico methods, with a focus on economy, multiplexing, accuracy, rapidity, and adaptability to new serovars and sera. The development of protein-based microarrays, such as the one presented in our work, contributes to the ongoing advancements in this field.