Recent progress in typical foodborne spore-forming bacteria detection

Area of Science:

• Food Microbiology
• Analytical Chemistry
• Biotechnology

Background:

• Spore-forming bacteria are significant foodborne pathogens due to their heat resistance and persistence.
• Traditional detection methods are slow, labor-intensive, and lack sensitivity, necessitating rapid alternatives.
• Effective detection is vital for ensuring food safety and extending shelf life.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent advancements in rapid detection methods for key spore-forming bacteria.
• To evaluate five distinct detection strategies for their efficacy and applicability.
• To analyze commonalities and challenges in rapid spore-forming bacterial detection.

Main Methods:

• Gene amplification-based detection systems.
• Protein-based detection assays.
• Physicochemical property-based detection.
• Multiple detection strategies.
• Artificial intelligence (AI)-enhanced detection systems.

Main Results:

• Five strategies show promise for rapid detection of Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus cereus, Clostridium perfringens, and Clostridium botulinum.
• Commonalities include molecular recognition, signal amplification, and result visualization.
• Challenges involve matrix effects and sample pretreatment.

Conclusions:

• Rapid detection methods offer significant potential for food safety monitoring.
• These advancements can guide the development of next-generation detection platforms.
• Improved detection is essential for managing risks associated with spore-forming bacteria.