Biomedical subjects

Yanbin Li

Publications and source records attributed to Yanbin Li.

18 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Interdigitated array microelectrode based impedance biosensor coupled with magnetic nanoparticle-antibody conjugates for detection of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in food samples.

An impedance biosensor based on interdigitated array microelectrode (IDAM) coupled with magnetic nanoparticle-antibody conjugates (MNAC) was developed and evaluated for rapid and specific detection of E. coli O157:H7 in ground beef samples. MNAC were prepared by immobilizing biotin-labeled polyclonal goat anti-E. coli antibodies onto streptavidin-coated magnetic nanoparticles, which were used to separate and concentrate E. coli O157:H7 from ground beef samples. Magnitude of impedance and phase angle were measured in a frequency range of 10 Hz to 1 MHz in the presence of 0.1M mannitol solution. The lowest detection limits of this biosensor for detection of E. coli O157:H7 in pure culture and ground beef samples were 7.4 x 10(4) and 8.0 x 10(5)CFU ml(-1), respectively. The regression equation for the normalized impedance change (NIC) versus E. coli O157:H7 concentration (N) in ground beef samples was NIC=15.55 N-71.04 with R(2)=0.95. Sensitivity of the impedance biosensor was improved by 35% by concentrating bacterial cells attached to MNAC in the active layer of IDAM above the surface of electrodes with the help of a magnetic field. Based on equivalent circuit analysis, it was observed that bulk resistance and double layer capacitance were responsible for the impedance change caused by the presence of E. coli O157:H7 on the surface of IDAM. Surface immobilization techniques, redox probes, or sample incubation were not used in this impedance biosensor. The total detection time from sampling to measurement was 35 min.

Antibodies↗

PubMed2006

Passive immunotherapy for influenza A H5N1 virus infection with equine hyperimmune globulin F(ab')2 in mice.

BACKGROUND: Avian influenza virus H5N1 has demonstrated considerable pandemic potential. Currently, no effective vaccines for H5N1 infection are available, so passive immunotherapy may be an alternative strategy. To investigate the possible therapeutic effect of antibody against highly pathogenic H5N1 virus on a mammal host, we prepared specific equine anti-H5N1 IgGs from horses vaccinated with inactivated H5N1 virus, and then obtained the F(ab')2 fragments by pepsin digestion of IgGs. METHODS: The horses were vaccinated with inactivated H5N1 vaccine to prepare anti-H5N1 IgGs. The F(ab')2 fragments were purified from anti-H5N1 hyperimmune sera by a protocol for 'enhanced pepsin digestion'. The protective effect of the F(ab')2 fragments against H5N1 virus infection was determined in cultured MDCK cells by cytopathic effect (CPE) assay and in a BALB/c mouse model by survival rate assay. RESULTS: By the protocol for 'enhanced pepsin digestion', total 16 g F(ab')2 fragments were finally obtained from one liter equine antisera with the purity of over 90%. The H5N1-specific F(ab')2 fragments had a HI titer of 1:1024, and the neutralization titre of F(ab')2 reached 1: 2048. The in vivo assay showed that 100 microg of the F(ab')2 fragments could protect BALB/c mice infected with a lethal dose of influenza H5N1 virus. CONCLUSION: The availability of highly purified H5N1-specific F(ab')2 fragments may be promising for treatment of influenza H5N1 infection. Our work has provided experimental support for the application of the therapeutic equine immunoglobulin in future large primate or human trials.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

A QCM immunosensor for Salmonella detection with simultaneous measurements of resonant frequency and motional resistance.

A quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) immunosensor was described for the detection of Salmonella Typhimurium with simultaneous measurements of the resonant frequency and motional resistance. The immunosensor was fabricated using protein A for the antibody immobilization. High-frequency impedance analysis indicated that the changes in resonant frequency and motional resistance (DeltaF and DeltaR) of the QCM were significant while the changes in static capacitance, motional capacitance, and motional inductance were insignificant. In the direct detection of S. Typhimurium in chicken meat sample, DeltaF and DeltaR were proportional to the cell concentration in the range of 10(5) - 10(8) and 10(6) - 10(8) cells/ml, respectively. Using anti-Salmonella-magnetic beads as a separator/concentrator for sample pretreatment as well as a marker for signal amplification, the detection limit was lowered to 10(2) cells/ml based on the DeltaR measurement; however, DeltaF was not related to the cell concentration. No interference was observed from E. coli K12 or the sample matrix.

Bacterial Adhesion↗

PubMed2005

Simultaneous detection of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella Typhimurium using quantum dots as fluorescence labels.

In this study, we explored the use of semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) as fluorescence labels in immunoassays for simultaneous detection of two species of foodborne pathogenic bacteria, Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella Typhimurium. QDs with different sizes can be excited with a single wavelength of light, resulting in different emission peaks that can be measured simultaneously. Highly fluorescent semiconductor quantum dots with different emission wavelengths (525 nm and 705 nm) were conjugated to anti-E. coli O157 and anti-Salmonella antibodies, respectively. Target bacteria were separated from samples by using specific antibody coated magnetic beads. The bead-cell complexes reacted with QD-antibody conjugates to form bead-cell-QD complexes. Fluorescent microscopic images of QD labeled E. coli and Salmonella cells demonstrated that QD-antibody conjugates could evenly and completely attach to the surface of bacterial cells, indicating that the conjugated QD molecules still retain their effective fluorescence, while the conjugated antibody molecules remain active and are able to recognize their specific target bacteria in a complex mixture. The intensities of fluorescence emission peaks at 525 nm and 705 nm of the final complexes were measured for quantitative detection of E. coli O157:H7 and S. Typhimurium simultaneously. The fluorescence intensity (FI) as a function of cell number (N) was found for Salmonella and E. coli, respectively. The regression models can be expressed as: FI = 60.6 log N- 250.9 with R(2) = 0.97 for S. Typhimurium, and FI = 77.8 log N- 245.2 with R(2) = 0.91 for E. coli O157:H7 in the range of cell numbers from 10(4) to 10(7) cfu ml(-1). The detection limit of this method was 10(4) cfu ml(-1). The detection could be completed within 2 hours. The principle of this method could be extended to detect multiple species of bacteria (3-4 species) simultaneously, depending on the availability of each type of QD-antibody conjugates with a unique emission peak and the antibody coated magnetic beads specific to each species of bacteria.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

A nanoparticle amplification based quartz crystal microbalance DNA sensor for detection of Escherichia coli O157:H7.

A quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) DNA sensor, based on the nanoparticle amplification method, was developed for detection of Escherichia coli O157:H7. A thiolated single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) probe specific to E. coli O157:H7 eaeA gene was immobilized onto the QCM sensor surface through self-assembly. The hybridization was induced by exposing the ssDNA probe to the complementary target DNA, and resulted in the mass change and therefore frequency change of the QCM. Streptavidin conjugated Fe(3)O(4) nanoparticles (average diameter=145 nm) were used as "mass enhancers" to amplify the frequency change. Synthesized biotinylated oligonucleotides as well as E. coli O157:H7 eaeA gene fragments (151 bases) amplified using asymmetric PCR with biotin labeled primers were tested. As low as 10(-12)M synthesized oligonucleotides and 2.67 x 10(2) colony forming unit (CFU)/ml E. coli O157:H7 cells can be detected by the sensor. Linear correlation between frequency change and logarithmic number of bacterial cell concentration was found for E. coli O157:H7 from 2.67 x 10(2) to 2.67 x 10(6)CFU/ml.

Biosensing Techniques↗

PubMed2005

Detection of viable Salmonella using microelectrode-based capacitance measurement coupled with immunomagnetic separation.

In this study, we demonstrated the use of a general medium--brain heart infusion (BHI) broth that is not specifically formulated for impedance measurement, to achieve detectable impedance signals by using an interdigitated microelectrode (IME) with capacitance measurement at low frequencies. Anti-Salmonella antibody coated immunomagnetic beads were used to separate S. typhimurium from samples to provide the selectivity to this method. From analysis based on the equivalent circuit of the IME system, we found that the impedance change in BHI broth resulting from the growth of Salmonella was indeed the change in the double layer capacitance and could be monitored at 10 Hz using the IME. The results indicated that medium modification to improve impedance signal is not necessary with this IME system. However, effective immunological separation for the target organism is required for the selectivity when non-selective media are used. This finding provides a more flexible option of medium in impedance methods, which may provide opportunities to test those species of bacteria that have no suitable conductance growth medium. The detection time, t(d), was obtained from the impedance growth curve (impedance against bacterial growth time) at 10 Hz at the point where the impedance started to change. A linear relationship between the detection time and the logarithmic value of the initial cell number (N) was found in the Salmonella cell number ranging from 10(1) to 10(6) cfu/ml. The regression equation was t(d) = -1.22Log N + 8.90, with R2 = 0.95. The detection times for the initial cell number of 10(1) CFU/ml and 10(6) CFU/ml are 8 h and 1.5 h, respectively. This method is more sensitive than impedance methods using conventional electrodes.

Biosensing Techniques↗

PubMed2005

AFM and impedance spectroscopy characterization of the immobilization of antibodies on indium-tin oxide electrode through self-assembled monolayer of epoxysilane and their capture of Escherichia coli O157:H7.

The microscopic surface molecular structures and macroscopic electrochemical impedance properties of the epoxysilane monolayer and anti-Escherichia coli antibody layer on an indium-tin oxide (ITO) electrode surface were studied in this paper. Characterization of stepwise changes in microscopic features of the surfaces and electrochemical properties upon the formation of each layer were carried out using both atomic force microscopy (AFM) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy in the presence of [Fe(CN)6](3-/4-) as a redox couple. AFM images of the self-assembled monolayer (SAM) evidenced the dense, complete, and homogeneous morphology of the epoxysilane monolayer on the ITO surface. The uniformity of the epoxysilane SAM allowed antibodies to attach to the epoxy surface groups of the silanes in a similarly uniform fashion. The effects of epoxysilane monolayer and the antibody layer on the electrochemical properties of the electrode were quantitatively analyzed in terms of double layer capacitance, electron transfer resistance, Warburg impedance and solution resistance using Randles model as the equivalent circuit. It was demonstrated that the epoxysilane monolayer and the antibody layer act as barriers for the electron transfer between the electrode surface and the redox species in the solution, resulting in most significant increases in the electron transfer resistance compared to all the electric elements. Immunoreaction with E. coli O157:H7 cells demonstrated specific recognition of the immobilized anti-E. coli antibodies as evidenced by AFM imaging and impedance spectroscopy. It was found that the binding of E. coli cells mainly affected the electron transfer resistance and Warburg impedance.

Antibodies↗

PubMed2005

Quantum dots as fluorescent labels for quantitative detection of Salmonella typhimurium in chicken carcass wash water.

Fluorescent semiconductor quantum dots have recently emerged as a novel and promising class of fluorescent labels for biological detection. In this study, quantum dots were used as fluorescent labels in immunoassays for quantitative detection of foodborne pathogenic bacteria. Salmonella Typhimurium cells were separated from chicken carcass wash water using anti-Salmonella antibody coated magnetic beads and reacted to secondary biotin-labeled anti-Salmonella antibody. Quantum dots coated with streptavidin were added to react with biotin on the secondary antibody. Measurement of the intensity of fluorescence produced by quantum dots provided a quantitative method for microbial detection. A linear relationship between Salmonella Typhimurium cell number (log N) in the samples of chicken carcass wash water and the fluorescence intensity (FI) was found for the cell numbers ranging from 10(3) to 10(7) CFU/ml. The regression model can be expressed as FI = 198.6 Log N - 639.03 with R2 = 0.96. The detection limit of this method was 10(3) CFU/ml.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Evaluation of a capillary immunoassay system for detection of Salmonella typhimurium in poultry products.

A capillary immunoassay system was constructed and optimized for detection of Salmonella Typhimurium. The system consisted of a capillary bioseparator-bioreactor and a flow-injection electrochemical detector. Three methods were compared for immobilizing antibodies on the inner surface of silica capillary columns; these methods were based on the use of a homobifunctional cross-linker glutaraldehyde, a heterobifunctional cross-linker N-succinimidyl-4-maleimidobutyrate, and biotin-streptavidin chemistry, respectively. The glutaraldehyde method gave the best reproducibility with a relative standard deviation of 1 to 6% for detection of Salmonella Typhimurium. The optimized immunoassay system could detect Salmonella Typhimurium in chicken breast and ground turkey meats with a detection limit of 2.4 x 10(3) and 2.4 x 10(4) CFU/ml, respectively. The total detection time was less than 2.5 h without any preenrichment. When stored at 4 degrees C, the immunocolumns could retain their activities for at least 3 months.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗

PubMed2005

Magnetic nanoparticle-antibody conjugates for the separation of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in ground beef.

The immunomagnetic separation with magnetic nanoparticle-antibody conjugates (MNCs) was investigated and evaluated for the detection of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in ground beef samples. MNCs were prepared by immobilizing biotin-labeled polyclonal goat anti-E. coli antibodies onto streptavidin-coated magnetic nanoparticles. For bacterial separation, MNCs were mixed with inoculated ground beef samples, then nanoparticle-antibody-E. coli O157:H7 complexes were separated from food matrix with a magnet, washed, and surface plated for microbial enumeration. The capture efficiency was determined by plating cells bound to nanoparticles and unbound cells in the supernatant onto sorbitol MacConkey agar. Key parameters, including the amount of nanoparticles and immunoreaction time, were optimized with different concentrations of E. coli O157:H7 in phosphate-buffered saline. MNCs presented a minimum capture efficiency of 94% for E. coli O157:H7 ranging from 1.6 x 10(1) to 7.2 x 10(7) CFU/ml with an immunoreaction time of 15 min without any enrichment. Capture of E. coli O157:H7 by MNCs did not interfere with other bacteria, including Salmonella enteritidis, Citrobacter freundii, and Listeria monocytogenes. The capture efficiency values of MNCs increased from 69 to 94.5% as E. coli O157:H7 decreased from 3.4 x 10(7) to 8.0 x 10(0) CFU/ml in the ground beef samples prepared with minimal steps (without filtration and centrifugation). An enrichment of 6 h was done for 8.0 x 10(0) and 8.0 x 10(1) CFU/ml of E. coli O157:H7 in ground beef to increase the number of cells in the sample to a detectable level. The results also indicated that capture efficiencies of MNCs for E. coli O157:H7 with and without mechanical mixing during immunoreaction were not significantly different (P > 0.05). Compared with microbeads based immunomagnetic separation, the magnetic nanoparticles showed their advantages in terms of higher capture efficiency, no need for mechanical mixing, and minimal sample preparation.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Quantum dot biolabeling coupled with immunomagnetic separation for detection of Escherichia coli O157:H7.

A sensitive, specific, and rapid method for the detection of E. coli O157:H7 was demonstrated using quantum dots (QDs) as a fluorescence marker coupled with immunomagnetic separation. Magnetic beads coated with anti-E. coli O157 antibodies were employed to selectively capture the target bacteria, and biotin-conjugated anti-E. coli antibodies were added to form sandwich immuno complexes. After magnetic separation, the immuno complexes were labeled with QDs via biotin-streptavidin conjugation. This was followed by a fluorescence measurement using a laptop-controlled portable device, which consisted of a blue LED and a CCD-array spectrometer. The peak intensity of the fluorescence emission was proportional to the initial cell concentration of E. coli O157:H7 in the range of 10(3)-10(7) CFU/mL with a detection limit at least 100 times lower than that of the FITC-based method. The total detection time was less than 2 h. Neither E. coli K12 nor Salmonella typhimurium interfered with the detection of E. coli O157:H7.

Escherichia coli O157↗

PubMed2004

Interdigitated microelectrode (IME) impedance sensor for the detection of viable Salmonella typhimurium.

Interdigitated microelectrodes (IMEs) were used as impedance sensors for rapid detection of viable Salmonella typhimurium in a selective medium and milk samples. The impedance growth curves, impedance against bacterial growth time, were recorded at four frequencies (10Hz, 100Hz, 1kHz, and 10kHz) during the growth of S. typhimurium. The impedance did not change until the cell number reached 10(5)-10(6) CFUml(-1). The greatest change in impedance was observed at 10Hz. To better understand the mechanism of the IME impedance sensor, an equivalent electrical circuit, consisting of double layer capacitors, a dielectric capacitor, and a medium resistor, was introduced and used for interpreting the change in impedance during bacterial growth. Bacterial attachment to the electrode surface was observed with scanning electron microscopy, and it had effect on the impedance measurement. The detection time, t(D), defined as the time for the impedance to start change, was obtained from the impedance growth curve at 10Hz and had a linear relationship with the logarithmic value of the initial cell number of S. typhimurium in the medium and milk samples. The regression equations for the cell numbers between 4.8 and 5.4 x 10(5) CFUml(-1) were t(D) = -1.38 log N + 10.18 with R(2) = 0.99 in the pure medium and t(D) = -1.54 log N + 11.33 with R(2) = 0.98 in milk samples, respectively. The detection times for 4.8 and 5.4 x 10(5) CFUml(-1) initial cell numbers were 9.3 and 2.2 h, respectively, and the detection limit could be as low as 1 cell in a sample.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Interdigitated Array microelectrode-based electrochemical impedance immunosensor for detection of Escherichia coli O157:H7.

A label-free electrochemical impedance immunosensor for rapid detection of Escherichia coli O157:H7 was developed by immobilizing anti-E. coli antibodies onto an indium-tin oxide interdigitated array (IDA) microelectrode. Based on the general electronic equivalent model of an electrochemical cell and the behavior of the IDA microelectrode, an equivalent circuit, consisting of an ohmic resistor of the electrolyte between two electrodes and a double layer capacitor, an electron-transfer resistor, and a Warburg impedance around each electrode, was introduced for interpretation of the impedance components of the IDA microelectrode system. The results showed that the immobilization of antibodies and the binding of E. coli cells to the IDA microelectrode surface increased the electron-transfer resistance, which was directly measured with electrochemical impedance spectroscopy in the presence of [Fe(CN)(6)](3-/4-) as a redox probe. The electron-transfer resistance was correlated with the concentration of E. coli cells in a range from 4.36 x 10(5) to 4.36 x 10(8) cfu/mL with the detection limit of 10(6) cfu/mL.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗

PubMed2004

A self-assembled monolayer-based piezoelectric immunosensor for rapid detection of Escherichia coli O157:H7.

A piezoelectric immunosensor was developed for rapid detection of Escherichia coli O157:H7. It was based on the immobilization of affinity-purified antibodies onto a monolayer of 16-mercaptohexadecanoic acid (MHDA), a long-chain carboxylic acid-terminating alkanethiol, self-assembled on an AT-cut quartz crystal's Au electrode surface with N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) ester as a reactive intermediate. The binding of target bacteria onto the immobilized antibodies decreased the sensor's resonant frequency, and the frequency shift was correlated to the bacterial concentration. The stepwise assembly of the immunosensor was characterized by means of both quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) and cyclic voltammetry techniques. Three analytical procedures, namely immersion, dip-and-dry and flow-through methods, were investigated. The immunosensor could detect the target bacteria in a range of 10(3)-10(8)CFU/ml within 30-50 min, and the sensor-to-sensor reproducibility obtained at 10(3) and 10(5) colony-forming units (CFU)/ml was 18 and 11% R.S.D., respectively. The proposed sensor was comparable to Protein A-based piezoelectric immunosensor in terms of the amount of immobilized antibodies and detection sensitivity.

Antibodies↗

PubMed2003

Detection of viable Salmonella typhimurium by impedance measurement of electrode capacitance and medium resistance.

Three-electrode electrochemical impedance technique was investigated for detection of Salmonella typhimurium by monitoring the growth of bacteria in selenite cystine (SC) broth supplemented with trimethylamine oxide hydrochloride (TMAO.HCl) and mannitol (M). The change in the system impedance during the growth of bacteria was studied using frequency spectral scanning. It was found that the impedance at low frequencies (<10 kHz) mainly came from the double-charged layer capacitance, reflecting the changes at the electrode interface and the adsorption on the electrode surface. While at high frequencies (>10 kHz), the system impedance mainly depended on the medium resistance. The adsorption of bacteria on the electrode surface was detected by measuring low frequency impedance, and verified with Faradic impedance spectroscopy. Enumeration of S. typhimurium using a low frequency (1 Hz) capacitance measurement and a high frequency (1 MHz) resistance measurement were compared. The detection times were determined for quantitative analysis based on the growth curves of bacteria referring to either the medium resistance or electrode capacitance. The regression equations for the detection times (t(d), h) and the initial cell number (N, cells.ml(-1)) were t(d)=-1.24logN+13.4 with R(2)=0.98 and t(d)=-1.40logN+14.46 with R(2)=0.97 for the medium resistance and electrode capacitance methods, respectively.

Cell Count↗

PubMed2003

Rapid detection of Escherichia coli O157:H7 inoculated in ground beef, chicken carcass, and lettuce samples with an immunomagnetic chemiluminescence fiber-optic biosensor.

A biosensor was evaluated with regard to its usefulness in the rapid detection of Escherichia coli O157:H7 inoculated in ground beef, chicken carcass, and romaine lettuce samples. The biosensor consisted of a chemiluminescence reaction cell, a fiber-optic light guide, and a luminometer linked to a personal computer in conjunction with immunomagnetic separation. The samples inoculated with E. coli O157:H7 were first centrifuged and suspended in buffered peptone water and then incubated with anti-E. coli O157 antibody-coated magnetic beads and horseradish peroxidase (HRP)-labeled anti-E. coli O157 antibodies to form antibody-coated bead-bacterium-HRP-labeled antibody sandwich complexes. Finally, the sandwich complexes were separated from the samples in a magnetic field and reacted with luminol in the reaction cell. The number of E. coli O157:H7 cells was determined by collecting the HRP-catalyzed chemiluminescence signal from the bead surface through a fiber-optic light guide and measuring the signal with a luminometer. The chemiluminescence biosensor was specific for E. coli O157:H7 in samples containing other bacteria, including Salmonella Typhimurium, Campylobacter jejuni, and Listeria monocytogenes. The chemiluminescence signal was linear on a log scale from 10(2) to 10(5) CFU of E. coli O157:H7 per ml in samples. Detection could be completed within 1.5 h without any enrichment. The detection limits for ground beef, chicken carcass, and lettuce samples were 3.2 x 10(2), 4.4 x 10(2), and 5.5 x 10(2) CFU of E. coli O157:H7 per ml, respectively.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Immunobiosensor chips for detection of Escherichia coil O157:H7 using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy.

Impedance biosensor chips were developed for detection of Escherichia coli O157:H7 based on the surface immobilization of affinity-purified antibodies onto indium tin oxide (ITO) electrode chips. The immobilization of antibodies onto ITO chips was carried out using an epoxysilane monolayer to serve as a template for chemical anchoring of antibodies. The surface characteristics of chips before and after the binding reaction between the antibodies and antigens were characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The patterns of the epoxysilanes monolayer, antibodies, and E. coli cells were clearly observed from the AFM images. Alkaline phosphatase as the labeled enzyme to anti-E. coli O157:H7 antibody was used to amplify the binding reaction of antibody-antigen on the chips. The biocatalyzed precipitation of 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl phosphate by alkaline phosphatase on the chips in pH 10 PBS buffer containing 0.1 M MgCl2 increased the electron-transfer resistance for a redox probe of Fe(CN)6(3-/4-) at the electrode-solution interface or the electrode resistance itself. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetric method were employed to follow the stepwise assembly of the systems and the electronic transduction for the detection of E. coli. The biosensor could detect the target bacteria with a detection limit of 6 x 10(3) cells/mL. A linear response in the electron-transfer resistance for the concentration of E. coli cells was found between 6 x 10(4) and 6 x 10(7) cells/mL.

Biosensing Techniques↗

PubMed2002

Detection of Escherichia coli O157:H7 using immunomagnetic separation and absorbance measurement.

An assay system for detection of Escherichia coli O157:H7 was developed based on immunomagnetic separation of the target pathogen from samples and absorbance measurement of p-nitrophenol at 400 nm from p-nitrophenyl phosphate hydrolysis by alkaline phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.1) on the "sandwich" structure complexes (antibodies coated onto micromagnetic beads--E. coli O157:H7-antibodies conjugated with the enzyme) formed on the microbead surface. The effects of immunoreaction time, phosphate buffer concentration, pH and temperature on the immunomagnetic separation of E. coli O157:H7 from samples were determined and the conditions used for the separation were 1-h reaction time, 1.0 x 10(-2) M PBS, pH 8.0 and 33 degrees C in this system. The effects of MgCl(2) concentration, Tris buffer concentration, pH and temperature on the activity of alkaline phosphatase conjugated on the immuno-"sandwich" structure complexes were investigated after immunomagnetic separation of the target pathogen and the conditions used for the enzymatic amplification were 1.0 x 10(-4) M MgCl(2), 1.0 M Tris buffer, pH 8.0, 28 degrees C and 30-min reaction time during the assay. The selectivity of the system was examined and no interference from the other pathogens including Salmonella typhimurium, Campylobacter jejuni and Listeria monocytogenes was observed. Its working range was from 3.2 x 10(2) to 3.2 x 10(4) CFU/ml, and the relative standard deviation was 2.5-9.9%. The total detection time was less than 2 h.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗