IDENTIFICATION OF MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES TO BE USED IN BIOSENSORS TO DETECT LISTERIA MONOCYTOGENES AND SALMONELLA By

Title of Document: Identification of monoclonal antibodies to be used in Biosensors to detect Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella Nivedita Dhiman, Masters in Food Science, 2006 Directed By: Professor Jianghong Meng Department of Nutrition and Food Science Food industry needs quick and reliable methods to make sure the food supply is not contaminated with pathogens. Monoclonal antibodies specific to Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella were screened to choose the ones most suited for biosensor development to detect these bacteria in foods. Out of the eight antibodies procured for L. monocytogenes, C11E9 was able to recognize both L. monocytogenes and L. innocua with no cross-reactivity to any of the gram-negative bacteria tested. It however reacted with a Bacillus strain and a Staphylococcus strain. For the monoclonal antibodies specific to Salmonella sp., IFR0111 reacted with 48% of the Salmonella strains tested, that included 20 different serotypes. It did not cross-react with any of the gram-negative strains tested but showed reactivity to a Staphylococcus aureus strain. Further studies are required to test the sensitivity of these monoclonal antibodies to correctly determine their potential to be used in biosensors. IDENTIFICATION OF MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES TO BE USED IN BIOSENSORS TO DETECT LISTERIA MONOCYTOGENES AND SALMONELLA