A novel detection method for Escherichia coli O157 by Peptide Nucleic Acid array

E. coli O157 is responsible for a number of human infections through the consumption of foods of animal origin, particularly those originating from cattle. Food poisoning by Escherichia coli O157 causes diarrhea, bloody stools and abdominal pain in humans, and may lead to severe kidney failure or brain injury. For these reasons, E. coli O157 has been the subject of increasingly stringent international regulations. A novel peptide nucleic acid (PNA) array was developed to identify E. coli O157 quickly and accurately. This PNA array exhibited high specificity, significantly detecting E. coli O157 strains without cross-reacting with other bacterial strains. The detection limit of the E. coli O157 PNA array was 100 CFU/ml. The E. coli O157 PNA array is indeed a better option for early detection and accurate diagnosis of the causative agent of a food-borne disease outbreak, which is crucial in planning and implementing strategic measures to prevent and control widespread outbreaks.