Rapid Detection Methods for Food-Borne Pathogens in Dairy Products by Polymerase Chain Reaction

PCR 방법을 이용한 우유 및 유제품에서 발생하는 식중독 균의 신속 검출법

The dairy industry has consistently grown via the expansion of dairy-based food categories. Dairy product consumption is stable since the nutrient composition in dairy products is ideal for human health. However, dairy products are highly susceptible to food-borne pathogens. Controlling the safety of dairy products is thus important when considering the nutrient-rich matrix of this food category. Currently, immunoassays or molecular biology techniques have been used to evaluate the safety of dairy products in Korea. These methods are based on the detection of proteins and thus have low reproducibility and sensitivity. Recent techniques to detect food-borne pathogens have focused on genetic analyses. Rapid detection methods for food-borne pathogens in milk and dairy products using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques, such as conventional PCR, real-time PCR, repetitive sequence-based (rep)-PCR, PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE), and digital PCR, are reviewed in this article. The aim of this review was to contribute knowledge of the relationship between microflora and the quality of dairy products. This study will also assist in the immediate monitoring of food-borne pathogens in milk and dairy products when an outbreak related to this food category occurs.