An Automated Fiber-optic Biosensor Based Binding Inhibition Assay for the Detection of Listeria Monocytogenes

Conventional methods for pathogen detection and identification are labor-intensive and take days to complete. Biosensors have shown great potential for the rapid detection of foodborne pathogens. Fiber-optic biosensors have been used to rapidly detect pathogens because they can be very sensitive and are simple to operate. However, many fiber-optic biosensors rely on manual sensor handling and the sandwich assay, which require more effort and are less sensitive. To increase the simplicity of operation and detection sensitivity, a binding inhibition assay method for detecting Listeria monocytogenes in food samples was developed using an automated, fiber-optic-based immunosensor: RAPTOR (Research International, Monroe, WA, USA). For the assay, fiber-optic biosensors were developed by the immobilization of Listeria antibodies on polystyrene fiber waveguides through a biotin-avidin reaction. Developed fiber-optic biosensors were incorporated into the RAPTOR to evaluate the detection of L. monocytogenes in frankfurter samples. The binding inhibition method combined with RAPTOR was sensitive enough to detect L. monocytogenes ($5.4{\times}10^7\;CFU/mL$) in a frankfurter sample.