Using qPCR to detect Salmonella
Start Date
April 2026
Location
2nd floor - Library
Abstract
Salmonella is a genus of gram-negative bacteria which is the leading cause of foodborne infections. Commonly, infections lead to gastrointestinal distress with nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. The infection could be self-limiting, but in those with weakened immune systems, infections could be dangerous and lead to shock states. Frequent sources of Salmonella include eggs, raw poultry, contaminated water, and fresh produce. Current detection methods include microbial culturing, which is a slow process. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) testing and quantitative PCR (qPCR) allow for faster detection of Salmonella to enable quicker treatment times. Traditional PCR requires detecting the amplified DNA on a gel, while qPCR gives more quantitative data, and determines the amount of bacteria present in a sample without needing to run a gel. In order to run PCR and qPCR, specific genes must be targeted. For this project, we designed primers to detect the INVA and STM4200 gene which are established genes present in Salmonella enterica species. With this project, we hope to aid in the development of PCR and qPCR protocols to detect Salmonella quicker than previous tests.
Using qPCR to detect Salmonella
2nd floor - Library
Salmonella is a genus of gram-negative bacteria which is the leading cause of foodborne infections. Commonly, infections lead to gastrointestinal distress with nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. The infection could be self-limiting, but in those with weakened immune systems, infections could be dangerous and lead to shock states. Frequent sources of Salmonella include eggs, raw poultry, contaminated water, and fresh produce. Current detection methods include microbial culturing, which is a slow process. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) testing and quantitative PCR (qPCR) allow for faster detection of Salmonella to enable quicker treatment times. Traditional PCR requires detecting the amplified DNA on a gel, while qPCR gives more quantitative data, and determines the amount of bacteria present in a sample without needing to run a gel. In order to run PCR and qPCR, specific genes must be targeted. For this project, we designed primers to detect the INVA and STM4200 gene which are established genes present in Salmonella enterica species. With this project, we hope to aid in the development of PCR and qPCR protocols to detect Salmonella quicker than previous tests.
