Multilocus Genetic Characterization of Two Ant Vectors (Group II “Dirty 22” Species) Known To Contaminate Food and Food Products and Spread Foodborne Pathogens

Abstract

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration utilizes the presence of filth and extraneous materials as one of the criteria for implementing regulatory actions and assessing adulteration of food products of public health importance. Twenty-two prevalent pest species (also known as the ''Dirty 22'' species) have been considered by this agency as possible vehicles for the spread of foodborne diseases, and the presence of these species is considered an indicator of unsanitary conditions in food processing and storage facilities. In a previous study, we further categorized the Dirty 22 species into four groups: group I includes four cockroach species, group II includes two ant species, group III includes 12 fly species, and group IV includes four rodent species. Here, we describe the development of three nested PCR primer sets and multilocus genetic characterization by amplifying the small subunit rRNA, elongation factor 1-alpha, and wingless (WNT-1) genes of group II Dirty 22 ant species Monomorium pharaonis and Solenopsis molesta. These novel group II Dirty 22 species-specific nested PCR primer sets can be used when the specimens cannot be identified using conventional microscopic methods. These newly developed assays will provide correct identification of group II Dirty 22 ant species, and the information can be used in the control of foodborne pathogens.

Molecular Identification of Isolated Fungi from Unopened Containers of Greek Yogurt by DNA Sequencing of Internal Transcribed Spacer Region

“…Of the various conserved or regulatory gene used as a genetic marker, the rRNA has been proven to be most successful in developing rapid diagnostic methods for the identification of human-pathogenic microorganisms as well as their vectors [ 14 , 15 , 16 ]. As this locus exist in all organisms often with several copies in tandem repeats evolving at slower evolutionary rate, it is characterized as the prime target to establish phylogenetic relationship [ 17 , 18 ].…”

Genetic Characterization of Fungi Isolated from the Environmental Swabs collected from a Compounding Center Known to Cause Multistate Meningitis Outbreak in United States Using ITS Sequencing

“…The rRNA genes are the most abundant housekeeping genes present in all organisms often with several copies evolving at a slower evolutionary rate [ 11 , 12 ]. Thus, this locus has been extensively used as the genetic marker to understand the phylogenetic relationship, and in developing diagnostic assays for rapid detection and differentiation of pathogenic species and their vectors [ 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 ].…”

Molecular Surveillance of Cronobacter spp. Isolated from a Wide Variety of Foods from 44 Different Countries by Sequence Typing of 16S rRNA, rpoB and O-Antigen Genes

“…Furthermore, multilocus sequence typing (MLST) has been reported suitable for finding genetic polymorphism in microbes with low natural genetic diversity [33,34,35]. A 7-loci based Cronobacter -specific MLST was developed [36], and the MLST was subsequently used to understand genetic diversity of recovered C. sakazakii isolates from PIF, ingredients of PIF, and their production premises [37,38,39,40,41].…”