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Applied and Environmental Microbiology, July 2003, p. 4116-4122, Vol. 69, No. 7
0099-2240/03/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/AEM.69.7.4116-4122.2003
Copyright © 2003, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Development of Reverse Transcription (RT)-PCR and Real-Time RT-PCR Assays for Rapid Detection and Quantification of Viable Yeasts and Molds Contaminating Yogurts and Pasteurized Food Products

Gianluca Bleve, Lucia Rizzotti, Franco Dellaglio, and Sandra Torriani*

Dipartimento Scientifico e Tecnologico, Università degli Studi di Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy

Received 28 October 2002/ Accepted 28 April 2003

Reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) and real-time RT-PCR assays have been used to detect and quantify actin mRNA from yeasts and molds. Universal primers were designed based on the available fungal actin sequences, and by RT-PCR they amplified a specific 353-bp fragment from fungal species involved in food spoilage. From experiments on heat-treated cells, actin mRNA was a good indicator of cell viability: viable cells and cells in a nonculturable state were detected, while no signal was observed from dead cells. The optimized RT-PCR assay was able to detect 10 CFU of fungi ml-1 in pure culture and 103 and 102 CFU ml-1 in artificially contaminated yogurts and pasteurized fruit-derived products, respectively. Real-time RT-PCR, performed on a range of spoiled commercial food products, validated the suitability of actin mRNA detection for the quantification of naturally contaminating fungi. The specificity and sensitivity of the procedure, combined with its speed, its reliability, and the potential automation of the technique, offer several advantages to routine analysis programs that assess the presence and viability of fungi in food commodities.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Dipartimento Scientifico e Tecnologico, Università degli Studi di Verona, Strada le Grazie, 15, 37134 Verona, Italy. Phone: (39) 045-8027921. Fax: (39) 045-8027928. E-mail: sandra.torriani{at}univr.it.

Applied and Environmental Microbiology, July 2003, p. 4116-4122, Vol. 69, No. 7
0099-2240/03/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/AEM.69.7.4116-4122.2003
Copyright © 2003, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



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