Rapid and Sensitive Detection of Listeria monocytogenes Using a PCR-Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay

A PCR-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (PCR-ELISA) was developed for the rapid and sensitive detection of L. monocytogenes. PCR primers generating a 132-bp amplicon and a capture probe able to hybridize to the PCR amplicon were designed based on the L. monocytogenes-specific hly gene encoding listeriolysin. The detection limit of PCR-ELISA for L. monocytogenes was determined to be as low as 10 cells per PCR reaction, and this level of detection was achieved within 5 h. These results indicate that the PCR-ELISA provides a valuable tool for the rapid and sensitive detection of L. monocytogenes for the ready-to-eat food industry.