Rapid Detection of E. coli Using Flow Cytometry Immunofluorescence
Document Type
Oral Presentation
Campus where you would like to present
SURC Ballroom B/C/D
Start Date
21-5-2015
End Date
21-5-2015
Keywords
Escherichia coli, Water Quality, Public Health
Abstract
The bacteria Escherichia coli O157:H7 poses a public health threat as demonstrated in a Washington State lake-associated swimming outbreak that hospitalized eight children in 1999 and the recent outbreak on Mercer Island that closed schools and restaurants for nearly one week as residents boiled drinking water due to contamination. Current methodology of testing for pathogenic bacteria in surface water relies on counting all fecal coliform bacteria with no specificity for pathogenic strains, which are rarely enumerated as the typical laboratory requires three days to positively identify pathogenic E. coli O157:H7. I am developing a flow cytometer assay for rapid (<30 min) detection of E. coli O157:H7 from natural waterways (i.e., streams, lakes, ponds) at detection levels suitable for application to public safety. To date, I have used fluorescent tagged E. coli O157:H7 antibodies (immunofluorescence) to detect the pathogen via flow cytometry in heterogeneous natural stream samples in less than 20 minutes and am incorporating use of a second fluorescent dye to differentiate organic matter from nonorganic debris in mixed water samples to lower the E. coli O157:H7 detection threshold. The ability of this novel flow cytometry assay to speed detection of E. coli O157:H7 from days to minutes holds the potential to protect public health in recreational waters. It also has potential application for use in rapid diagnoses of E. coli O157:H7 in human feces, protection of drinking water quality, and the prevention of food borne illness.
Recommended Citation
Elg, Clinton, "Rapid Detection of E. coli Using Flow Cytometry Immunofluorescence" (2015). Symposium Of University Research and Creative Expression (SOURCE). 31.
https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/source/2015/posters/31
Poster Number
38
Department/Program
Biological Sciences
Additional Mentoring Department
Biological Sciences
Additional Mentoring Department
Biology
Rapid Detection of E. coli Using Flow Cytometry Immunofluorescence
SURC Ballroom B/C/D
The bacteria Escherichia coli O157:H7 poses a public health threat as demonstrated in a Washington State lake-associated swimming outbreak that hospitalized eight children in 1999 and the recent outbreak on Mercer Island that closed schools and restaurants for nearly one week as residents boiled drinking water due to contamination. Current methodology of testing for pathogenic bacteria in surface water relies on counting all fecal coliform bacteria with no specificity for pathogenic strains, which are rarely enumerated as the typical laboratory requires three days to positively identify pathogenic E. coli O157:H7. I am developing a flow cytometer assay for rapid (<30 >min) detection of E. coli O157:H7 from natural waterways (i.e., streams, lakes, ponds) at detection levels suitable for application to public safety. To date, I have used fluorescent tagged E. coli O157:H7 antibodies (immunofluorescence) to detect the pathogen via flow cytometry in heterogeneous natural stream samples in less than 20 minutes and am incorporating use of a second fluorescent dye to differentiate organic matter from nonorganic debris in mixed water samples to lower the E. coli O157:H7 detection threshold. The ability of this novel flow cytometry assay to speed detection of E. coli O157:H7 from days to minutes holds the potential to protect public health in recreational waters. It also has potential application for use in rapid diagnoses of E. coli O157:H7 in human feces, protection of drinking water quality, and the prevention of food borne illness.
Faculty Mentor(s)
Clay Arango, Blaise Dondji