Detection of INVA Gene and Cytotoxin of Salmonella entertidis in Food Samples Using Molecular Methods
Maha Almas
Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Quaid-e-Azam Campus, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan.
Usaal Tahir
Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Quaid-e-Azam Campus, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan. and Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan.
Mariam Zameer
Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan.
Muhammad Imtiaz Shafiq
Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Quaid-e-Azam Campus, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan.
Syeda Yumna Farrukh
Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan.
Nureen Zahra
Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan.
Maham Mazhar
Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan.
Sajjad Ali Gill
Department of Sports Sciences and Physical Education, Quaid-e-Azam Campus, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan.
Faheem Hadi
Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan.
Tahir Muhammad
Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan.
Qurban Ali *
Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan.
Arif Malik
Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Salmonella entertidis is a foodborne pathogen that causes various diseases in human beings worldwide. The toxin of Salmonella can cause infectious diseases. In this research project, Salmonella was detected through various microbial, biochemical and molecular tests in diverse food samples collected from highly populated, moderately populated and less populated areas of Lahore, Pakistan. Enriched cultures of all food samples such as apples, tomatoes, yogurt and mayonnaise was streaked on violet-red bile glucose agar, Simmon’s citrate agar and eosin-methylene blue agar (EMB). Salmonella isolates were screened for the presence of toxin encoding gene through PCR. 27% apples, 19% tomatoes, 5% mayonnaise and 7% yogurt were found to be positive for INVA genes (invasion protein genes). In medical and pharmaceutical point of views the INVA gene can also help to develop specific medicines against salmonella. The cytotoxin that is protein in nature was confirmed by SDS PAGE in mayonnaise samples. This study illustrates that foods of highly populated areas are reservoir for Salmonella entertidis in Pakistan. There is need to develop specific drugs, precautionary measures to control salmonella and its disease.
Keywords: Salmonella, INVA gene, diseases, cytotoxins, entertidis, diarrhea.