Point-of-Need DNA Testing for Detection of Foodborne Pathogenic Bacteria
Foodborne pathogenic bacteria present a crucial food safety issue. Conventional diagnostic methods are time-consuming and can be only performed on previously produced food. The advancing field of point-of-need diagnostic devices integrating molecular methods, biosensors, microfluidics, and nanomaterials offers new avenues for swift, low-cost detection of pathogens with high sensitivity and specificity. These analyses and screening of food items can be performed during all phases of production. This review presents major developments achieved in recent years in point-of-need diagnostics in land-based sector and sheds light on current challenges in achieving wider acceptance of portable devices in the food industry. Particular emphasis is placed on methods for testing nucleic acids, protocols for portable nucleic acid extraction and amplification, as well as on the means for low-cost detection and read-out signal amplification ; This work was supported by Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique and Biosense, and in a part by the ANTARES project that has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No. 664387, by the bilateral Franco-Italian Galilée Grant 37184VG, and by the TOX-detect One Health EJP Project of the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under Grant Agreement No 773830.