Quasi-metagenomic Analysis of Salmonella from Food and Environmental Samples

Summary

Here, we present a protocol to prepare DNA samples from food and environmental microbiomes for concerted detection and subtyping of Salmonella through quasimetagenomic sequencing. The combined use of culture enrichment, immunomagnetic separation (IMS), and multiple displacement amplification (MDA) allows effective concentration of Salmonella genomic DNA from food and environmental samples. 

Abstract

Quasi-metagenomics sequencing refers to the sequencing-based analysis of modified microbiomes of food and environmental samples. In this protocol, microbiome modification is designed to concentrate genomic DNA of a target foodborne pathogen contaminant to facilitate the detection and subtyping of the pathogen in a single workflow. Here, we explain and demonstrate the sample preparation steps for the quasi-metagenomics analysis of Salmonella enterica from representative food and environmental samples including alfalfa sprouts, ground black pepper, ground beef, chicken breast and environmental swabs. Samples are first subjected to the culture enrichment of Salmonella for a shortened and adjustable duration (4–24 h). Salmonella cells are then selectively captured from the enrichment culture by immunomagnetic separation (IMS). Finally, multiple displacement amplification (MDA) is performed to amplify DNA from IMS-captured cells. The DNA output of this protocol can be sequenced by high throughput sequencing platforms. An optional quantitative PCR analysis can be performed to replace sequencing for Salmonella detection or assess the concentration of Salmonella DNA before sequencing.

Introduction

Metagenomics sequencing theoretically allows concerted detection and subtyping of foodborne pathogens. However, food samples present challenges to the pathogen analysis by direct sequencing of the food microbiome. First, foodborne pathogens are often present at low levels in food samples. Most of the commercially available rapid detection methods still require 8–48 h culturing to enrich pathogen cells to a detectable level¹. Second, many foods contain abundant microflora cells and/or food DNA, making foodborne pathogen DNA a small fraction of food metagenome and an elusive target for detection and subtyping by direct metagenomic sequencin....

Protocol

1. Sample Preparation

NOTE: Food samples are prepared for pre-enrichment according to Microbiology Laboratory Guidebook (MLG) of U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS)¹¹ and Bacteriological analytical manual (BAM) of U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)¹².

1. Aseptically place a 25 g portion of food sample such as black pepper, chicken breast, ground beef, and alfalfa sprouts or an environmental swab into a sterile laboratory blender bag with a built-in filter. Prepare an environmental swab by aseptically moistening a sponge with enrichment br....

Results

Prior to quasimetagenomic sequencing, the overall quantity and purity of IMS-MDA products can be evaluated by fluorospectrometer (Table 1).

	Enrichment time (h)	Ct value	Concentration (ng/ul)	Purity (260/280)

Discussion

Because of the often-low abundance and in-homogenous presence of Salmonella in food and environmental samples, culture enrichment before IMS-MDA is still necessary for Salmonella detection and subtyping; it is therefore a critical step of the protocol. To identify optimal conditions to increase the abundance of Salmonella relative to sample background flora, different enrichment media may be evaluated for specific samples. According to MLG and BAM, both selective medium such as RV broth and non.......

Materials

List of materials used in this article

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
Laboratory blender bag w/filter	VWR	10048-886
Buffered peptone water	Oxoid Micorbiology Products	CM0509
Rappaport Vassiliadis broth	Neogen Acumedia	7730A
Polysorbate 20	Millipore Sigma	P9416	Tween 20
Stomacher blender	Seward	30010108
Centrifuge	Fisher Scientific	75005194
50 mL Centrifuge tubes	Fisher Scientific	05-539-6
Thermal Cycler	Techne Prime	EW-93945-13
StepOne Real-Time Thermal cycler	Applied Biosystems	4.76357
AMPure XP beads	Beckman Coulter	A63881	PCR purification beads; mix well before use; store at 4 °C
Nextera XT library prep kit	Illumina	FC-131-1024	Store at -80 °C
MinIon library prep kit	Oxford Nanopore	SQK-LSK108	Store at -80 °C
NanoDrop	Thermo Scientific	ND-2000
Dynabead Anti-Salmonella beads	Applied Biosystems	71002	Vortex well prior to use
Illustra GenomiPhi V2 DNA amplification kit (MDA kit) -Sample buffer -Reaction buffer -Enzyme mix	GE Healthcare	25-6600-30	Store at -80 °C
HulaMixer	Invitrogen	15920D
DynaMag magnetic rack	Invitrogen	12321D
TaqMan Universal PCR mastermix	Applied Biosystems	4304437	Mix well before use; store at 4 °C
Microfuge	Fisher Scientific	05-090-100