Single-molecule DNA mapping for pathogen detection

Detection and identification of Clostridium botulinum is of particular concern due to the extreme pathogenicity of its toxin. Herein, we review the potential applicability of two novel technologies for detection of Clostridium botulinum and botulinum toxin. Genome sequence scanning (GSS) provides strain-specific bacterial identification from complex bacterial mixtures by detecting the distribution of fluorescent sequence-specific probes along long linearised DNA fragments. Digital DNA (DD) utilises long fluorescent labelled DNA molecules as binary labelled tags to facilitate multiplex antigen detection. Both technologies share automated sample preparation and detection instrumentation. GSS and DD have particular applicability for botulinum detection and identification, but have broad-reaching applicability to food safety testing and clinical diagnostics in general.