Development of a loop-mediated isothermal amplification assay targeting lmo0753 gene for detection of Listeria monocytogenes in wastewater

Contaminated wastewater plays an important role in the transmission of Listeria monocytogenes in the environment. In this study, a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay for sensitive detection of L. monocytogenes in wastewater from treatment plants was developed, validated and compared to conventional PCR. The lmo0753 gene which codes for a Crp/Fnr family transcription factor, was targeted to design four specific primers to detect L. monocytogenes in 60 min at 63°C in a water bath. Amplification products were visualized by agarose gel electrophoresis. The detection limit of the LAMP assay was 65 fg µl^-1 of DNA and 38 CFU per ml. Conventional PCR was 10 times less sensitive than LAMP assay with primers targeting the HlyA gene. A total of 70 crude wastewater samples collected at different treatment stages (aeration tank, pre chlorination and post chlorination), were tested directly by LAMP and PCR. Samples from aeration and pre-chlorination stages tested positive with LAMP and culture method but not with conventional PCR. LAMP assay was tolerant to inhibitors present in wastewater and circumvented the need for isolation of pure DNA for detection. Both LAMP assay and culture method failed to detect L. monocytogenes in post-chlorinated wastewater, confirming the efficiency of the treatment process in the removal of L. monocytogenes. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Treated wastewater effluent contains Listeria monocytogenes which survives conventional wastewater treatment processes and can re-enter human food chain, thus it is imperative to detect L. monocytogenes using a rapid and an inexpensive method. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay, targeting the lmo0753 gene for detection of L. monocytogenes in wastewater from treatment plants. The LAMP assay detects L. monocytogenes in 60 min at 63°C in a water bath. LAMP does not require isolation of pure genomic DNA hence it is a user friendly method for L. monocytogenes detection.