DNA-based detection of pork content in food

PCR-Based Amplification of Amelogenin Gene for Ovine Sex Determination Using Primers of Different GC Percentage

The identification of species and their sex from small biological samples is of scientific interest in forensic science. Various identification techniques have been developed; however, DNA-based PCR is the most specific and sensitive technique compared to protein-based methods. Although PCR amplification of the amelogenin (AMEL) has been used in different species for sex determination, the reliability of the AMEL test may sometimes be challenged due to amplification failure of AMEL Y in males, resulting in incorrect gender identification. Therefore, this study aimed to establish a simple, reliable and accurate PCR protocol for the amplification of the AMEL gene from blood gDNA isolated by a single-step DNA isolation method using primers of different GC% to ascertain the sex of ovine. This methodology may also be applicable to various biological samples for sex determination. It was concluded that the touchdown PCR was more suitable for GC-rich primers and low GC% primers were suitable with modified conventional PCR for gender identification. The use of PCR enhancers at denaturation temperatures of 94°C and 95°C was found ineffective for the amplification of AMEL to determine the sex. In summary, all primers used showed successful amplification.

Application of real-time PCR for analysis canine meat (Canis lupus familiaris) in goat's satay for halal authentication study

Background

Canine meat (CM) is one of the non-halal meats prohibited for consumption by the Muslim community. Due to its low prices compared with beef, CM is typically used as meat adulterants in halal food-based products such as Satay and meatballs to get economic profits.

Aim

The objective of this study was to design a novel species-specific primer in combination with real-time polymerase chain reaction for analysis of Canine's DNA for halal authentication analysis.

Methods

A Primer targeting the D-loop region of mitochondrial DNA was designed and subjected to a validation procedure by assessing some performance characteristics including specificity, amplification efficiency (E), sensitivity, repeatability, and linearity describing the correlation between the concentration of Canine's DNA (x-axis) and quantification cycle (Cq) in y-axis. The designed primer was specific over other meat DNAs applying the annealing temperature (Tm) of 57.8°C.

Results

The Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) method produced an acceptable amplification efficiency (E) of 109.7% with the coefficient of determination (R 2) for the correlation between Cq and log DNA concentration of 0.999. The sensitivity of the developed method provides a limit of detection (LoD) value of 31.25 pg/µl. The precision of the analytical method is acceptable with a relative standard deviation value of 2%. The method with the designed D-loop primer was successfully applied for the detection and quantification of Canine's DNA in food products. There are no amplification profiles for Canine DNA in marketed goat's satay products.

Conclusion

RT-PCR combined with a novel primer targeting D-loop provides a specific and accurate analytical tool for the identification of CM for halal authentication studies.

Application of real-time PCR for analysis canine meat (Canis lupus familiaris) in goat's satay for halal authentication study

Background

Canine meat (CM) is one of the non-halal meats prohibited for consumption by the Muslim community. Due to its low prices compared with beef, CM is typically used as meat adulterants in halal food-based products such as Satay and meatballs to get economic profits.

Aim

The objective of this study was to design a novel species-specific primer in combination with real-time polymerase chain reaction for analysis of Canine's DNA for halal authentication analysis.

Methods

A Primer targeting the D-loop region of mitochondrial DNA was designed and subjected to a validation procedure by assessing some performance characteristics including specificity, amplification efficiency (E), sensitivity, repeatability, and linearity describing the correlation between the concentration of Canine's DNA (x-axis) and quantification cycle (Cq) in y-axis. The designed primer was specific over other meat DNAs applying the annealing temperature (Tm) of 57.8°C.

Results

The Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) method produced an acceptable amplification efficiency (E) of 109.7% with the coefficient of determination (R 2) for the correlation between Cq and log DNA concentration of 0.999. The sensitivity of the developed method provides a limit of detection (LoD) value of 31.25 pg/µl. The precision of the analytical method is acceptable with a relative standard deviation value of 2%. The method with the designed D-loop primer was successfully applied for the detection and quantification of Canine's DNA in food products. There are no amplification profiles for Canine DNA in marketed goat's satay products.

Conclusion

RT-PCR combined with a novel primer targeting D-loop provides a specific and accurate analytical tool for the identification of CM for halal authentication studies.

Myoglobin as a molecular biomarker for meat authentication and traceability

The global incidence of economically motivated meat adulteration represents a crucial issue for the food industry. Undeclared addition of cheaper or low-quality species to meat products of high commercial value has become a common practice that needs to be countered with specific measures. In this framework, myoglobin (Mb) is a sarcoplasmic haemoprotein, primarily responsible for meat colour and has been successfully used in meat fraud authentication. Mb is highly soluble in water, easily monitored at 409 nm and species-specific. Knowing that various analytical DNA-based and protein-based methods, as well as spectroscopic techniques have been developed over the years for the detection of meat fraud, the aim of the present review is to take stock of the situation regarding the possible use of Mb as a molecular biomarker for the easy and rapid detection of undeclared species in meat products, avoiding the need of sophisticated or expensive equipment and specialised operators.

Towards halal pharmaceutical: Exploring alternatives to animal-based ingredients

Halal is a crucial concept for Muslim consumers regarding consumed products, including pharmaceutical ingredients, which are essential in modern medicine. To address the issue of using porcine-sourced ingredients in pharmaceuticals, it is essential to search for halal alternatives derived from poultry, animal by-products from meat processing, marine sources, and plants. However, the complexity of this problem is further compounded by the rapid advances in innovation and technology, which can lead to adulteration of ingredients derived from pigs. Other challenges include the sustainability of alternative materials, management of waste or by-products practice, halal awareness, certification, government policies, religious adherence of consumers, food suppliers, marketers, and purchasing of products. The importance of halal and non-halal problems, specifically in the context of pharmaceutical materials, is still rarely discussed, including alternatives derived from poultry, animal by-products, marine sources, and plants. Due to the increasing global population, there is a growing need to increase awareness and concern among Muslim consumers for halal products, including pharmaceuticals. Therefore, this research aimed to investigate the importance of halal and non-halal issues in pharmaceutical ingredients, the potential impact on the Muslim community, as well as opportunities and challenges in the search for alternative ingredients.

Highly Sensitive Immunochromatographic Detection of Porcine Myoglobin as Biomarker for Meat Authentication Using Prussian Blue Nanozyme

This study was aimed at the sensitive immunodetection of porcine myoglobin (MG) as a species-specific biomarker in meat products. The enhanced lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA) was created in the sandwich format using monoclonal antibodies (Mab) with specificity to porcine MG and labeled by Prussian blue nanoparticles (PBNPs) as peroxidase-mimicking nanozymes. Signal amplification was provided by the colored product of oxidation catalyzed by the PBNPs. Several Mab-PBNP conjugates with different antibody loads were synthesized; the one that provided the best analytical characteristics of the LFIA was selected. Advanced optimization of the test system was carried out. As a result, the visual limit of detection (LOD) of MG was 1.5 ng/mL. Involvement of the catalytic nanozyme properties allowed the LOD to be decreased by ~9 times in comparison to the LFIA based on gold nanomarkers, and by ~27 times compared to the LFIA based on PBNP coloration. The assay time was 30 min, including catalytic enhancement. A simple technique of meat sample pre-treatment aimed at effective MG extraction and matrix disposal was proposed. The specificity of the LFIA towards the pork meat was demonstrated. The applicability of the created test system was shown by testing extracts obtained from finished meat products.

Development of Seven New dPCR Animal Species Assays and a Reference Material to Support Quantitative Ratio Measurements of Food and Feed Products

Laboratory testing methods to confirm the identity of meat products and eliminate food fraud regularly rely on PCR amplification of extracted DNA, with most published assays detecting mitochondrial sequences, providing sensitive presence/absence results. By targeting single-copy nuclear targets instead, relative quantification measurements are achievable, providing additional information on the proportions of meat species detected. In this Methods paper, new assays for horse, donkey, duck, kangaroo, camel, water buffalo and crocodile have been developed to expand the range of species that can be quantified, and a previously published reference assay targeting the myostatin gene has been modified to include marsupials and reptiles. The accuracy of this ratio measurement approach was demonstrated using dPCR with mixtures of meat DNA down to 0.1%. However, the limit of detection (LOD) of this approach is not just determined by the assay targets, but by the samples themselves, with food or feed ingredients and processing impacting the DNA yield and integrity. In routine testing settings, the myostatin assay can provide multiple quality control roles, including monitoring the yield and purity of extracted DNA, identifying the presence of additional meats not detected by the suite of species-specific assays and potentially estimating a sample-specific LOD based on measured copy numbers of the myostatin target. In addition to the myostatin positive control assay, a synthetic DNA reference material (RM) has been designed, containing PCR targets for beef, pork, sheep, chicken, goat, kangaroo, horse, water buffalo and myostatin, to be used as a positive template control. The availability of standardised measurement methods and associated RMs significantly improves the reliability, comparability and transparency of laboratory testing, leading to greater confidence in results.