Performance of Optimized Phage-Based Magnetoelastic Biosensors for Salmonella Typhimurium Detection on Tomatoes

Abstract

An optimized, phage-based magnetoelastic (ME) biosensor method was performed to detect Salmonella Typhimurium contaminates on the surface of tomatoes and to determine the detection limit. After serial inoculations of S. Typhimurium on the surface of the tomatoes, the S. Typhimurium on the surfaces was analyzed using an optimized ME biosensor method. Detection limit and sensitivity of the ME biosensor for detection of S. Typhimurium on tomatoes were determined. The resonant frequency shifts of the ME measurement sensors increased linearly with an increase in the concentration of S. Typhimurium. Contrastingly, the control sensors showed relatively constant and low magnitude frequency shifts. Detection limit and sensitivity of the ME biosensor method was determined to be (1.78 {plus minus} 0.17) log CFU/cm2 and 922.7 Hz.