Affymetrix reveals pathogen microarray from FDA partnership
The microarray was designed by the Food and Drug Administration's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) and built by Affymetrix.
The high density DNA-based microarray assays, for use with the GeneAtlas Personal Microarray System, can detect, discriminate, and identify strains of E. coli on food products, clinical samples, and environmental samples in outbreaks.
It contains every known E. coli gene (>40,000) and more than 10,000 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) biomarkers.
The Minimal Signature E. coli Array (FDA-ECID) is the result of seven years research and development by FDA's Division of Molecular Biology.
"The key to preventing widespread outbreaks is to detect and identify contaminants and foodborne illness as quickly, accurately, and easily as possible,” said Dr Kevin Cannon, SVP of the expression business unit at Affymetrix.
“Integrated genomic/bioinformatic solutions are indispensable tools in food safety applications providing rapid answers to serious questions."
