Advanced Methods for Detection of Bacillus cereus and Its Pathogenic Factors

Bacillus cereus is an opportunistic foodborne pathogen causing food intoxication and

infectious diseases. Dierent toxins and pathogenic factors are responsible for diarrheal syndrome,

like nonhemolytic enterotoxin Nhe, hemolytic enterotoxin Hbl, enterotoxin FM and cytotoxin K,

while emetic syndrome is caused by the depsipeptide cereulide toxin. The traditional method of B.

cereus detection is based on the bacterial culturing onto selective agars and cells enumeration. In

addition, molecular and chemical methods are proposed for toxin gene profiling, toxin quantification

and strain screening for defined virulence factors. Finally, some advanced biosensors such as

phage-based, cell-based, immunosensors and DNA biosensors have been elaborated to enable

aordable, sensitive, user-friendly and rapid detection of specific B. cereus strains. This review intends

to both illustrate the state of the B. cereus diagnostic field and to highlight additional research that is

still at the development level.