Screening for Genetically Modified Plants and Identification of Non-Marker Events in Food and Feed

Introduction:  Screening for the transgenic regulatory elements P-35S and T-NOS in food and feed samples has been the standard for testing presence or absence of genetically modified (GM) plants. Several GM plants have been designed that contain neither P-35S nor T-NOS, which outdates this approach. BIOTECON Diagnostics’ new GM organism (GMO) screening strategy consists of a sophisticated combination of screening and identification assays for maximum coverage of present GMOs.

Purpose:   BIOTECON Diagnostics has developed a new, real-time PCR, GMO screening and identification assays, reducing time, effort, and cost of analysis.

Methods:   The foodproof^® GMO Screening 1 and 2 LyoKits target a total of eight different transgenic regulatory elements. Additionally, three, new, multiplex GMO Soya and Maize identification assays, which detect events that are missed, using common regulatory sequences for screening, have been developed. The foodproof^® Plant Detection LyoKit can be used to check for integrity of DNA and as a process control. The assays comply with ISO 21569 and the German Food Law § 64 LFGB for the detection of GM DNA sequences. An internal amplification control is included.

Results:   Specificity (inclusivity/exclusivity) was verified against different modified and non-modified plants. Forty-five different matrices were tested successfully, including vegetable burger, soya products, and fat. A new automated extraction protocol for the KingFisher Flex enables the analysis of matrices with low DNA content, like soya lecithin. The assays were shown to be robust enough for sample volume variation between 20 and 30 µl. The absolute and relative limit of detection were determined.

Significance:  The flexible GMO LyoKits screening and identification assays offer an easy and cost-effective approach for the analysis of GM foods.