A RAPD-PCR Method for the Rapid Detection of Bacillus cereus

Distinction of Bacillus cereus from other closely related bacilli is challenging and new efficient methods are continually demanded. From our previous work on RAPD profiles of bacilli, we found a possibility that B. cereus strains could be distinguished from other bacilli. In this work, RAPD—PCR profiles of B. cereus strains were obtained using a 10-mer (S30) as a primer, and a B. cereus specific 0.91-kb band was produced from all tested strains. The RAPD—PCR procedure also successfully detected B. cereus from spiked cheonggukjang when B. cereus cells were present at more than 10 2 /g sample.