Initiation of Staphylococcal Growth in Laboratory Media

The effects of pH and NaCl concentration on the probability of aerobic growth initiation in Brain Heart Infusion broth at 30 C by five staphylococcal strains producing enterotoxins A, B, C, and D were studied in a factorial design experiment. Statistical analysis of the data indicated: (i) significant effects of pH, NaCl, and strain on the probability of growth; (ii) diverse effects of NaCl with various pH levels and strains; (iii) essentially a linear relationship between NaCl concentration and probability of growth initiation when data for all strains were pooled; (iv) the relationship between NaCl concentration and probability of growth initiation varies from linear to sigmoid, depending on the pH of the broth, when the statistically untreated (raw) data are plotted for each strain. Equations were derived which relate the decimal reductions of the number of cells of a staphylococcal population to the concentration of NaCl and pH of broth to which the population was exposed. From the equations, the probability that one cell is capable of initiating growth can be calculated. The impact of these types of studies on the development of realistic staphylococcal standards in foods is discussed.     

Combined effect of acetate and reduced water activity in survival of Salmonella typhimurium 7136.

Whereas Salmonella typhimurium 7136 will not grow at reduced water activity (aw), it was survival in such items as intermediate-moisture foods is of interest. Initial studies demonstrated that the addition of 0.3 M acetate (pH 4.7) to glycerol-Trypticase soy broth (BBL Microbiology Systems) solutions (aw 0.86) reduced the viability of S. typhimurium cells. The extent of death of cells exposed to reduced aw was increased by decreasing the pH or increasing the concentration of acetate. Acidification of glycerol-Trypticase soy broth reduced the D40 degrees C value exhibited by cells exposed to a range of aw solutions (0.65 to 0.92). Acetate appeared to affect survival more dramatically as aw values approached the minimum growth limit. Acidification with acetate also reduced cell survival in a variety of humectant solutions with an aw of 0.86 (glycerol, dextrose, and NaCl).     

Solute stresses affect growth patterns, endogenous water potentials and accumulation of sugars and sugar alcohols in cells of the biocontrol yeast Candida sake

AIM: To evaluate the effect of modifications of water activity (aw 0. 996-0.92) of a molasses medium with different solutes (glycerol, glucose, NaCl, proline or sorbitol) on growth, intracellular water potentials (psi(c)) and endogenous accumulation of polyols/sugars in the biocontrol yeast Candida sake. METHODS AND RESULTS: Modification of solute stress significantly influenced growth, psi(c) and accumulation of sugars (glucose/trehalose) and polyols (glycerol, erythritol, arabitol and mannitol) in the yeast cells. Regardless of the solute used to modify aw, growth was always decreased as water stress increased. Candida sake cells grew better in glycerol- and proline-amended media, but were sensitive to NaCl. The psi(c) measured using psychrometry showed a significant effect of solutes, aw and time. Cells from the 0.96 aw NaCl treatment presented the lowest psic value (- 5.20 MPa) while cells from unmodified media (aw = 0. 996) had the highest value (- 0.30 MPa). In unmodified medium, glycerol was the predominant reserve accumulated. Glycerol and arabitol were the major compounds accumulated in media modified with glucose or NaCl. In proline media, the concentration of arabitol increased. In glycerol- and sorbitol-amended media, the concentration of glycerol rose. Some correlations were obtained between compatible solutes and psi(c). CONCLUSIONS AND SIGNIFICANCE: This study demonstrates that subtle changes in physiological parameters significantly affect the endogenous contents of C. sake cells. It may be possible to utilize such physiological information to develop biocontrol inocula with improved quality.     

Improving low water activity and desiccation tolerance of the biocontrol agent Pantoea agglomerans CPA-2 by osmotic treatments

AIMS: To study the improvement of tolerance to low water activity (aw) and desiccation during spray drying in Pantoea agglomerans cells subjected to mild osmotic stress during growth. METHODS AND RESULTS: The micro-organism was cultured in an unmodified liquid (control) or in aw-modified media, and viability of these cells was evaluated on unstressed (0.995) and 0.96 aw stressed solid media, in order to check total viability and aw stress tolerance respectively. Significant improvements in viability on unmodified medium were observed with cells grown for 24 h in NaCl 0.98 aw, glycerol 0.98 aw and 0.97 aw and for 48 h in NaCl 0.98 aw and 0.97 aw modified media. Both yield improvements and water stress tolerance were achieved with low aw media. Cells grown for 24 h in NaCl 0.98 aw or for 48 h in NaCl 0.98 aw, 0.97 aw and 0.96 aw, glucose 0.97 aw and glycerol 0.97 aw showed improved aw stress tolerance in comparison with control cells. The best results were obtained with NaCl treatments (0.98 aw and 0.97 aw) which also exhibited better survival rates than control cells during spray-drying process and maintained their efficacy against postharvest fungal pathogens in apples and oranges. CONCLUSIONS: NaCl treatments are very appropriate for improving P. agglomerans low aw tolerance obtaining high production levels and maintaining biocontrol efficacy. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Improving stress tolerance of biocontrol agents could be an efficient way to obtain consistency and maintain efficacy of biological control under practical conditions.     

Influence of solute, pH, and incubation temperature on recovery of heat-stressed Wallemia sebi conidia

The influences of glucose, sorbitol, and NaCl in a basal enumeration medium at water activities (aw) from 0.82 to 0.97 on colony formation by sublethally heat-stressed Wallemia sebi conidia were determined. Over this aw range, glucose and sorbitol had similar effects on recovery, whereas at an aw of 0.82 to 0.92, NaCl had a detrimental effect. Colony diameters were generally largest on media containing sorbitol and smallest on media containing NaCl. Maximum colony size and viable population of heat-stressed conidia were observed on media at an aw of ca. 0.92. When the recovery incubation temperature was 20 degrees C, the number of uninjured conidia detected at an aw of 0.82 was reduced compared with the number detected at 25 degrees C, while at 30 degrees C, the number recovered at an aw of 0.97 was reduced. The effect on heat-stressed conidia was magnified. This suggests that W. sebi conidia may be more tolerant of aw values higher than the optimum 0.92 when the incubation temperature is decreased from the near optimum of 25 degrees C and less tolerant of aw values greater than 0.92 when the incubation temperature is higher than 25 degrees C. The sensitivity of heat-stressed conidia increased as the pH of the recovery medium was decreased from 6.55 to 3.71. W. sebi conidia dispersed in wheat flour at aw values of 0.43 and 0.71 and stored for up to 65 days at both 1 and 25 degrees C neither lost viability nor underwent sublethal desiccation or temperature injury.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Influence of solute, pH, and incubation temperature on recovery of heat-stressed Wallemia sebi conidia.

The influences of glucose, sorbitol, and NaCl in a basal enumeration medium at water activities (aw) from 0.82 to 0.97 on colony formation by sublethally heat-stressed Wallemia sebi conidia were determined. Over this aw range, glucose and sorbitol had similar effects on recovery, whereas at an aw of 0.82 to 0.92, NaCl had a detrimental effect. Colony diameters were generally largest on media containing sorbitol and smallest on media containing NaCl. Maximum colony size and viable population of heat-stressed conidia were observed on media at an aw of ca. 0.92. When the recovery incubation temperature was 20 degrees C, the number of uninjured conidia detected at an aw of 0.82 was reduced compared with the number detected at 25 degrees C, while at 30 degrees C, the number recovered at an aw of 0.97 was reduced. The effect on heat-stressed conidia was magnified. This suggests that W. sebi conidia may be more tolerant of aw values higher than the optimum 0.92 when the incubation temperature is decreased from the near optimum of 25 degrees C and less tolerant of aw values greater than 0.92 when the incubation temperature is higher than 25 degrees C. The sensitivity of heat-stressed conidia increased as the pH of the recovery medium was decreased from 6.55 to 3.71. W. sebi conidia dispersed in wheat flour at aw values of 0.43 and 0.71 and stored for up to 65 days at both 1 and 25 degrees C neither lost viability nor underwent sublethal desiccation or temperature injury.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Effect of water activity and pH on growth and toxin production by Clostridium botulinum type G.

The combined effect of water activity (aw) and pH on growth and toxin production by Clostridium botulinum type G strain 89 was investigated. The minimum aw at which growth and toxin formation occurred was 0.965, for media in which the pH was adjusted with either sodium chloride or sucrose. The minimum pH (at the optimum aw) for growth and toxin production of C. botulinum type G was found to be 5.6. Optimum conditions for toxin activation were a trypsin concentration of 0.1%, a pH of the medium of 6.5, and an incubation for 45 min at 37 degrees C. These data did not show evidence of heat-labile spores, since a heat shock of 75 degrees C for 10 min did not significantly decrease the spore count of strain 89G in media at pH 7.0 or 5.6. It was frequently observed that cells grown at reduced aw or pH experienced severe morphological changes.     

Effect of water activity and pH on growth and toxin production by Clostridium botulinum type G

The combined effect of water activity (aw) and pH on growth and toxin production by Clostridium botulinum type G strain 89 was investigated. The minimum aw at which growth and toxin formation occurred was 0.965, for media in which the pH was adjusted with either sodium chloride or sucrose. The minimum pH (at the optimum aw) for growth and toxin production of C. botulinum type G was found to be 5.6. Optimum conditions for toxin activation were a trypsin concentration of 0.1%, a pH of the medium of 6.5, and an incubation for 45 min at 37 degrees C. These data did not show evidence of heat-labile spores, since a heat shock of 75 degrees C for 10 min did not significantly decrease the spore count of strain 89G in media at pH 7.0 or 5.6. It was frequently observed that cells grown at reduced aw or pH experienced severe morphological changes.     

Growth characteristics of Saccharomyces rouxii isolated from chocolate syrup.

We investigated the growth parameters of Saccharomyces rouxii isolated from spoiled chocolate syrup. The optimum pH range for S. rouxii was 3.5 to 5.5, whereas the minimum and maximum pH values that permitted growth were 1.5 and 10.5, respectively. For cells grown in 0 and 60% sucrose the optimum water activity (aw) values were 0.97 and 0.96, respectively. The optimum temperature for S. rouxii increased with a decreasing aw regardless of whether glucose or sucrose was used as the humectant. The optimum temperatures for S. rouxii were 28 degrees C at an aw of greater than 0.995 and 35 degrees C at an aw of 0.96 to 0.90 in 2 X potato dextrose broth with sucrose. Increasing the sorbate concentration (from 0.03 to 0.10%) caused the growth of S. rouxii to become more inhibited between aws of greater than 0.995 and 0.82. S. rouxii did not grow when the sorbate level was 0.12% (wt/vol). At lower sorbate levels, the effect of sorbate on the growth of S. rouxii depended on the aw level. Lowering the aw enhanced the resistance of S. rouxii to increasing concentrations of potassium sorbate. Permeability and polyol production are discussed with respect to sorbate tolerance of S. rouxii at different aw levels.     

Effects of potassium sorbate on growth patterns, morphology, and heat resistance of Zygosaccharomyces rouxii at reduced water activity.

A study was made of the effects of potassium sorbate on growth, morphology, and heat sensitivity of an osmotolerant yeast, Zygosaccharomyces rouxii, grown in media (water activity (aw) 0.93) supplemented with glucose and sucrose. Growth patterns of Z. rouxii in YM broth supplemented with glucose (YMBG) and sucrose (YMBS) were similar, although increased potassium sorbate concentration in both media resulted in decreased growth rates. Growth in YMBS containing potassium sorbate was not as prolific as that in YMBG containing potassium sorbate. Inhibition of growth was indicated by decreased absorbance (at 600 nm) of cells grown in YMBS and in YMBG and YMBS supplemented with potassium sorbate at 600 or 1000 micrograms/mL. Slight decreases in cell size and alteration of cellular morphology were associated with increased potassium sorbate concentration. Plasmolysis increased as potassium sorbate concentration was elevated in YMBS but not in YMBG. Tolerance of Z. rouxii to potassium sorbate was enhanced by previous adaptation of cells in media with elevated potassium sorbate concentrations. Heat resistance of cells unadapted to potassium sorbate showed little or no increase regardless of culture age, but increased substantially in cells grown in media containing potassium sorbate, particularly YMBS.     

Suitability of some enrichment broths and diluents for enumerating cold- and heat-stressed Vibrio parahaemolyticus.

Vibrio parahaemolyticus cells were injured by chilling and heating, and their recovery was tested in glucose-salt-Teepol broth (GSTB), tryptic soy broth containing 7% NaCl (TSBS), Horie - arabinose - ethyl violet broth (HAEB), and water blue - alizarin yellow broth (WBAY). Exponential phase cells were more sensitive to cold shock than were stationary phase cells. Exposure of chill-injured V. parahaemolyticus to GSTB and TSBS resulted in 70 to 80% death; about 70% lethality was noted for heat-injured cells inoculated into TSBS. Neither HAEB nor WBAY enrichment media were lethal to stressed cells, although rates of growth were retarded. The 3% NaCl in 0.1 M potassium phosphate (pH 7.0) diluent proved to be most suitable for protecting against inactivation of cold- and heat-injured cells.     

The effects of Korean propolis against foodborne pathogens and transmission electron microscopic examination

This study was performed to evaluate the effects of Korean propolis against foodborne pathogens and spores of Bacillus cereus and to investigate the antimicrobial activity against B. cereus structure by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The antimicrobial effects of the Korean propolis were tested against foodborne pathogens including Gram-positive (B. cereus, Listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram-negative (Salmonella typhimurium, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas fluorescence) bacteria by agar diffusion assay. Gram-positive bacteria were more sensitive than were Gram-negative bacteria. The vegetative cells of B. cereus were the most sensitive among the pathogens tested with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 0.036 mg/μl of propolis on agar medium. Based on MIC, sensitivity of vegetative cells of B. cereus and its spores was tested in a nutrient broth with different concentrations of propolis at 37°C. In liquid broth, treatment with 1.8 mg/ml propolis showed bactericidal effect against B. cereus. B. cereus vegetative cells exposed to 7.2mg/ml of propolis lost their viability within 20 min. Against spores of B. cereus, propolis inhibited germination of spores up to 30 hours, compared to control at higher concentration than vegetative cells yet acted sporostatically. The bactericidal and sporostatic action of propolis were dependent on the concentration of propolis used and treatment time. Electron microscopic investigation of propolis-treated B. cereus revealed substantial structural damage at the cellular level and irreversible cell membrane rupture at a number of locations with the apparent leakage of intracellular contents. The antimicrobial effect of propolis in this study suggests potential use of propolis in foods.     

Interactive effects of solutes, potassium sorbate and incubation temperature on growth, heat resistance and tolerance to freezing of Zygosaccharomyces rouxii.

The interactive effects of solutes, potassium sorbate and incubation temperature on growth, heat resistance and tolerance to freezing of Zygosaccharomyces rouxii were investigated. Growth rates in media supplemented with glucose, sucrose or NaCl to aw 0.93 were more rapid than in unsupplemented media (aw 0.99). Although growth in unsupplemented medium was lower at 35 degrees C, incubation at 21 degrees C or 35 degrees C had little effect on growth in media supplemented with glucose and sucrose. The addition of 300 micrograms potassium sorbate/ml to media resulted in reduced growth rates, particularly at 35 degrees C. Heat resistance of Z. rouxii was substantially greater in cultures previously incubated at 35 degrees C than in cultures incubated at 21 degrees C in media both with and without 300 micrograms potassium sorbate/ml. Zygosaccharomyces rouxii was tolerant to freezing at -18 degrees C for up to 120 d in all test media supplemented with glucose, sucrose or NaCl. The addition of 300 micrograms potassium sorbate/ml to sucrose-supplemented media resulted in increased resistance to freezing in cultures previously incubated at 21 degrees C. Sensitivity to freezing increased when cultures were incubated at 21 degrees C in media not supplemented with solutes. Glucose and sucrose provided the best protection against inactivation by heating and freezing, regardless of the presence of potassium sorbate in growth media.     

Effects of porcine bile on survival of Bacillus cereus vegetative cells and Haemolysin BL enterotoxin production in reconstituted human small intestine media

AIMS: To determine the effects of porcine bile (PB) on Bacillus cereus vegetative cells and Haemolysin BL (HBL) enterotoxin production in reconstituted small intestine media (IM). METHODS AND RESULTS: The effects of PB on the growth of B. cereus vegetative cells in reconstituted IM at PB concentrations ranging between 0 and 3.0 g l(-1) were examined. Four gastric media (GM) named GM-J broth (JB), GM-chicken, GM-milk and GM-pea were prepared by mixing equal volumes of a gastric electrolyte solution containing pepsin with JB, chicken, semi-skimmed milk and pea soup, respectively. Bacillus cereus was inoculated at approx. 2 x 10(4) CFU ml(-1) into each GM at pH 5.0 for 30 min at 37 degrees C, then mixed to the same volume of double-strength JB (IM) and PB to give concentrations of between 0 and 3.0 g of PB per litre at pH 6.5 and incubated at 37 degrees C. The diarrhoeal B. cereus strain F4430/73 grew in IM-JB, IM-chicken and IM-milk at PB concentrations of up to 0.6, 1.5 and 1.2 g l(-1), respectively. Growth was observed in IM-pea at all concentrations tested. The highest PB concentrations allowing a 3 log B. cereus increase in IM-JB, IM-chicken, IM-milk and IM-pea after a 7-10 h incubation period were 0.3, 0.9, 0.9 and 3.0 g l(-1), respectively. The effect of PB on B. cereus cells was strongest in IM-JB, followed by IM-chicken, IM-milk and IM-pea. Haemolysin BL enterotoxin was detectable in IM-chicken, IM-whole milk, IM-semi-skimmed milk and IM-pea up to PB concentrations of only 0.6, 0.6, 0.3 and 0.9 g l(-1), respectively. The diarrhoeal B. cereus strain F4433/73 behaved similarly to B. cereus strain F4430/73, whereas the food strain TZ415 was markedly more susceptible to bile. CONCLUSIONS: The tolerance of B. cereus cells to PB strongly depends on the type of food contained in the IM. Bile tolerance is also subject to strain variation. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The probability that B. cereus cells will grow in the small intestine, produce toxins and cause diarrhoea is likely to depend on the food they are ingested with, on the bile tolerance of the B. cereus strain, and on bile concentration.     

Survival of Bacillus cereus spores and vegetative cells in acid media simulating human stomach

AIMS: To determine the fate of Bacillus cereus spores or vegetative cells in simulated gastric medium. Methods and RESULTS: The effects of acidity on the survival of B. cereus in a medium simulating human stomach content was followed on spores at pH 1.0-5.2, and on vegetative cells at pH 2.5-5.7. Gastric media (GM) were prepared by mixing equal volumes of a gastric electrolyte solution with J broth (JB), half-skim milk, pea soup and chicken. At pH 1.0 and 1.4, the number of spores slightly decreased in GM-JB and GM-pea soup and remained stable in GM-milk and GM-chicken. A rapid marked decrease (always higher than 2.0 log CFU ml(-1) in 2 h) in vegetative cell counts was observed at pH below 4.2, 4.0, 3.6 and 3.5 in GM-chicken, GM-JB, GM-milk and GM-pea soup, respectively. Between pH 5.0 and 5.3, B. cereus growth was observed in GM-JB (1.2 log CFU ml(-1) increase after 4 h) and in GM-pea soup (1.8 log CFU ml(-1) increase after 4 h). CONCLUSIONS: Bacillus cereus spores are very much more resistant to gastric acidity than vegetative cells. This resistance strongly depends on the type of food present in the GM. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Our results suggest that the probability that viable B. cereus cells enter the small intestine, where they can cause diarrhoea, strongly depends on the form of the ingested cells (spores or vegetative cells), on what food they are ingested with, and on the level of stomach acidity.     

Water relations of solute accumulation in Pseudomonas fluorescens

When Pseudomonas fluorescens was grown in a glucose salts medium adjusted with NaCl to a water activity (aw) value of 0.980, the intracellular glutamic acid concentration increased 23-fold and comprised 90% of the total amino acid pool. This increase was not observed when the aw of the medium was reduced to 0.980 with sorbitol. Sorbitol was taken up rapidly over a 30 min period and accumulated intracellularly to a level approximately two-fold greater than the concentration in the growth medium. In continuous culture, the specific rate of glutamic acid production and glucose uptake was greater at 0.980 (NaCl) than at 0.997 aw. The maintenance coefficients for glucose uptake were similar at both aw values but were 2.4-fold greater for glutamic acid production at 0.980 (NaCl) than at 0.997 aw.     

Influence of solute and hydrogen ion concentration on the water relations of some xerophilic fungi.

Germination and growth of six xerophilic fungi, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus ochraceus, Eurotium chevalieri, Chrysosphorium fastidium, Wallemia sebi and Xeromyces bisporus were examined on media of a wide range of water activities (aw). The influence of three solutes, NaCl, glycerol and a glucose/fructose mixture, was studied at pH 4-0 and pH 6-5 using a plate-slide technique. Germination times and growth rates were affected by solute type, but the influence of pH was less marked. Except for Wallemia sebi, the fungi grew most strongly on glucose/fructose and were partially or completely inhibited by NaCl. The results showed that a universal isolation medium for xerophilic fungi could be based on glycerol or glucose/fructose but not on NaCl as aw-limiting solute.     

Growth of Vibrio anguillarum in Salmon Intestinal Mucus

The physiological changes of Vibrio anguillarum in response to growth in salmon intestinal mucus were investigated. Growth, survival, and changes in protein expression during growth in media supplemented with mucus were compared to growth and starvation in the identical media without mucus. V. anguillarum exhibited a rapid decline in CFU following growth in mucus as the sole carbon source. No such decline was observed in Luria broth with a 2% NaCl concentration, in glucose-minimal broth (3M), or during starvation in a carbon-, nitrogen-, and phosphorus-free salt solution (NSS). The changes in protein expression during growth in mucus were examined by labeling cells with [(sup35)S]methionine and analyzing the labeled proteins by one- and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and autoradiography. Comparison of [(sup35)S]methionine-labeled proteins from mucus-grown cells with 3M-grown cells and NSS-starved cells revealed four de novo mucus-inducible proteins (Mips). These Mips were localized in the membrane fraction of V. anguillarum. Additionally, at least one other membrane protein was found to have increased expression in response to growth in mucus.     

Development and validation of experimental protocols for use of cardinal models for prediction of microorganism growth in food products

An experimental protocol to validate secondary-model application to foods was suggested. Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, Bacillus cereus, Clostridium perfringens, and Salmonella were observed in various food categories, such as meat, dairy, egg, or seafood products. The secondary model validated in this study was based on the gamma concept, in which the environmental factors temperature, pH, and water activity (aw) were introduced as individual terms with microbe-dependent parameters, and the effect of foodstuffs on the growth rates of these species was described with a food- and microbe-dependent parameter. This food-oriented approach was carried out by challenge testing, generally at 15 and 10 degrees C for L. monocytogenes, E. coli, B. cereus, and Salmonella and at 25 and 20 degrees C for C. perfringens. About 222 kinetics in foods were generated. The results were compared to simulations generated by existing software, such as PMP. The bias factor was also calculated. The methodology to obtain a food-dependent parameter (fitting step) and therefore to compare results given by models with new independent data (validation step) is discussed in regard to its food safety application. The proposed methods were used within the French national program of predictive microbiology, Sym'Previus, to include challenge test results in the database and to obtain predictive models designed for microbial growth in food products.