单增李斯特菌生态行为模型构建及机制研究进展

目的 探究食品中的单增李斯特菌随食品链相关条件的变化而发生的"生长-失活-再生长"生态行为规律.方法 以热加工为失活条件,综述单增李斯特菌生态行为的影响因素、模型构建和相关机制.结果 单增李斯特菌在"生长-失活"过程中,细胞的历史生长条件会对其失活特性产生影响,在"失活-再生长"过程中,细胞的历史生理状态会影响其修复再生长的延滞期.结论 食品链中细菌的生长和失活是连续的过程,有必要研究在连续的环境条件变化过程中细胞的生态行为,以期为食品风险评估和食品安全防控提供支持.     

Modelling the cross‐contamination of Listeria monocytogenes in pork during bowl chopping

This study has developed a predictive model for the cross‐contamination of pork by Listeria monocytogenes during bowl chopping. The transfer rates of L. monocytogenes were measured in sixteen chopping scenarios based on practical work. Meanwhile, contaminated bowl chopper was cleaned with either a dry rag (DR), warm water (WW) or 70% ethanol + water (EW), respectively. It was showed that significant differences (P < 0.05) were observed among the three cleaning methods on the reduction of L. monocytogenes, the greatest log reduction being achieved by EW. Moreover, the model introduced by a previous study, predicting cross‐contamination of L. monocytogenes during meat slicing, was improved and validated in this study. Verification results showed that the improved model was acceptable for predicting L. monocytogenes cross‐contamination during pork chopping with coefficients of determination (R² > 0.82), accuracy factors (A_f < 1.44), bias factors (B_f < 1.42), and root mean square error (RMSE < 0.99). Furthermore, the modified model might provide an effective tool for assessing the risk of the cross‐contamination of meat products.     

Application of Cudrania tricuspidata leaf extract as a washing agent to inactivate Listeria monocytogenes on fresh-cut romaine lettuce and kale

The present study aimed to examine the antimicrobial activity of silkworm thorn (Cudrania tricuspidata) leaf extract (CTLE) and its application as a washing agent for fresh-cut romaine lettuce and kale. The antimicrobial activities of CTLE at various concentrations against Listeria monocytogenes were determined using disc diffusion and viable cell count assays, and CTLE exhibited strong inactivation of L. monocytogenes. In particular, after the treatment with 0.4% CTLE, the protein content of L. monocytogenes cells was significantly (P < 0.05) decreased from 507.21 to 254.58 μg mL⁻¹, and damaged cells were observed by scanning electron microscopy. CTLE washing resulted in approximately 2-log reduction of microbial growth, similar to that of 0.01% NaOCl. In addition, CTLE washing did not affect the quality of romaine lettuce and kale. Therefore, these results suggest that CTLE is applicable as a new washing agent for inactivating L. monocytogenes on fresh-cut romaine lettuce and kale.     

Genetic Carriers and Genomic Distribution of cadA6—A Novel Variant of a Cadmium Resistance Determinant Identified in Listeria spp.

Listeria monocytogenes is a pathogen responsible for severe cases of food poisoning. Listeria spp. strains occurring in soil and water environments may serve as a reservoir of resistance determinants for pathogenic L. monocytogenes strains. A large collection of Listeria spp. strains (155) isolated from natural, agricultural, and urban areas was screened for resistance to heavy metals and metalloids, and the presence of resistance determinants and extrachromosomal replicons. Of the tested strains, 35% were resistant to cadmium and 17% to arsenic. Sequence analysis of resistance plasmids isolated from strains of Listeria seeligeri and Listeria ivanovii, and the chromosome of L. seeligeri strain Sr73, identified a novel variant of the cadAC cadmium resistance efflux system, cadA6, that was functional in L. monocytogenes cells. The cadA6 cassette was detected in four Listeria species, including strains of L. monocytogenes, isolated from various countries and sources—environmental, food-associated, and clinical samples. This resistance cassette is harbored by four novel composite or non-composite transposons, which increases its potential for horizontal transmission. Since some cadAC cassettes may influence virulence and biofilm formation, it is important to monitor their presence in Listeria spp. strains inhabiting different environments.     

Improved process for decontamination of whey by a continuous flow-through pulsed light system

The effect of a continuous flow-through pulsed light (PL) system on the inactivation of Listeria innocua was evaluated in different liquid substrates: distilled water, whey, diluted whey and skimmed whey. Reductions in L. innocua counts increased with number of pulses and total fluence. For similar total fluence, treatments consisting of a higher number of pulses but lower voltage were more effective in L. innocua inactivation due to a higher probability to expose cells to the incident light. Microbial inactivation by PL depended on the quantity of light transmitted in the range 230–290 nm by liquid substrates. Regardless of the limited effectiveness of PL for decontamination of whey, its shelf life during storage at 4 °C was extended by at least 7 days. In order to improve the antimicrobial effectiveness of PL, this treatment could be carried out at mild processing temperatures (60 °C), which was shown to exhibit a synergistic effect on the inactivation of L. innocua. This combined process appears as a promising technique to decontaminate complex substrates such as whey or to reduce the intensity of individual treatments to achieve the required level of microbial inactivation.     

Antibacterial effects of chitosan coating containing Mentha aquatica L. essence against Escherichia coli,Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria monocytogenes in Iranian white cheese

The effect of a chitosan coating and Mentha aquatica L. essence on Iranian white cheese was investigated. Results showed 100% inhibition of Escherichia coli growth using 1.5% essence after 10 days. After 15 days of incubation, the Staphylococcus aureus population was reduced by 44.2%, 70.0%, and 88.5% using 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5% essence, respectively. After 15 days, Listeria monocytogenes growth was inhibited by 63.84%, 70.12%, and 85.9% using 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5% essence, respectively. Inhibition zone diameter studies also confirmed the antibacterial effects of applied coating against all the above‐mentioned bacteria in Iranian white cheese.     

Antioxidant and antimicrobial activity and potential of heather (Erica spp.) extracts in the control of Listeria monocytogenes

In this work, heather and its flowers were studied regarding their antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. Plants were subjected to ultrasound-assisted methanolic extraction followed by fractionation. A phytochemical characterisation of extracts content in total phenols and flavonoids, and their antioxidant activity was performed. The antimicrobial activity was evaluated through the determination of minimum inhibitory concentration and by bioautography. Following, studies on the antilisterial potential were carried out by: time-kill curves, inhibition of biofilm formation and tolerance of Listeria monocytogenes to adverse conditions. The results evidenced the antioxidant activity in both extracts, as well as, the antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive bacteria. Concerning the evaluation of the antilisterial potential, a bacteriostatic behaviour and inhibition of biofilms formation ability were observed. Listeria monocytogenes showed an increased susceptibility to adverse conditions when preincubated with extracts. Thus, heather and its flowers may be a source of new compounds with antilisterial activity potential.     

可生食蔬菜中单核细胞增生李斯特菌生存特征研究

目的 探究可生食蔬菜品种、温度、接种部位对单核细胞增生李斯特菌（以下简称单增李斯特菌）存活的影响,为可生食蔬菜中单增李斯特菌的风险评估和关键控制措施提供理论依据。方法 以冻干定量单增李斯特菌为菌株来源,以彩椒、洋葱、黄瓜、圣女果和生菜5种可生食蔬菜的表面和切面为单增李斯特菌的接种点,在4 ℃、25 °C条件下培养7 d,定期监测每份样本中的单增李斯特菌的菌量,对其生长情况进行分析。结果 单增李斯特菌冻干菌种不同瓶间菌量均匀（F=1.923,P<0.05）,-20 ℃储存28 d后的复苏率为93.3%±4.2%。在4 ℃条件下,除了彩椒表面、黄瓜切面、生菜表面和生菜切面外,单增李斯特菌在其他蔬菜上放置7 d后均未见显著生长（δ<0.5 log₁₀ CFU/mL）。在25 ℃条件下,单增李斯特菌在彩椒、洋葱、圣女果、生菜以及黄瓜切面上均呈现为支持生长［δ为（1.16±0.35）~（2.68±0.18）log₁₀ CFU/mL］。单增李斯特菌在黄瓜切面、生菜表面和切面放置7 d后,菌量仍持续增长,在生菜的表面和切面生长趋势和浓度基本一致。结论 单增李斯特菌在可生食蔬菜上的存活能力与蔬菜种类、表面与切面、储存温度等条件密切相关,温度的控制对降低其在可生食蔬菜中的风险至关重要。生菜和切后的黄瓜作为单增李斯特菌高风险食品,应引起风险评估的重视。