干酪乳杆菌发酵液中的主要有机酸及其抑菌性

干酪乳杆菌在食品生物防腐方面起着重要的作用。为研究干酪乳杆菌发酵产生的有机酸的分离方法及其抑菌活性,采用乙酸乙酯萃取干酪乳杆菌的培养上清液,通过旋转蒸发仪对各萃取相进行浓缩,并采用spot-on-lawn改进法研究其抑菌活性,利用高效液相色谱(HPLC)分析萃取液中的主要有机酸成分。结果表明,乙酸乙酯相旋蒸余相对大肠杆菌O157:H7、金黄色葡萄球菌和单核细胞增生李斯特菌三种食源性致病菌均表现出很好的抑菌效果,且对大肠杆菌O157:H7和单核细胞增生李斯特菌的抑制最为明显,抑菌圈直径分别达到(20.00±0.82)、(21.67±0.94) mm,其主要的抑菌有机酸组分为乳酸、乙酸和苯乳酸。该研究为分离乳酸菌发酵液中有效活性抑菌物质提供了一种确实可行的方法。     

副干酪乳杆菌Z17-壳聚糖复配对大肠杆菌O157:H7的抑菌效果及作用机制

目的：研究副干酪乳杆菌Z17-壳聚糖复配对草莓中大肠杆菌O157:H7抑菌活性及作用机制。方法：采用流式细胞术、傅里叶变换红外光谱、拉曼光谱及扫描电子显微镜技术分析副干酪乳杆菌Z17-壳聚糖对大肠杆菌O157:H7细胞膜的影响。结果：质量分数1.0%壳聚糖溶液与副干酪乳杆菌Z17复配处理能有效去除草莓上的大肠杆菌O157:H7,减菌率达99%;壳聚糖溶液与副干酪乳杆菌Z17共同作用3 h使大肠杆菌O157:H7 DNA胞外释放量达（381.00±3.53）ng/μL,细胞膜破损率为58.3%;细胞壁膜中脂肪酸、蛋白、肽聚糖、糖苷环、多糖结构成分被破坏;细胞膜局部位移变薄,大分子物质黏附于菌体细胞表面,细胞表面出现孔洞,胞内物质泄漏,最终导致菌体死亡。结论：副干酪乳杆菌Z17-壳聚糖能够有效地抑制草莓中大肠杆菌O157:H7,其抑菌作用靶点为大肠杆菌O157:H7的细胞膜,研究可为大肠杆菌O157:H7的生物防治提供参考。     

复合乳酸菌对肠出血性大肠杆菌O157∶H7抑制作用的研究

本研究利用实验室保存的7株常见乳酸菌进行抑制大肠杆菌O157∶H7实验,其中4株乳酸菌对大肠杆菌O157∶H7有明显抑制效果,分别为嗜酸乳杆菌(SL1)、鼠李糖乳杆菌(SL2)、干酪乳杆菌(SL3)、植物乳杆菌(SL4)。将4株乳酸菌混合后不但抑菌效果强于4株任意单独菌株,其发酵滤液pH相比4株单独菌株下降速度最快,且pH最低。说明混合后的乳酸菌产酸能力也明显增强。将SL1、SL2、SL3、SL4通过排列组合(C(n,m))可分成11组混合菌液,然后通过牛津杯抑菌方法进行抑菌实验,结果显示乳酸菌组合(SL2、SL3、SL4)具有最佳抑菌效果。再将SL2、SL3、SL4按正交设计方案以不同比例的接种量混合成复合菌剂进行抑菌实验,结果表明:乳酸菌组合(SL2、SL3、SL4)以3∶1∶3比例制备复合菌剂时,对大肠杆菌O157∶H7的抑制效果最好。      

副干酪乳杆菌耐乳酸的驯化及增殖培养基的优化

为提高乳酸菌对自身代谢产物乳酸的耐受性、增加发酵液的生物量,采用pH梯度降低法对副干酪乳杆菌进行耐乳酸能力驯化,并通过单因素试验、Plackett-Burman试验设计和响应面法,对驯化后的副干酪乳杆菌增殖培养基进行优化。结果表明,驯化后副干酪乳杆菌在初始pH 5.0的培养基中生长正常,且接种到正常培养基中培养21h其活菌数达到(1.19±0.45)×109 CFU/mL;增殖培养基优化后的配方为酵母膏3%、乳糖2.48%、NH4H2PO40.8%、低聚异麦芽糖0.5%、马铃薯汁11.97%,在该培养基中副干酪乳杆菌培养21h活菌数增加近4倍。     

十一种香辛料对乳酸菌生长及抑菌性的影响

主要研究了不同香辛料对嗜酸乳杆菌和乳酸乳球菌生长及抑菌性能的影响。选取白芷、高良姜、生姜、白胡椒、丁香、肉桂、花椒、八角、香叶、芫荽子、辣椒这11种香辛料,以水作为提取剂加热浸提,制备香辛料提取液。研究不同香辛料对嗜酸乳杆菌LA、乳酸乳球菌LL生长的影响,并以两种常见食源性致病菌大肠杆菌Escherichia coli O157:H7ATCC 43895、金黄色葡萄球菌Staphylococcus aureus CMCC(B)26003为指示菌株,采用牛津杯法测定不同香辛料对乳酸菌发酵液抑菌性的影响。结果表明,香辛料浓度为20mg/mL时,丁香对嗜酸乳杆菌LA的增殖抑制作用最明显,其次为香叶;八角对乳酸乳球菌LL的增殖抑制作用最明显。白芷、高良姜、白胡椒、花椒、芫荽子对嗜酸乳杆菌LA、乳酸乳球菌LL的生长影响较小。高良姜能明显提高嗜酸乳杆菌LA发酵液对大肠杆菌的抑菌性;辣椒能明显提高嗜酸乳杆菌LA发酵液对金黄色葡萄球菌的抑菌性;丁香则明显降低嗜酸乳杆菌发酵液对大肠杆菌的抑菌活性。香叶的添加有利于提高乳酸乳球菌发酵液对大肠杆菌的抑菌活性,花椒的添加有利于提高乳酸乳球菌LL对金黄色葡萄球菌的抑菌性。白芷、高良姜、生姜等多数香辛料的添加会降低乳酸乳球菌LL发酵液对大肠杆菌Escherichia coli O157:H7ATCC 43895、金黄色葡萄球菌Staphylococcus aureus CMCC(B)26003的抑菌性。嗜酸乳杆菌LA、乳酸乳球菌LL发酵液对大肠杆菌Escherichia coli O157:H7ATCC 43895、金黄色葡萄球菌Staphylococcus aureus CMCC(B)26003的抑菌活性主要受pH的影响,抑菌活性成分主要为有机酸类或受酸度影响的物质。泡菜等相关生产发酵过程中通过选择适宜的乳酸菌菌种及香辛料,能起到有效防止致病菌污染的作用,更有利于实现生产的安全性控制。     

乳酸菌强化发酵对刺梨果醋风味品质的影响

以刺梨汁为主要原料,通过液态发酵的方式,将酵母菌分别搭配三株不同乳酸菌（鼠李糖乳杆菌H3、副干酪乳杆菌SR10-1、植物乳杆菌LP）进行混菌酒精发酵,再接种巴士醋杆菌进行醋酸发酵制备刺梨果醋。为了探究乳酸菌强化发酵对刺梨果醋风味品质的影响,采用顶空固相微萃取-气相色谱-质谱联用技术（HS-SPME-GC-MS）,分析不同乳酸菌强化发酵刺梨果醋挥发性风味物质组成及理化指标的差异。结果表明,酵母菌发酵组与乳酸菌强化发酵组差异明显。从4组刺梨果醋样品中共检测出49种挥发性风味物质,其中酵母菌组有30种、鼠李糖乳杆菌H3组有41种、副干酪乳杆菌SR10-1组有37种、植物乳杆菌LP组有41种,各组共有挥发性物质22种,分别含有0种、2种、1种和5种特有挥发性物质,挥发性风味物质的总质量浓度高低依次为：鼠李糖乳杆菌H3组>植物乳杆菌LP组>副干酪乳杆菌SR10-1组>酵母菌组,乳酸菌强化组的挥发性风味物质种类和含量明显高于酵母菌组,其醇类、醛类和烃类总质量浓度减少,酸类和酯类总质量浓度有所增加,且乳酸菌强化组中总酸、乳酸、总黄酮、总多酚含量和SOD活力均高于酵母菌组,说明接种乳...     

乳制品中选择性分离与计数植物乳杆菌的方法

根据乳酸菌对抗生素的敏感性、产酸能力和碳源利用不同,研制出植物乳杆菌分离计数培养基(LPMRS培养基),通过对9种不同的乳酸菌菌株单独试验及混合试验,对该培养基的特异性进行了评价。通过对LP-MRS培养基和MRS培养基中植物乳杆菌计数比较,对该培养基是否抑制植物乳杆菌生长进行了验证。结果表明,该培养基可抑制乳酸乳球菌乳酸亚种、嗜热链球菌、瑞氏乳杆菌、嗜酸链球菌、婴儿双歧杆菌的生长,并能将植物乳杆菌从干酪乳杆菌群分离开来,且对植物乳杆菌无抑制作用。该方法操作简便,成本低,可广泛应用于乳制品中植物乳杆菌的分离和计数。     

植物源香辛料对E.coli O157：H7的杀菌效果比较

以常见植物源香辛料包括八角、丁香、桂皮、茴香、芥末、花椒、麻椒、香叶为材料,研究其醇提取物在不同浓度和作用时间下对E.coli O157：H7的杀菌效果,并分析不同产地对香辛料杀菌效果的影响。结果表明：试验用香辛料对E.coli O157：H7均具有一定的杀菌作用,杀菌能力差异显著（p＜0.05）,杀菌效果最好的香辛料为丁香,体积分数为9.1%的丁香提取物作用1 h可杀灭E.coli O157：H7 5 lg（CFU/mL）以上,其次为八角;相比其它香辛料,芥末提取物杀灭E.coli O157：H7的效果不理想,体积分数为50%的3个不同芥末产品提取物处理1 h平均杀灭2.47 lg（CFU/mL）E.coli O157：H7;产地来源对某些香辛料的杀菌能力有影响,如茴香、桂皮、八角（p＜0.05）。     

乳酸菌在牡蛎酶解液中的生长特性及发酵条件优化

以牡蛎酶解液为原料,通过测定培养液中OD值及乳酸菌数,探讨保加利亚乳杆菌、嗜热链球菌及干酪乳杆菌的生长特性。以滴定酸度、p H值为指标,通过神经网络平台建立这3株乳酸菌混合发酵牡蛎酶解液的神经网络模型,拟合确定发酵的最适宜条件。试验结果表明:3种乳酸菌被驯化后延滞期缩短,稳定期延长;保加利亚乳杆菌和嗜热链球菌的最适生长温度均为40℃,而干酪乳杆菌在36℃时生长繁殖最快。通过神经网络模型优化的这3株乳酸菌发酵牡蛎酶解液的条件:保加利亚乳杆菌、嗜热链球菌和干酪乳杆菌混合比例4∶2∶1,接种量(体积分数)7%,发酵温度40℃,发酵时间7 h。按此条件接种乳酸菌混合发酵7 h,牡蛎酶解液的滴定酸度为51.8°T,p H 4.41。     

豆腐酸浆中干酪乳杆菌的分离、鉴定及作为豆腐凝固剂的应用

通过平板涂布法和高效液相色谱法,以p H和产乳酸量为指标,从自然发酵酸浆中分离筛选出一株乳酸菌YQ336,对其进行菌株形态观察、菌落形态观察、生理生化鉴定以及16S rDNA序列分析,结果表明,该乳酸菌属于乳杆菌属的干酪乳杆菌。将分离出的干酪乳杆菌YQ336接种于豆腐黄浆水中纯种发酵制成豆腐凝固剂点制豆腐,与自然发酵酸浆点制的豆腐进行比较,发现两者的感官评分差异不显著(p>0.05),说明干酪乳杆菌YQ336可以作为新型豆腐凝固剂开发并使用。      

Acid adaptation and temperature effect on the survival of E. coli O157:H7 in acidic fruit juice and lactic fermented milk product.

In this study, two strains of Escherichia coli O157:H7, (ATCC 43889 and ATCC 43895) were acid adapted at pH 5.0 in tryptic soy broth (TSB) for 4 h. Commercial products of mango juice (pH 3.2), asparagus juice (pH 3.6), Yakult--a diluted milk fermented drink (pH 3.6), and low-fat yoghurt (pH 3.9) were inoculated with acid-adapted or nonadapted cells of E. coli O157:H7. Survival of the inoculated E. coli O157:H7 in these commercial food products during storage at 25 or 7 degrees C was examined. It was found that although survival of the acid-adapted and nonadapted E. coli O157:H7 ATCC 43895 in asparagus juice during storage at 7 degrees C did not show marked difference, in general, acid adaptation and low temperature enhanced the survival of E. coli O157:H7 in both the commercial fruit juices tested. On the contrary, acid adaptation reduced the survival of both the strains of the test organism in Yakult and low-fat yoghurt stored at 7 degrees C. Besides, E. coli O157:H7 ATCC 43895 survived longer than ATCC 43889 in all the products examined, regardless of the storage temperature and acid adaptation.     

Influence of acid adaptation on the tolerance of Escherichia coli O157:H7 to some subsequent stresses

Three stains of Escherichia coli O157:H7, including ATCC 43889, ATCC 43895, and 933, were first subjected to acid adaptation at a pH of 5.0 for 4 h. Thermal tolerance at 52 degrees C and survival of the acid-adapted as well as the nonadapted cells of E. coli O157:H7 in the presence of 10% sodium chloride, 0.85% bile salt, or 15.0% ethanol were investigated. Results showed that the effect of acid adaptation on the survival of E. coli O157:H7 varied with the strains and types of subsequent stress. Acid adaptation caused an increase in the thermal tolerance of E. coli O157:H7 ATCC 43889 and ATCC 43895, but no significant difference in the thermal tolerance was noted between acid-adapted and nonadapted cells of E. coli O157:H7 933. Although the magnitude of increase varied with strains of test organisms, acid adaptation generally led to an increase in the tolerance of E. coli O157:H7 to sodium chloride. On the other hand, the susceptibility of acid-adapted cells of the three strains of E. coli O157:H7 tested did not show a significant difference from that of their nonadapted counterparts when stressed with bile salt. The acid-adapted cells of E. coli O157:H7 ATCC 43889 and ATCC 43895 were less tolerant than the nonadapted cells to ethanol, whereas the tolerance of adapted and nonadapted cells of E. coli O157:H7 933 showed no significant differences.     

Acid stress, starvation, and cold stress affect poststress behavior of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and nonpathogenic Escherichia coli.

The effects of acid shock, acid adaptation, starvation, and cold stress of Escherichia coli O157:H7 (ATCC 43895), an rpoS mutant (FRIK 816-3), and nonpathogenic E. coli (ATCC 25922) on poststress heat resistance and freeze-thaw resistance were investigated. Following stress, heat tolerance at 56 degrees C and freeze-thaw resistance at -20 to 21 degrees C were determined. Heat and freeze-thaw resistance of E. coli O157:H7 and nonpathogenic E. coli was enhanced after acid adaptation and starvation. Following cold stress, heat resistance of E. coli O157:H7 and nonpathogenic E. coli was decreased, while freeze-thaw resistance was increased. Heat and freeze-thaw resistance of the rpoS mutant was enhanced only after acid adaptation. Increased or decreased tolerance of acid-adapted, starved, or cold-stressed E. coli O157:H7 cells to heat or freeze-thaw processes should be considered when processing minimally processed or extended shelf-life foods.     

Growth and processing conditions affecting acid tolerance inEscherichia coli O157:H7

The impact of growth conditions (anaerobiosis, growth phase, NaCl, pH, and temperature) on the development of acid tolerance in Escherichia coli O157:H7 was investigated directly (D_pH1.15) and indirectly by monitoring the specific activity of acid phosphatase. Anaerobic growth of O157:H7 strain 43895 in synthetic rumen fluid resulted in earlier development of acid tolerance than aerobic growth. However, stationary-phase cells of both aerobic and anaerobic cultures had an equivalent degree of acid tolerance that was greater than that achieved in log-phase cultures grown anaerobically. These results are consistent with the growth-phase regulation of acid tolerance by the stationary-phase sigma factors³⁸. The addition of NaCl (1%) also enhanced acid tolerance of log-phase but not stationary-phase cells of strain 43895. Growth temperature influenced the acid tolerance with progressively greater D_pH1.15values obtained at 15, 25, and 37°1C, in both log and stationary phase. Therefore, the influence of temperature on the subsequent survival and acid tolerance of E. coli O157:H7 strain 43895 in ground beef was evaluated. Numbers of strain 43895 decreased c. 1.14 log₁₀cfu g^-1in inoculated ground beef stored at 4°1C, whereas numbers remained essentially unchanged during storage at -20°C. While pre-incubation at 15°1C for 4 h prior to storage at 4 or -20°C did not influence survival, the acid tolerance of E. coli O157:H7 survivors was significantly decreased (P<0.10001). These results indicate that the processing temperature can influence acid tolerance in E. coli O157:H7.     

Influence of acetic, citric, and lactic acids on Escherichia coli O157:H7 membrane lipid composition, verotoxin secretion, and acid resistance in simulated gastric fluid

The effect of organic acid (acetic, citric, and lactic acids) adaptation at equivalent initial pH values (6.4 and 5.4) on changes in membrane lipid composition, verotoxin concentration, and acid resistance in simulated gastric fluid (pH 1.5, 37 degrees C) was determined for Escherichia coli O157:H7 ATCC 43895 (HEC) and an rpoS mutant of E. coli O157:H7 ATCC 43895 (RM, FRIK 816-3). For HEC, lactic acid-adapted (pH 5.4) cells had the greatest D-value (32.2 min) and acetic acid-adapted (pH 5.4) cells had the smallest D-value (16.6 min) in simulated gastric fluid. For RM, D-values of citric and acetic acid-adapted cells were similar to those for nonadapted cells grown at pH 7.3, but D-values increased from 13.1 to 27.9 min in lactic acid-adapted cells (from pH 7.3 to pH 5.4). For both strains, the ratio of cis-vaccenic to palmitic acids decreased for citric and lactic acid-adapted cells, but the ratio increased for acetic acid-adapted cells at pH 5.4. Organic acid-adapted cells produced less total verotoxin than did nonadapted cells at approximately 10(8) CFU/ml. Extracellular verotoxin concentration proportionally decreased with decreasing pH for both HEC and RM. Changes in membrane lipid composition, verotoxin concentration, and acid resistance in HEC and RM were dependent on both pH and organic acid. Deletion of the rpoS gene did not affect these changes but did decrease acid resistance in citric acid-adapted cells. Results indicate that decreased membrane fluidity may have caused increased acid resistance and decreased verotoxin secretion.     

Acid tolerance of acid-adapted and nonadapted Escherichia coli O157:H7 following habituation (10 degrees C) in fresh beef decontamination runoff fluids of different pH values

This study evaluated survival of Escherichia coli O157:H7 strain ATCC 43895 during exposure to pH 3.5 following its habituation for 2 or 7 days at 10 degrees in fresh beef decontamination waste runoff fluid mixtures (washings) containing 0, 0.02, or 0.2% of lactic or acetic acids. Meat washings and sterile water (control) were initially inoculated with approximately 5 log CFU/ml of acid- and nonadapted E. coli O157:H7 cells cultured (30 degrees C, 24 h) in broth with and without 1% glucose, respectively. After 2 days, E. coli O157:H7 survivors from acetate washings (pH 3.7 to 4.7) survived at pH 3.5 better than E. coli O157:H7 survivors from lactate washings (pH 3.1 to 4.6), especially when the original inoculum was acid adapted. Also, although E. coli O157:H7 habituated in sterile water for 2 days survived well at pH 3.5, the corresponding survivors from nonacid water meat washings (pH 6.8) were rapidly killed at pH 3.5, irrespective of acid adaptation. After 7 days, E. coli O157:H7 survivors from acetate washings (pH 3.6 to 4.7) continued to resist pH 3.5, whereas those from lactate washings died off. This loss of acid tolerance by E. coli O157:H7 was due to either its low survival in 0.2% lactate washings (pH 3.1) or its acid sensitization in 0.02% lactate washings, in which a Pseudomonas-like natural flora showed extensive growth (> 8 log CFU/ml) and the pH increased to 6.5 to 6.6. Acid-adapted E. coli O157:H7 populations habituated in water washings (pH 7.1 to 7.3) for 7 days continued to be acid sensitive, whereas nonadapted populations increased their acid tolerance, a response merely correlated with their slight (< 1 log) growth at 10 degrees C. These results indicate that the expression of high acid tolerance by acid-adapted E. coli O157:H7 can be maintained or enhanced in acid-diluted meat decontamination waste runoff fluids of pH levels that could permit long-term survival at 10 degrees C. Previous acid adaptation, however, could reduce the growth potential of E. coli O157:H7 at 10 degrees C in nonacid waste fluids of high pH and enriched in natural flora. These conditions might further induce an acid sensitization to stationary E. coli O157:H7 cells.     

大肠杆菌O157:H7耐酸性及酸胁迫下菌体形态变化的初步研究

目的 对大肠杆菌O157:H7 耐酸性进行初步探讨。方法 通过稀释涂布平板计数法观察大肠杆菌O157:H7 在不同的pH 生长条件下的存活能力和利用电镜扫描法观察其在酸胁迫下菌体形态的变化。结果 当pH 为5.0 到7.0 之间时, 大肠杆菌O157:H7 生长状况良好, 当pH 小于4.0 时, 其生长受到抑制, 特别是pH 降到2.0 以下时, 大肠杆菌O157:H7 完全不能生长, 由此可以说明大肠杆菌O157:H7 耐酸性能力较强, 可以抵御酸性环境的影响。扫描电镜图显示大肠杆菌O157:H7 在不同pH 的环境条件下其菌体形态会作出相应的变化,随着培养基的酸性增强, 其细胞形态从长杆菌体形态变成了短杆状或钝圆形态。结论 本研究测定不同酸性条件下大肠杆菌O157:H7 的生存和繁殖能力的研究, 有利于帮助人们进一步了解其耐酸性, 从而为制定防治方案和措施提供参考。     

Increased acid tolerance of Escherichia coli O157:H7 as affected by acid adaptation time and conditions of acid challenge

Three strains of Escherichia coli O157:H7, ATCC 43889, 43895 and 933 were subjected to acid adaptation in Tryptic Soy Broth (pH 5.0) for 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 h. Acid tolerance of the adapted cells was determined in subsequent acid challenge at pH 3.0, 4.0 and 5.0 (acidified with HCl) and in the presence of lactic, acetic or propionic acid. It was found that acid adaptation increased acid tolerance of the E. coli O157:H7 strains tested and was dependent on strain, acid adaptation time and pH of the challenge. Among the acid adaptation times tested, 4 h of adaptation enabled the test organism, regardless of strains, to exhibit the most pronounced acid adaptation response which was most marked at pH 3.0, followed by pH 4.0 and 5.0. The extent of increased acid tolerance varied with the strains of E. coli O157:H7 and challenge of organic acid. The 4-h acid-adapted cells of ATCC 43889 and 933 showed an increase in acid tolerance in the presence of lactic, acetic and propionic acids. An increase in tolerance was also noted with ATCC 43895 in the presence of acetic and lactic acid, but not in the presence of propionic acid.     

Effect of acid adaptation on survival of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in meat decontamination washing fluids and potential effects of organic acid interventions on the microbial ecology of the meat plant environment.

The acid tolerance of Escherichia coli O157:H7 may be pH inducible. Correspondingly, organic acid meat decontamination washing fluids may enhance the establishment of acid-adapted E. coli O157:H7 strains in packing plants, especially in mixtures with water washings from meat that may be of sublethal pH. Acid-adapted and nonadapted cultures of a rifampin-resistant derivative of the acid-resistant E. coli O157:H7 strain ATCC 43895 were tested to evaluate their survival in meat-washing fluids over a wide pH range. The cultures were exposed (10(5) CFU/ml) to acidic (2% lactic acid. 2% acetic acid, or a mixture of the two with water washings at ratios of 1/1, 1/9, or 1/99 [vol/vol]) or nonacid (water) meat washings for up to 14 days at 4 or 10 degrees C storage. E. coli O157:H7 survived in water washings, but the low storage temperatures and predominant natural microbiota synergistically inhibited its growth. Compared with acid-adapted populations, nonadapted populations displayed greater potential for survival and a tendency to initiate growth in water meat washings at 10 degrees C. The pathogen survived in most of the acid washings throughout storage (14 days), sometimes with minimal population reductions. Overall. nonadapted populations declined faster than acid-adapted populations, while the declines increased as the acid concentration and temperature of storage increased and were more dramatic in lactate, compared to acetate, washings. Acid-containing washings were selective for growth of lactic acid bacteria and yeasts. indicating that organic acid treatments may alter the microbial ecology of meat plant environments and potentially that of the meat. These results should be considered when selecting decontamination technologies for meat.     

Identification of Escherichia coli O157:H7 meat processing indicators for fresh meat through comparison of the effects of selected antimicrobial interventions

Fresh meat products can become contaminated with the pathogen Escherichia coli O157:H7 during the slaughter process; therefore, an E. coli O157:H7 indicator to verify the effectiveness of process controls in slaughter establishments would be extremely useful. The hides of 20 beef cattle were sampled, and 113 bacterial isolates were obtained. Thirteen of these isolates representing four genera, Escherichia, Enterobacter, Providencia, and Serratia, were selected based on growth and biochemical characteristics similar to those of five clinical strains of E. coli O157:H7. The temperature sensitivity was determined for the individual isolates and the five E. coli O157:H7 strains at 55 and 65 degrees C. D65-values for all 13 isolates were not significantly different from D65-values of the E. coli O157:H7 strains. E. coli isolates were the only isolates whose D55-values were not significantly different from those of the E. coli O157:H7 strains. E. coli isolates P3 and P68 were more resistant to the effects of 55 degrees C than were the other E. coli isolates but were not significantly different from E. coli O157:H7 WS 3331 (P > 0.05). The remaining E. coli isolates (P1, P8, and P14) were not significantly different from E. coli O157:H7 strains ATCC 35150, ATCC 43894, ATCC 43895, and WS 3062 (P > 0.05). Prerigor lean and adipose beef carcass tissue was artificially contaminated with stationary-phase cultures of the five E. coli beef cattle isolates or a cocktail of five E. coli O157:H7 strains in a fecal inoculum. Each tissue sample was processed with the following microbial interventions: 90 degrees C water; 90 degrees C water followed by 55 degrees C 2% lactic acid; 90 degrees C water followed by 20 degrees C 2% lactic acid; 20 degrees C water followed by 20 degrees C 2% lactic acid; 20 degrees C water followed by 20 degrees C 20 ppm chlorine; and 20 degrees C water followed by 20 degrees C 10% trisodium phosphate. The appropriateness of the E. coli isolates as potential E. coli O157:H7 indicators was dependent upon the microbial intervention utilized. For all microbial intervention methods applied irrespective of tissue type, the mean log reductions of at least two E. coli isolates were not significantly different from the mean log reduction of the E. coli O157:H7 cocktail (P > 0.05). Because of the frequent employment of multiple microbial interventions in the cattle industry, no single isolate can realistically represent the effectiveness of all microbial interventions for reduction of E. coil O157:H7. Thus, the use of a combination of E. coli isolates may be required to accurately predict the effectiveness of microbial intervention methods on the reduction of E. coli O157:H7 in beef carcass tissue.