Effects of combinations of lactoperoxidase system and nisin on the behaviour of Listeria monocytogenes ATCC 15313 in skim milk

Individual or combined effects of nisin (100 or 200 IU/ml) and the lactoperoxidase system (LPS) were analysed against 1 x 10(4) cfu/ml Listeria monocytogenes ATCC 15313 cells in skim milk, at 25 degrees C for 15 days. Nisin induced an immediate bactericidal effect and LPS a 48 h bacteriostatic phase which in both cases was followed by re-growth of L. monocytogenes. LPS and nisin added together at t0 showed a synergistic and lasting bactericidal effect which after 8 days and until 15 days resulted in no detectable cells in 1 ml of milk. When LPS was added to cells already in contact with 100 or 200 IU/ml nisin for a period of 4 h, the inhibitory activity was enhanced with no L. monocytogenes detectable after 72 or 48 h, respectively, and until 15 days. When LPS was added after 12 h, the nisin bactericidal phase was followed by re-growth. When nisin, 100 or 200 UI/ml, was added to cells already in contact with LPS over 24 h, L. monocytogenes was not detectable after 196 and 244 h, respectively, without any re-growth. For nisin addition after 72 h, cell counts were 8 log10 cycles lower than in the control milk after 196 h, but population levels were similar to the control within 15 days. The best combination to inhibit L. monocytogenes ATCC 15313 was nisin present at t0 followed by the LPS addition 4 h later, when the maximum inhibitory effect of nisin was reached.     

Inhibitory combinations of nisin, sodium chloride, and pH on Listeria monocytogenes ATCC 15313 in broth by an experimental design approach

The influence of pH (5.0-8.2), NaCl concentrations (0-6% w/v), and incubation time (0-24 h) on the inhibitory activity of nisin (0-100 I.U./ml) against Listeria monocytogenes (10(3) cfu/ml) was studied using the Doehlert experimental design and was confirmed by kinetic experiments. Predicted values were in agreement with experimental values. Experiments were carried out at 22 degrees C in reconstituted TSB-YE1 broth with or without NaCl. Nisin had an immediate pH-dependent bactericidal effect, which increased with decreasing pH values. In modified TSB-YE1 broth without NaCl, the bactericidal efficacy of nisin (50 I.U./ml) was maximum at pH 6.6, with no L. monocytogenes survivors until 120 h at 22 degrees C. Nisin (50 I.U./ml) action decreased in the presence of NaCl, with a minimal inhibitory effect between 2 and 4%. This partially protective effect was cancelled at higher levels of nisin.     

Predicting Lethal Effect of Ultrasonic Waves Under Pressure Treatments on Listeria monocytogenes ATCC 15313 by Power Measurements

ABSTRACT: Power measurements (input power to ultrasound generator, input power to transducer, and ultrasonic power entering the treatment medium) were compared to the inactivation effect of ultrasound under pressure (manosonication, MS) treatments on Listeria monocytogenes ATCC 15313 in pH 7 citrate-phosphate buffer. A linear relationship was found between the power entering the treatment medium, measured by a calorimetric method, and the decimal reduction times of L. monocytogenes under different experimental conditions. Therefore, the lethal effect of MS treatments could be estimated from simple calorimetric measurements.     

A bacteriocin from Carnobacterium piscicola for the control of Listeria monocytogenes in vacuum-packaged meat

The purpose of this study was to determine the inhibitory capacity of a bacteriocin-like substance produced by Carnobacterium piscicola L103 against Listeria monocytogenes , when inoculated into vacuum-packaged meat. The bacteriocin was partially purified by ammonium sulfate precipitation and gel filtration on Sephadex G-25, followed by lyophilization. Beef steaks were inoculated with the bacteriocin and a sensitive strain of L. monocytogenes . The vacuum-packaged meat was stored at 4°C and microbial analyses were carried out every 7 days, over 21 days. Results showed that in the control steaks, without bacteriocin, counts of L. monocytogenes stayed at the initial inoculation level during the complete storage period. The naturally growing lactic acid bacteria (LAB) reached log 7·4 cfu cm⁻²after 14 days of storage and no inhibitory effect on the growth of the LAB was observed in the presence of the bacteriocin. The pH of the meat dropped from 5·7 to 5·0 in the inoculated as well as in the control samples, while colour and odour remained acceptable up to 14 days of storage. On the meat inoculated with bacteriocin, L. monocytogenes was completely inhibited after 14 days of storage at 4°C. It was concluded that the use of the inhibitory substance from C. piscicola L103 could be an important contribution to meat safety, when inoculated into vacuum-packaged meat.     

Ionizing radiation sensitivity of Listeria monocytogenes ATCC 49594 and Listeria innocua ATCC 51742 inoculated on endive (Cichorium endiva)

Ionizing radiation inactivates the pathogenic bacteria that can contaminate leafy green vegetables. Leaf pieces and leaf homogenate of endive (Cichorium endiva) were inoculated with the pathogen Listeria monocytogenes (ATCC 49594) or Listeria innocua (ATCC 51742), a nonpathogenic surrogate bacterium. The radiation sensitivity of the two strains was similar, although L. innocua was more sensitive to the type of suspending leaf preparation. During refrigerated storage after irradiation, the population of L. monocytogenes on inoculated endive was briefly suppressed by 0.42 kilogray (kGy), a dose calibrated to achieve a 99% reduction. However, the pathogen regrew after 5 days until it exceeded the bacterial levels on the control after 19 days in storage. Treatment with 0.84 kGy, equivalent to a 99.99% reduction, suppressed L. monocytogenes throughout refrigerated storage. Doses up to 1.0 kGy had no significant effect on the color of endive leaf material, regardless of whether taken from the leaf edge or the leaf midrib. The texture of leaf edge material was unaffected by doses up to 1.0 kGy, whereas the maximum dose tolerated by leaf midrib material was 0.8 kGy. These results show that endive leaves may be treated with doses sufficient to achieve at least a 99.99% reduction of L. monocytogenes with little or no impact on the product's texture or color.     

A model describing the relationship between regrowth lag time and mild temperature increase for Listeria monocytogenes

In order to comply with the consumer demand for ready-to-eat and look 'fresh' products, mild heat treatment will be used more and more in the agrofood industry. Nonetheless there is no tool to define the most appropriate mild heat treatment. In order to build this tool, it is necessary to study and describe the response of a bacterial population to a mild increase in temperature, from the dynamic point of view. The response to a mild increase in temperature, defined by stress duration and temperature, consisted in a mortality phase followed by the lag time of the survivors and their exponential growth. The effect of the mild increase in temperature on the mortality phase was described in a previous paper (Bréand et al., Int. J. Food Microbiol., in press). The effect of the stress duration on the lag was presented in a previous paper (Bréand et al., Int. J. Food Microbiol. 38 (1997) 157-167). In particular, the biphasic relationship between the lag and the stress duration was observed and modelled with a four parameter nonlinear model: the primary model (Bréand et al., Int. J. Food Microbiol. 38 (1997) 157-167). The study presented in this paper deals with the effect of the stress temperature on the biphasic relationship between the lag time and the stress duration. The secondary models describing the effect of the stress temperature on this biphasic relationship, were empirically built from our experimental data concerning Listeria monocytogenes. This work pointed out that the higher the stress temperature, the narrower the range of stress duration for which the lag time increased. Since the primary and the secondary models of the lag time were available, the global model describing the effect of the mild increase duration and temperature directly on the lag was fitted. This model allowed an improvement of the parameter estimator precision. The potential contribution in mild heat treatment optimization of this global model and the one built for the mortality phase (Bréand et al., Int. J. Food Microbiol., in press) is discussed.     

Growth inhibition of Listeria monocytogenes by a bacteriocin of Pediococcus acidilactici M during fermentation of kimchi

Four lactic acid bacteria known to produce bacteriocins were evaluated for the inhibitory effect against Listeria monocytogenes strain Scott A. Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis biovar diacetylactis 26-2 was the least antilisterial, whereas Pediococcus acidilactici M resulted in the largest zone of inhibition on an agar medium. Leuconostoc paramesenteroides OX and Lactobacillus sake Lb 706 were intermediate. Aqueous solutions of crude bacteriocin powders derived from supernatant fluids of L. sake Lb 706 and P. acidilactici M. cultures inhibited the growth of Lactobacillus plantarum UGA8 in MRS agar. The addition of 10 mg of crude bacteriocin powder from L. sake to 150 g of kimchi fermented at 14 ± 1°C for 16 days had no effect on the growth of L. monocytogenes. The same amount of crude bacteriocin derived from P. acidilactici, however, had an initial lethal effect on L. monocytogenes and controlled growth of the pathogen throughout the 16-day fermentation. The successful application of bacteriocins to control the growth of L. monocytogenes in lightly fermented foods such as kimchi would appear to be achievable.     

Control of meatborne Listeria monocytogenes and Brochothrix thermosphacta by a bacteriocinogenic Brochothrix campestris ATCC 43754

The effect of a bacteriocinogenic Brochothrix campestris ATCC 43754 upon the growth of Brochothrix thermosphacta and a 4 strain mixture of Listeria monocytogenes was determined in All Purpose Tween (APT) broth and on pork adipose tissue discs at 4 degrees C. Inocula were prepared to give initial numbers of B. campestris of 6-7 log cfu/ml or cm(2) and 3-4 log cfu/ml or cm(2) of B. thermosphacta and L. monocytogenes. Adipose tissue discs were evaluated by a sensory panel to determine the intensity and acceptability of any off-odours produced during the growth of B. campestris. During co-culture in APT broth with B. campestris the growth of B. thermosphacta or L. monocytogenes was 4 log cycles less than growth in its absence. B. campestris showed limited growth on inoculated pork adipose tissue, increasing from initial numbers of about 6 log cfu/cm(2) to a maximum of 7 log cfu/cm(2) within 7d. B. campestris at numbers of 7 log cfu/cm(2) produced slight off-odours but these were not perceived by the panel as unacceptable. When co-inoculated on adipose tissue discs with B. campestris the numbers of B. thermosphacta or L. monocytogenes was limited to about 2-3 log units less than the numbers attained in its absence. B. campestris ATCC 43754 may be useful for meat preservation because it can inhibit B. thermosphacta and L. monocytogenes in situ while producing little change in the sensory properties of the product.     

Technological characterization of bacteriocin producing Lactococcus lactis strains employed to control Listeria monocytogenes in cottage cheese

In recent years, there has been a particular focus on the application of antimicrobial compounds produced by lactic acid bacteria (LAB) as natural preservatives to control the growth of spoilage and pathogenic bacteria in food. Bacteriocins are antimicrobial peptides which can be added to foods in concentrated forms as food preservatives, e.g. additives, or they can be produced in situ by starters or protective cultures. In this study, twenty Lactococcus lactis bacteriocin producers previously isolated from Italian fermented foods were subjected to a variety of physical and biochemical tests in order to identify those with the greatest potential as starter cultures in cheese production. Of these, four strains isolated from cheese (one nisin Z producer, one nisin A producer and two lacticin 481 producers) which fulfilled the desired technological criteria were assessed for their ability to control Listeria monocytogenes. The subsequent application of these bacteriocinogenic strains as starter cultures in Cottage cheese established that the nisin A producing Lact. lactis 40FEL3, and to a lesser extent the lacticin 481 producers 32FL1 and 32FL3, successfully controlled the growth of the pathogen. This is the first study to directly compare the ability of nisin A, nisin Z and lacticin 481 producing strains to control listerial growth during the manufacture and storage of Cottage cheese.     

基于CRISPR-Cas13的单增李斯特菌RNA快速检测方法的建立

为实现食品中单增李斯特菌污染的快速检测,本研究构建了一种基于CRISPR-Cas系统和Broccoli适配体的RNA均相检测技术。利用Cas 13与cr RNA锚定序列结合形成识别元件cr RNA-Cas13复合物,靶标RNA存在时可激活Cas 13的非特异性RNase活性,并利用点亮型RNA适配体Broccoli作为信号探针,监测cr RNA此-Cas13的活化状态。荧光值的变化与单增李斯特菌浓度存在线性关系,利用来检测单增李斯特菌。本研究所构建的检测可在30min内完成对于单增李斯特菌的的识别与检测,检出限为148CFU/m L,对细菌具有良好的检测特异性,可区分大肠杆菌、鼠伤寒沙门氏菌和蜡样芽孢杆菌。在牛奶模型中单增李斯特菌的加标回收率为95.15%～97.99%。该方法具有较好的灵敏度、特异性,可直接靶向检测致病菌RNA,无需逆转录、PCR扩增和核酸标记,简化了实验流程,对于实现食品中单增李斯特菌的现场检测及生物安全控制具有重要意义。     

Combined use of bacteriocin‐producing strains to control Listeria monocytogenes regrowth in raw pork meat

Avoiding the presence of Listeria in meat and dairy products is a major challenge for the food industry. In this work, a Lactobacillus curvatus strain producing the bacteriocin sakacin P and a Pediococcus acidilactici strain producing another bacteriocin, pediocin AcH, were used as starter cultures under laboratory conditions in a Listeria‐seeded raw‐pork‐meat matrix, which was then stored for 6 weeks at 4 °C. At 1 week intervals during the storage period, the antilisterial activity was evaluated. When either strain was added alone, the Listeria monocytogenes cfu count initially dropped from 10² cfu g^?1 to an undetectable level by the end of week 1 or 2, but this was followed by a rebound (regrowth) 1 week later. When both strains were added together to the meat matrix, rebound was delayed, Listeria remaining undetected from the end of week 1 to the end of week 5. A rebound was observed 6 weeks post‐inoculation, but fewer than 10 cfu g^?1 were counted. The use of more than one bacteriocin‐producing strain may thus overcome some of the problems limiting the effectiveness of bacteriocins in food systems.     

Inhibition of Listeria monocytogenes by bovicin HC5, a bacteriocin produced by Streptococcus bovis HC5

Cattle can be infected with Listeria monocytogenes by consuming contaminated plant materials, soil or silage, and farmers have sought ways of preventing this contamination. Recent work indicated that Streptococcus bovis HC5 produced a bacteriocin (bovicin HC5) that could inhibit a variety of gram-positive bacteria, and we examined the ability of bovicin HC5 to inhibit 10 strains of L. monocytogenes that had been isolated from plant materials, soil, silage and infected cattle. Growth experiments indicated that all of the L. monocytogenes strains were inhibited by 100 activity units (AU) of bovicin HC5 ml(-1). L. monocytogenes cultures that were transferred with sublethal doses (12.5 AU ml(-1)) could be adapted in stepwise fashion to higher doses of bovicin HC5. However, even 'adapted' cultures did not grow if 400 AU ml(-1) was added. The effect of bovicin HC5 on L. monocytogenes was bactericidal, and viability decreased 5-7 logs after only 2 h of exposure. Bovicin HC5 caused a nearly complete efflux of intracellular potassium in 15 min but only if the pH was less than 6.0. When the pH was greater than 6.0, the cells maintained their potassium pool. L. monocytogenes cells that were acid-adapted (final pH of 4.6) were as sensitive to bovicin HC5 as those that were not acid-adapted (final pH of 6.3). These results support the idea that bovicin HC5 could be effective in controlling listeria in contaminated silages.     

Effect of a bacteriocin produced by Pediococcus acidilactici against Listeria monocytogenes and Clostridium perfringens on Spanish raw meat

The inhibitory effect of a bacteriocin, produced by Pediococcus acidilactici, against Listeria monocytogenes and Clostridium perfringens on Spanish raw meat surface, was evaluated by in situ assays. Samples were incubated with the bacteriocin and then with a culture of the pathogenic bacteria. The treatment with 500, 1000 or 5000 bacteriocin units/ml (BU/ml) reduced the counts of L. monocytogenes after storage at 15°C during 72h by 1, 2 or 3 log cycles and with 1000 or 5000 BU/ml after storage at 4°C during 21 days by 2.5 or 3.5 log cycles, respectively, compared to the control. With C. perfringens a bacteriostatic effect could be observed.     

单核细胞增生李斯特菌质粒DNA参考物质的研制

目的 研制一种能够用于快速鉴定单核细胞增生李斯特菌(以下简称单增李斯特菌)的质粒DNA标准物质.方法 设计一种质粒DNA包含目前常用于单增李斯特菌检测的hlyA、plcB、inlA基因,并对其稳定性、均匀性和量值可追溯性进行评价.评估其在实时定量聚合酶链式反应(PCR)检测中的适用性.结果 质粒DNA参考物质的最终定值...     

Identification of Listeria innocua surrogates for Listeria monocytogenes in hamburger patties

ABSTRACT:  Listeria innocua M1 has been used by many researchers as a nonpathogenic thermal processing surrogate for Listeria monocytogenes . However, L. innocua M1 has been criticized because its thermal survivability characteristics are not as closely parallel to L. monocytogenes as some would like in a variety of foods and processing conditions. The present study was conducted to compare multiple L. innocua and L. monocytogenes strains to validate L. innocua M1 as the ideal surrogate under high-temperature thermal processing conditions for L. monocytogenes . The D - and z -values of L. innocua M1, L. innocua strain SLCC 5639 serotype (6a), SLCC 5640 (6b), SLCC 2745 (4ab), and L. monocytogenes F4243 (4b) were calculated for raw hamburger patties. Hamburger patties were inoculated with 10^7–8 CFU/g of L. monocytogenes or L. innocua . Samples were heat treated at 4 temperatures (62.5 to 70 °C). At each temperature, the decimal reduction time ( D -value) was obtained by linear regression of survival curves. The D - and z -values were determined for each bacterium. The D -values of L. innocua and L. monocytogenes serotypes ranged from 3.17 to 0.13 min at 62.5 to 70 °C, and the z -values of L. innocua and L. monocytogenes were 7.44 to 7.73 °C. Two of the 4 L. innocua serotypes used in this experiment have the potential for use as surrogates in hamburger meat with varying margins of safety. L. innocua M1 should serve as the primary nonpathogenic surrogate with the greatest margin of safety in verifying a new thermal process to destroy L. monocytogenes .     

Prevalence of Listeria monocytogenes in 13 dried sausage processing plants and their products

The aims of the present study were: (i) to investigate the occurrence of Listeria monocytogenes in dried sausage processing plants on surfaces before and during processing, (ii) to study the contamination in meat and sausages at different stages of maturation, (iii) to assess the distribution of L. monocytogenes in the different plants and products studied. Thirteen dried sausage processing plants were sampled at two different times of the working day. The studies were repeated twice to evaluate the persistence of the pathogen. A total of 1029 samples were collected. Among swabbed samples, 15% were positive before the beginning of the working day and 47.3% during working day. Results showed that effectiveness of cleaning and disinfecting operations could be linked with the complexity of processing lines and machines used. The presence of L. monocytogenes in mixed meat amounted to 71.6% of the collected samples. A decrease of the contamination rate in dry sausage was noted, particularly during the drying stage. Nevertheless 3 sausages studied presented a low contamination rate (<3 cfu/g) when ready for consumption. A total of 996 strains of L. monocytogenes were characterised by biochemical tests and serotyping. A majority of isolates were 1/2a (49.5%), 1/2c (19.5%) and 1/2b (13%) strains. A high heterogeneity of serotypes was observed in all plants, raw meat and in sausages during maturation.     

Reduced detectability of Listeria monocytogenes in the presence of Listeria innocua

Recent foodborne crises have demonstrated the importance of monitoring food safety. In terms of microbiological criteria, food safety requires the reliable detection of pathogens such as Listeria monocytogenes along the food chain by appropriate analytical methods. However, indications exist that accompanying Listeria innocua strains suppress the growth of L. monocytogenes during selective enrichment, which may cause reduced or even inhibited detection. To study these effects, the limit of detection of L. monocytogenes was investigated in the presence of L. innocua using the International Organization for Standardization standard method ISO 11290-1 and the VIDAS LDUO system, an automated method based on enzyme-linked fluorescence technology. The challenge was to provide low initial Listeria concentrations at sufficient precision to quantify the influence on the probability of detection of L. monocytogenes. The application of reference materials appropriate for quantitative test methods and a standardized dilution procedure were necessary to ensure accurate CFU levels of defined proportions of mixtures of both Listeria species. During selective enrichment, overgrowth of L. monocytogenes by L. innocua could be confirmed, leading to high rates of false-negative results. Moreover, with both methods, a significant decrease in the detectability of L. monocytogenes could be quantified at ratios of 2:1 at very low concentrations representative of natural contamination levels often found in foods and environments. It is concluded that there is a need to improve existing procedures with respect to selective enrichment, as well as the detection techniques.     

Enhanced inhibition of Listeria monocytogenes and salmonella enteritidis in meat by combinations of sodium lactate and diacetate

The antimicrobial activities of sodium lactate (SL) and sodium acetate (SA) are well documented, but there is limited information on the effect of their combination or of the combination of SL and sodium diacetate (SDA) on survival and growth of Listeria monocytogenes and salmonellae in meat. Effects of SL (1.8 and 2.5%), SDA (0.1 and 0.2%), or SA (0.2%) and their combinations on the behavior of L monocytogenes and Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis were investigated in sterile comminuted beef (pH 6.3, 79% moisture) during storage at 5 and 10 degrees C. Although L. monocytogenes grew faster than Salmonella Enteritidis in control samples at 10 degrees C, numbers of both pathogens increased from 3.5 to approximately 8.0 log CFU/g after 20 days. SL (1.8%) decreased the growth rate of both L. monocytogenes and Salmonella Enteritidis. SDA (0.2%) was more effective than SL in decreasing the growth rate of L monocytogenes, and it caused a more than 1 log CFU/g decline in initial numbers of Salmonella Enteritidis during storage for 25 days at 10 degrees C. Synergy was observed by combinations of SL and SDA. Combinations of 2.5% SL and 0.2% SDA were bacteriostatic to L. monocytogenes and bactericidal to Salmonella Enteritidis after 20 days at 10 degrees C. At 5 degrees C, a listeriostatic effect was produced by 1.8% SL + 0.1% SDA, whereas numbers of Salmonella Enteritidis were less than 10 cells/g after refrigeration for 30 days. Although SA was consistently and significantly less inhibitory than SDA, its mixtures with SL also demonstrated synergistic activity against both pathogens. Combinations of 2.5% SL and 0.2% SDA can be expected to greatly enhance the safety of refrigerated and temperature-abused ready-to-eat meats.     

酵母菌促进单核细胞增生李斯特氏菌的生长

为了缩短单核细胞增生李斯特氏菌(单增李斯特氏菌)的前增菌时间,提升检测效率,本研究将酵母菌(ATCC9763)作为一种生长促进剂加入到单核细胞增生李斯特氏菌的前增菌培养基(LB1)中,结果表明添加适量的酵母菌可以使单增生李斯特氏菌的生长速度提升近100%,并且这种促进作用与培养过程中酵母菌的接种量、培养基的溶氧量以及培养方式密切相关。根据酵母菌的生长特性分析,这种促进作用产生的原因很有可能是由于酵母菌在生长过程中发酵分解了培养基中的糖类等营养物质,改善了单增李斯特氏菌的营养条件,从而提高了单增李斯特氏菌的繁殖速度。本研究为缩短单增李斯特氏菌检测的富集培养时间,提高检测效率奠定了很好的基础,同时也侧面提示我们要关注发酵类食品遭受单增李斯特氏菌污染的食品安全风险。     

Modeling the lag phase of Listeria monocytogenes

An estimate of the lag phase duration is an important component for predicting the growth of a bacterium and for creating process models and risk assessments. Most current research and data for predictive modeling programs initiated growth studies with cells grown to the stationary phase in a favorable pH, nutrient and temperature environment. In this work, Listeria monocytogenes Scott A cells were grown in brain heart infusion (BHI) broth at different temperatures from 4 to 37 degrees C to the exponential growth or stationary phases. Additional cells were suspended in a dilute broth, desiccated or frozen. These cells were then transferred to BHI broth at various temperatures from 4 to 37 degrees C and the lag phase durations were determined by enumerating cells at appropriate time intervals. Long lag phases were observed for cells initially grown at high temperatures and transferred to low temperatures. In general, exponential growth cells had the shortest lag phases, stationary phase and starved cells had longer, frozen cells had slightly longer and desiccated cells had the longest lag phases. These data were from immediate temperature transitions. When a computer-controlled water bath linearly changed the temperature from 37 to 5 degrees C over a 3.0- or 6.0-h period, the cells had short lags and grew continuously with declining growth rates. Transitions of 0.75 or 1.0 h had 20-h lag phases, essentially that of immediate transitions. When the transition was 1.5 h, an intermediate pattern of less than 1 log of growth followed by no additional growth for 20 h occurred.