No abstract

Cubical pieces (1 cm3) of aseptically obtained beef muscle were treated with lactic acid (2%), nisin (4 × 104 IU/ml) and pediocin PO2 (a bacteriocin produced by Pediococcus acidilactici PO2; 3.2 × 103 arbitrary units/ml). Treated meat was immersed for 1 min in a cell suspension of a mixture of two strains of Listeria monocytogenes and then stored for 48 h at 4°C. Meat cubes were analyzed immediately after immersion in the cell suspension, then after 1, 24, and 48 h of storage. Count of L. monocytogenes per cube and percentage of attached cells were determined. Data indicated that the antimicrobial agents significantly (p = 0.05) decreased the count of L. monocytogenes during the 48-h storage by 1.7, 1.1, and 0.6 log10 CFU/6 cm2 of meat surface for lactic acid, nisin, and pediocin PO2 treatments, respectively. Lactic acid on the meat surface had an immediate and also a delayed listericidal action, but bacteriocins only inhibited L. monocytogenes immediately, and had little or no delayed antilisterial effect. The percentage of Listeria cell attached to the beef muscle significantly (p = 0.05) increased in the presence of lactic acid, but the value did not change significantly or slightly decreased in the presence of nisin and pediocin PO2, respectively.

The microbiological quality of 125 samples of the most popular Egyptian meat products (75 Egyptian fresh sausage “EPS” and 50 basterma) was determined. The aerobic plate count (APC) and Lactobacillaceae count of basterma ranged from 1 × 104 to 9 × 106 CFU/g, respectively. Enterobacteriaceae, mold and yeast counts for basterma were similar (<1 × 102 CFU/g). Artificially contaminated slices of meat and garlic paste of basterma showed that the paste inhibited growth of Salmonella typhimurium. APC and Enterobacteriaceae counts of EFS ranged from 1.1 × 104 to 1 × 108 and from 1 × 102 to 1 × 107 CFU/g, respectively. Nearly 26% and 29% of EFS were positive for Clostridium perfringens and coagulase‐positive Staphylococcus aureus, respectively. Salmonella could not be detected in any examined samples. Bacteriologically, EFS might pose a potential health hazard, making it imperative to institute sanitary measures during its production and sale.; Accepted for Publication July 2, 1997

The effects of 3.4 and 5% garlic on the behavior of Salmonella typhimurium in Egyptian fresh sausage and beefburger held at 25°C were investigated. Four per cent garlic was bacteriostatic in both products; 5% garlic caused a decrease in the count of organisms of 1 log cycle within 4 d. Counts of S. typhimurium in fresh sausage containing Lactobacillus plantarum (107/g) increased 1 log cycle after 24 h, then the count remained constant through 4 d at 25°C. L. plantarum, together with 0.3% glucono-delta-lactone and 2.5% nitrate curing salt, resulted in a 1-log decline in counts during a storage period of 4 d at 25°C.

A mixed culture (polymicrobial) biofilm provides a favorable environment for pathogens to persist in the food processing environment and to contaminate food products. Inactivation and eradication of such biofilms from food processing environments are achieved by using harsh disinfectants, but their toxicity and environmentally hostile characteristics are unsustainable. This study aims to use food-grade natural nanoparticulated antimicrobials to control mixed-culture biofilms. Chitosan, a natural broad-spectrum antimicrobial biopolymer (polysaccharide) from crustaceans, was derivatized to produce chitosan nanoparticles (ChNP) as a carrier for another broad-spectrum antimicrobial agent, ε-poly-L-lysine (PL), to synthesize ChNP-PL conjugate. The antimicrobial activity of ChNP and ChNP-PL was tested against mixed-culture biofilms. ChNP-PL (~100 nm) exhibited a synergistic antimicrobial and anti-biofilm effect against mono or mixed-culture biofilms of five foodborne pathogens, including Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis, Escherichia coli O157:H7, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. ChNP-PL treatment prevented biofilm formation by mono or mixed cultures of L. monocytogenes, P. aeruginosa, and E. coli O157:H7, and bacterial counts were either below the detection limit or caused 3.5–5 log reduction. ChNP-PL also inactivated preformed biofilms. In monoculture biofilm, ChNP-PL treatment reduced L. monocytogenes counts by 4.5 logs, S. Enteritidis by 2 logs, E. coli by 2 logs, and S. aureus by 0.5 logs, while ChNP-PL had no inhibitory effect on P. aeruginosa. In vitro mammalian cell-based cytotoxicity analysis confirmed ChNP-PL to have no deleterious effect on intestinal HCT-8 cell line. In conclusion, our results show ChNP-PL has strong potential to prevent the formation or inactivation of preformed polymicrobial biofilms of foodborne pathogens.