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Food science and technology

Masters Theses

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Rapid Molecular Detection Of Salmonella From Produce Using Real-Time Pcr, Nathan D. Miller May 2009

Rapid Molecular Detection Of Salmonella From Produce Using Real-Time Pcr, Nathan D. Miller

Masters Theses

Recent outbreaks of Salmonella linked to fresh produce emphasize the need for rapid and sensitive assays to help control outbreaks. Reverse-transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) detects the presence of mRNA (shorter half-life than DNA), with greater potential of detecting viable cells. Rapid real-time methods using fluorescent dyes and probes simultaneously detect and confirm the presence of target nucleic acid, eliminating the need for gel electrophoresis. The objective of this research was to rapidly detect Salmonella Typhimurium from spiked lettuce, tomatoes, and peppers using real-time RT-PCR. Washed and ultraviolet light treated lettuce (~25gram), tomato (~100g), and peppers (~130g) samples were inoculated with high …


Use Of High Pressure Homogenization In Bacterial Inactivation, Panchalee Pathanibul May 2009

Use Of High Pressure Homogenization In Bacterial Inactivation, Panchalee Pathanibul

Masters Theses

High pressure homogenization has been of growing interest as a nonthermal technology for the inactivation of microorganisms in fruit and vegetable juices. Cells of Escherichia coli and Listeria innocua, used as surrogates for foodborne pathogens, were inoculated into apple or carrot juice (~7 log₁₀ CFU/ml) containing 0 or 10 IU/ml nisin and subjected to 350 to 0 MPa high pressure homogenization. At 50 MPa homogenization pressure intervals, juice samples were collected, immediately cooled to <10°C, and then serially diluted and plated on nonselective recovery media. Following incubation, survivors were enumerated. As processing pressure increased, inactivation of E. coli increased, and a >5 log reduction of cells was achieved following exposure to pressures in excess >250 MPa. In contrast, little inactivation was observed for L. innocua with pressure <250 MPa and up to 350 MPa processing pressure was required to achieve an equivalent 5 log inactivation. The addition of 10 IU nisin, together with high pressure homogenization, did not exhibit significant additional E. coli inactivation, but interactions were observed with L. innocua. Results indicate that high pressure homogenization processing is a promising technology to achieve pathogen decontamination in fruit and vegetable juices.