Life Sciences Commons^™

Growth Of Clostridium Sporogenes Pa3679 In A Vacuum-Packaged Meat-Vegetable Product, Julie M. Racz

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Clostridium sporogenes PA 3679 spores were inoculated into a meat-vegetable mixture before extrusion, cooking, and vacuum packaging into "stewsticks" to simulate Clostridium botulinum growth. The experiment was a 3 x 5 x 2 x 3 factorial which determined the influence of pH, water activity, initial spore load, and storage period on spore survival. Spore levels decreased throughout storage for all treatments. Spore levels decreased linearly (P = 0.02) as water activity increased, in samples that were heated to kill vegetative cells and activate spores. Other significant interactions of heat-treated samples were observed with inoculum level (P < 0.01) and storage time (P < 0.01). Spore levels in stored products were also significantly affected by water activity * inoculum level (P = 0.03), pH * time, water activity * time (P = 0.01), inoculum level * time (P < 0.01), and water activity * inoculum levels * time (P < 0.01). The interaction between pH * water activity * time tended towards significance (P = 0.06). Most probable number estimates in nonheated samples accounted for naturally occurring viable cells and spores, and added spores and were significantly affected by the main effects of inoculum level (P < 0.01) and time (P < 0.01). The two-way interactions of water activity * inoculum level (P = 0.04), pH * inoculum level (P < 0.01), water activity * time (P < 0.01), and three-way interaction of pH * inoculum level * time (P = 0.03) were significant. Spore levels approached 10², or less …

Influence Of Commercial Starter Media On Biochemical Characteristics Of Lactococcus Lactus, Norman Bart Devries

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Five strains of Lactococcus lactis were inoculated individually into six commercial bulk set growth media, 11% non-fat dry milk (NDM), and Elliker's broth. After growth in each medium the strains were tested for rate of acid production, and activities of proteinase, aminopeptidase, and lipase/esterase. Growth in commercial starter media significantly influenced acid production rate (P = 0.040), aminopeptidase activity (P < 0.0001), and lipase/esterase activity (P < 0.0001) .

For selected strain/media combinations, the duration of induced aminopeptidase and lipase/esterase activity was followed. The chosen strains were grown in selected commercial bulk set media, reinoculated into 11% NDM, and enzyme activity was examined for five successive …