Author
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Hinton Jr, Arthur |
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Submitted to: Journal of Food Protection
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Publication Acceptance Date: 8/23/2005 Publication Date: 1/31/2006 Citation: Hinton Jr, A. 2006. Growth of campylobacter in media supplemented with organic acids. Journal of Food Protection. 69:34-38. Interpretive Summary: Campylobacter cause more human foodborne diseases in the developed world than any other bacteria; however, the microorganism is difficult to grow in the laboratory. In this study, the ability of Campylobacter to grow in media supplemented with naturally occurring acids was examined. Either citric, fumaric, lactic, malic, or succinic acid were added to the growth media, media was inoculated with Campylobacter, and the growth of the bacterium was measured. Results indicated that Campylobacter grew in media containing the appropriate concentration of most of the acids, but the bacteria did not grow in media that did not contain the acids. Growth of the bacteria was also stimulated when mixtures of fumaric, lactic, malic, and succinic acids were added to the growth media. Findings indicate that the growth of Campylobacter is enhanced in media supplemented with the proper concentration of organic acids. Technical Abstract: The ability of Campylobacter to grow in media supplemented with organic acids was examined. Changes in the optical density (OD) of Campylobacter cultures grown in medium (pH 7.0) supplemented with citric, fumaric, lactic, malic, or succinic acid was measured. Results indicated that after 48 h, the OD of cultures of each Campylobacter isolate grown in media supplemented with 20,30, 40, or 50 mM of fumaric or malic acid was significantly greater than the OD of cultures grown in control media. Additionally, the culture OD of isolates grown in media supplemented with 20, 30, 40, or 50 mM of lactic acid; 10, 20, 30, 40, or 50 mM of succinic acid; or 20, 30, or 40 mM of citric acid were significantly higher than the OD of cultures grown in media that was not supplemented with organic acids. Finally, growing the isolates in media supplemented with mixtures containing 10, 20, 30, or 40 mM each of fumaric, malic, lactic, and succinic acids produced cultures with significantly greater OD than cultures grown in non-supplemented media. Findings indicate that the growth of Campylobacter spp. is enhanced in media supplemented with the appropriate concentration of some organic acids when the pH of the medium is adjusted to levels favorable for growth of the bacteria. |
