title: Some factors affecting the activity of diethylpyrocarbonate as a sterilant.
abstract: Quantitative data indicated logarithmic death in 5 degrees Brix Concord grape juice when concentrations of cells under 10(7)/ml were exposed to diethylpyrocarbonate (DEPC). Species differed considerably in their resistance; e.g., 50 ppm reduced the viable count of Saccharomyces cerevisiae over nine log(10) cycles, whereas 200 ppm reduced the count of Byssochlamys fulva ascospores by only about 1 log. DEPC lethality was enhanced by higher temperatures; destruction at 40 C was 10- to 100-fold greater than at 20 C. Studies on death rates showed that most yeasts and fungal spores were killed during the first hour of exposure, whereas 24 h or longer was needed for maximal destruction of several lactic acid bacteria. Repair of DEPC-induced damage was believed responsible for the slower death rates of the lactics.
mesh_terms: D001203:Ascomycota / Q000187:drug effects; D001230:Aspergillus / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival; D003470:Culture Media; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D005506:Food Contamination; D005516:Food Microbiology; D005519:Food Preservation; D005561:Formates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005638:Fruit; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000187:drug effects; D007934:Leuconostoc / Q000187:drug effects; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000187:drug effects; D013045:Species Specificity; D013172:Spores, Fungal / Q000187:drug effects; D013242:Sterilization; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D005561:Formates