title: Quantification of toxin-encoding mRNA from Clostridium botulinum type E in media containing sorbic acid or sodium nitrite by competitive RT-PCR.
abstract: Competitive reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (cRT-PCR) was used to quantify the toxin-encoding mRNA production of a Clostridium botulinum type E strain in media containing either sorbic acid or sodium nitrite. A 10-fold reduction in toxin mRNA production and a 25-fold reduction in the proportion of toxin mRNA to total RNA, was estimated when either 1 mg ml(-1) sorbic acid or 100 microg ml(-1) sodium nitrite were added to the medium at pH 7.0.
authors.affiliation: School of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Ulster, Cromore Road, Coleraine, Co. Derry BT52 1SA, UK.
authors.forename: Freddie H
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Sharkey
authors.forename: Spiros I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Markos
authors.forename: Richard W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Haylock
mesh_terms: D000826:Animal Testing Alternatives; D001905:Botulinum Toxins / Q000235:genetics*; D003014:Clostridium botulinum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D003470:Culture Media / Q000494:pharmacology; D005520:Food Preservatives / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial / Q000187:drug effects; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012977:Sodium Nitrite / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013011:Sorbic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D005520:Food Preservatives; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D001905:Botulinum Toxins; D012977:Sodium Nitrite; D013011:Sorbic Acid