title: Evaluation of the natural virucidal activity of teas for use in the phage amplification assay.
abstract: Many natural products have intrinsic antimicrobial activity. In this study we have examined infusions from nine types of loose-leaf tea for their ability to inactivate bacteriophage, for use as an alternative to plant extract in a phage-based Salmonella detection assay. The results demonstrated that tea infusions, either freshly prepared or stored at 4 degrees C had virucidal action against two phages, Felix 01 and P22. Crucially, for use in the detection assay, there was no antibacterial effect of the virucide on the target bacteria. Therefore, tea was a good candidate to replace pomegranate as the virucidal agent in the phage amplification assay.
authors.affiliation: Division of Food Sciences, School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough, Leicestershire LE12 5RD, UK. siqueira@ctaa.embrapa.br
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: de Siqueira
authors.forename: C E R
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Dodd
authors.forename: C E D
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Rees
mesh_terms: D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D005516:Food Microbiology; D006801:Humans; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012483:Salmonella Phages / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D012486:Salmonella typhimurium / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000821:virology*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013662:Tea / Q000737:chemistry; D013997:Time Factors; D010948:Viral Plaque Assay / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D013662:Tea