title: Influence of nisin on the resistance of Bacillus anthracis sterne spores to heat and hydrostatic pressure.
abstract: The influence of nisin on the heat and pressure resistance of Bacillus anthracis Sterne spores was examined. The decimal reduction times (D-value) of spores in milk (2% fat) at 80, 85, and 90 degrees C were determined. In the absence of nisin, the D-values were 30.09, 9.30, and 3.86 min, respectively. The D-values of spores heated in the presence of nisin (1 mg/ml) were not significantly different (P = 0.05). However, spores heated in the presence of nisin had a 1- to 2-log reduction in viability, after which the death kinetics became similar to those of spores in the absence of nisin. The z-values all were 11.2 degrees C regardless of the presence or absence of nisin. The pressure sensitivity of B. anthracis Sterne spores in the presence and absence of nisin also was determined. Spores treated with nisin were 10 times more pressure sensitive than were spores subjected to pressure in the absence of nisin under the conditions used in this study.
authors.affiliation: The George H. Cook Undergraduate Scholars Program, School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, Rutgers, State University of New Jersey, 65 Dudley Road, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901-8520, USA.
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cruz
authors.forename: Thomas J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Montville
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001408:Bacillus anthracis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003257:Consumer Product Safety; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis / Q000517:prevention & control; D005516:Food Microbiology; D005520:Food Preservatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006874:Hydrostatic Pressure; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009561:Nisin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013171:Spores, Bacterial / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D005520:Food Preservatives; D009561:Nisin