Modelling the survival of Escherichia coli O157:H7 on raw portioned tomatoes, inoculated with Aspergillus fumigatus and Emericella nidulans.
The metabiotic interactions occurring among two fungi (Aspergillus fumigatus and Emericella nidulans) and Escherichia coli O157:H7 on raw portioned tomatoes were studied. Tomatoes, preinoculated with the moulds and inoculated with the pathogen, were packaged in air and stored at 4, 8 and 12( composite function)C for 9 days; pathogen cell number and pH were monitored throughout the storage and the data were modeled using three different equations (Geeraerd, Weibull, and modified Weibull), to assess the shoulder length, the 1-log reduction time, and the death time. Both A. fumigatus and E. nidulans increased the survival of E. coli O157:H7 through the prolongation of the shoulder length; in contrast, the death time was significantly increased. The results of this paper suggested that the metabiotic interactions aspergilli/E. coli O 157:H7 could be of public concern, as the consumption of tomatoes (or other fruits and vegetables) contaminated both by the moulds and the pathogen is a possible scenario.
Cardillo
Daniela
D
Department of Food Science, Faculty of Agricultural Science, Foggia University, Via Napoli 25, 71100 Foggia, Italy.
Bevilacqua
Antonio
A
Cibelli
Francesca
F
Altieri
Clelia
C
Sinigaglia
Milena
M
D001232:Aspergillus fumigatus / Q000502:physiology*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002470:Cell Survival; D003198:Computer Simulation; D032842:Emericella / Q000502:physiology*; D019453:Escherichia coli O157 / Q000502:physiology*; D018551:Solanum lycopersicum / Q000382:microbiology*; D008954:Models, Biological; D013559:Symbiosis
D001426:Bacterial Proteins