title: Characterization and implications of Enterobacter cloacae strains, isolated from Italian table olives "Bella di Cerignola".
abstract: Enterobacter cloacae can be recovered in the spontaneous fermentations of Italian table olives. In this study, the effects of salt (20 to 100 g/L), temperature (10 to 37 degrees C), pH (4 to 5 and 8 to 10), p-coumaric and vanillic acids (0.5 to 2 g/L), and the acidification of the medium through lactic, citric, and ascorbic acids were investigated on 15 strains of E. cloacae, isolated from Italian table olives "Bella di Cerignola." Finally, a confirmatory experiment in synthetic brine was run. The strains were inhibited only by an NaCl amount of 70 to 80 g/L and by p-coumaric acid; on the other hand, they showed the ability to grow also at low temperatures (10 to 15 degrees C). The confirmatory experiment highlighted their ability to survive both at 15 degrees C and at pH 5. Enterobacter cloacae could be a real problem for the fermentation of table olives in southern Italy; some hurdles could be used (salt or brine acidification), but some environmental conditions (for example, the temperature) should be controlled carefully to maintain olive safety at acceptable levels.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Food Science, Faculty of Agricultural Science, Univ. of Foggia, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bevilacqua
authors.forename: Marianna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cannarsi
authors.forename: Mariangela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gallo
authors.forename: Milena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sinigaglia
authors.forename: Maria Rosaria
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Corbo
mesh_terms: D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D019343:Citric Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D003080:Cold Temperature; D016972:Enterobacter cloacae / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005285:Fermentation; D005516:Food Microbiology; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007558:Italy; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D031658:Olea / Q000382:microbiology*; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D019343:Citric Acid; D019344:Lactic Acid; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D001205:Ascorbic Acid