Award details

Germination & outgrowth of spores of non-proteolytic & proteolytic Clostridium botulinum

Reference	BBS/E/F/02200749
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Professor Michael William Peck
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors
Institution	Quadram Institute Bioscience
Department	Quadram Institute Bioscience Department
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	75,845
Status	Completed
Type	Institute Project
Start date	01/04/1997
End date	31/03/1998
Duration	12 months

Abstract

Spores of C. botulinum are not eliminated from minimally- processed foods, such as sous-vide foods and other REPFEDs (refrigerated processed foods of extended durability), by the mild heat treatments applied. It is therefore vital to use control regimes that ensure that dormant spores, some of which may be injured by heat treatment, do not develop into toxin- forming cells. Germination and outgrowth are the critical stages in this development. This project will examine the physiology of germination and outgrowth of heated and unheated spores of non-proteolytic and proteolytic strains of C. botulinum. Specific germinants and inhibitors of germination, and the effect of a range of environmental conditions and preservative factors on germination and outgrowth will be studied in order to elucidate mechanisms involved in the maintenance and breaking of dormancy. This will also contribute to understanding of the nature of heat-damage. Information on germination and outgrowth of individual spores will allow risk assessments to be made, which will be of benefit in devising control regimes to ensure the safety of minimally processed foods with respect to C. botulinum.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Closed Committee - Agri-food (AF)
Research Topics	X – not assigned to a current Research Topic
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	X - not in an Initiative
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

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