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Thermal Inactivation, Heat Injury, and Recovery of Staphylococcus Aureus¹

Department of Food Science, University of Illinois, Urbana

ABSTRACT

The heat resistance of Staphylococcus aureus MF31 in various heating media was completely described by determining the D and z values. Only about 1% of the total surviving heat-treated cells, as determined by plating on Trypticase Soy Agar, were capable of growing on Trypticase Soy Agar containing 7.5% (w/v) NaCl. These heat-injured salt-sensitive cells were shown to recover their salt tolerance without growth in the presence of 5% glucose or galactose. Recovery could not be demonstrated with other carbohydrates or metabolites.

Growth inhibiting levels of penicillin, vancomycin, and chloramphenicol, and adding EDTA at concentrations calculated to bind the divalent cations in the recovery medium, failed to inhibit recovery of the salt sensitive cells. Hence, cell growth, cell wall synthesis, protein synthesis, or divalent cation dependent enzyme systems did not appear to be involved in the recovery phenomenon.

¹ This work was supported by Grant EF-00126 of the Division of Environmental Engineering and Food Protection, United States Public Health Service.

² Present address: Faculty of Agriculture, University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa.