Food Micro - Exam 2 Flashcards
Bacteria reproduce through what when conditions are favorable?
Binary fission
What is a positive outcome of bacteria reproduction?
Food fermentations
What is a negative outcome of bacteria reproduction?
Spoilage or safety (dec. in food safety)
Microbial growth is the equivalent of what?
Population size
Describe the 5 steps of binary fission.
- Cell replicates its DNA
- The cytoplasmic membrane elongates, separating DNA molecules
- Cross-wall forms, membrane invaginates
- Cross-wall forms completely
- Daughter cells form
Microbial growth is measured as growth in what?
Numbers (not necessarily size)
Generation time equals what?
Doubling time (for microbial generations this is about 7 - 10 minutes)
Generation time (doubling time) depends on what?
Conditions (environmental)
Is generation time (double time) the same for each microorganism?
No, it is different for each.
Why do we manipulate generation time (doubling time)?
To prevent spoilage or safety issues.
What are some optimal conditions for growth of microorganisms?
Temperature, salinity, nutrients, etc.
At what temperature do many foodborne pathogens prefer growth around?
37ºC
Vibrio parahaemolyticus (usually found in salt water) has a typical generation time of what?
10 - 12 minutes
Escherichia coli has a typical generation time of what?
15 - 20 minutes
Bacillus cereus has a typical generation time of what?
28 minutes
Staphylococcus aureus has a typical generation time of what?
27 - 30 minutes
Mycobacterium bovis has a typical generation time of what?
960 - 1200 minutes
Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus usually depend on what for their generation time?
Depend on environment
Why do aerobic conditions speed up generation time for Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus?
Because they utilize oxidative phosphorylation.
What three things paved the way for microbiology?
Fire, salt, and fermentation.
Early cultures discovered that fire, salt, and fermentation could do what for foods and beverages?
Cook, cure, and reduce the pH of foods and beverages
Define intrinsic factors.
Characteristics inherent to the food.
What are the major intrinsic factors?
Nutrients
pH
Water activity
Antimicrobial
Biological structures
Redox potential
Define extrinsic factors.
Characteristics that are external to the foods.
What are the major extrinsic factors?
Temperature
Relative humidity
Atmosphere
Byproducts of microbial activity
Growth of microorganisms occurs through what? (2 things)
What does this say about growth rate?
- Proliferation and metabolism
- Rates differ for microorganisms
Survival of microorganisms means what? (3 things)
- Injured – viable but nonculturable
- Membrane integrity compromised (leaky cells)
- Slowed metabolism – focus on repair
What is occurring during the lag phase of a microbial growth curve?
Adjusting to surroundings
What is occurring during the logarithmic/exponential phase of a microbial growth curve?
High metabolism rates
What is occurring during the stationary phase of a microbial growth curve?
Survival and death rates are roughly even within the population.
What is occurring during the death phase of a microbial growth curve?
Depletion of nutrients; unsuitable conditions
Which factors are not inherent to food?
Extrinsic
Which factors are characteristic of food?
Intrinsic
What are the 3 extrinsic factors we need to know for the exam?d
Temperature
Atmosphere
Relative humidity
What are the 6 intrinsic factors we need to know for the exam?
Nutrients
pH
Water activity
Oxidation/reduction potential
Antimicrobials
Biological structures
Hurdle technologies are what?
Additive and synergistic
Hurdle technologies are what we actively do to intervene.
In what foods do we need control of pH and atmosphere? (Hurdle technologies)
Fermented foods
In what foods do we need control of aw and pH? (Hurdle technologies)
Jams and jellies
- In regard to pH, fruits are naturally acidic.
If we add sugar to fruits to make jams/jellies what will occur?
Sugar will bind to H2O and reduce water activity.
In what foods do we need control of pH and temperature? (Hurdle technologies)
Range of perishable and shelf-stable foods
In what foods do we need control of temperature and use of bacteriocins/organic acids? (Hurdle technologies)
Yogurt and other fermented dairy products
What are psychrophiles?
Microorganisms that grow in 0 - 20ºC conditions (they love the cold)
What are psychrotrophs?
Microorganisms that grow in 20 - 30ºC conditions (fridge temp).
Capable of less than or equal to 7ºC
What is an example of a psychrotroph?
Listeria monocytogenes
What are mesophiles?
Microorganisms that grow in 30 - 40ºC conditions.
Capable of 20 - 45ºC.
What is an example of a mesophile?
E. Coli and Salmonella
What are thermophiles?
Microorganisms that grow in 55 - 65ºC conditions.
Capable of greater than or equal to 45ºC.
Most microorganisms grow in what temperature zones?
Psychrotrophic and mesophilic temperature zones.
What is the temperature danger zone?
40 - 140ºF (5 - 60ºC)
Cooling rates impact what?
Microorganism growth rate
Cooling rates vary by what?
Food types and amount
Cooling rates impact microorganism growth rate by impacting what?
Membrane fluidity
Can cooling rates alter virulence?
Yes, there is reduced expression of virulence genes at reduced temperatures and enhanced expression of virulence at optimal growth temperatures.
What microorganisms serves as an example of cooling rates altering virulence?
Listeria monocytogenes
Microorganisms require what specific conditions for growth?
Atmospheric conditions
What are some obligate aerobes?
Pseudomonas
Molds
Bacillus Cereus
What are some facultative anaerobes?
Listeria monocytogenes
Salmonella
E. Coli
What are some obligate anaerobes?
Clostridium spp.
What are some aerotolerant anaerobes?
Lactobacilli
What are some microaerophiles?
Campylobacter jejuni
We can manipulate O2, N2, and CO2 content to what?
Restrict growth
Inactivate microorganisms
What are 3 examples of controlling the extrinsic factor atmosphere?
Vacuum-packaging
Modified atmosphere packaging
Controlled atmosphere storage
What does vacuum packaging help with?
It slows spoilage and controls oxidation
What does modified atmosphere packaging help with?
It increases CO2 levels (by 7 - 10%) and decreases O2 levels (to less than 1%).
What is an example of a food that we use modified atmosphere packaging in order to control its atmosphere?
Lettuce
What does controlled atmosphere storage help with?
It allows for control O2 levels (3%) and controlled CO2 levels (3%).
What is an example of a food that we use controlled atmosphere storage in order to control its environment?
Apples
What are some nutrients that affect microorganism growth?
Water and energy sources (such as carbon, sugar, nitrogen, and phosphorus)
- energy sources affect enzymatic activity
- these include macro and micronutrients
Are nutrients in some foods more accessible than others?
Yes
What is one way nutrient availability is impacted?
By processing (slicing, macerating, inclusions)
What is another way nutrient availability is impacted?
By competition (starter cultures will out-compete pathogens in fermented foods)
pH is a measurement of what and is measured on a scale of what?
A measurement of acidity
0 - 14
pH = -log [H+]
Moth pathogens require what pH range for growth?
pH greater than or equal to 4.4 - 4.6
(however, some spoilage microorganisms can grow in acidic foods)
What is an example of a spoilage microorganism that can grow in acid foods?
Lactic acid bacteria (LAB)
Foodborne microorganisms prefer what pH range?
6 - 7 pH
What microorganism can grow as low as 4.4 pH?
Clostridium botulinum
What are the 5 major effects of pH on microorganisms?
- undissociated acid crosses membrane
- acid dissociates within cytoplasm
- anion can disrupt cellular function
- more cellular energy spent to maintain intracellular balance (F-ATPase system and passive diffusion of H+)
- Dissociated acid cannot cross membrane when charged
Low-acid foods are commonly associated with what?
Outbreaks
Low-acid foods means what?
pH on the higher end (around neutral)
Adding acid to lower pH will result in what?
Acidified foods
- ex: cucumbers pickled with acetic acid
Acid foods have a naturally low pH of what?
Less than 4.6 pH
Define antimicrobials.
Substances natural to the foods with inhibitory or inactivating properties.
What are some examples of antimicrobials?
Bacteriocins
Organic acids and iso-a-acids (hops)
Essential oils –> thyme oil, eugenol, allicin
Enzymes –> lysozyme
How does a lysozyme exert antimicrobial activity?
It is found in the peptidoglycan in the cell wall and disrupts the cell (hydrolyzes beta linkages).
It is effective against gram-positive bacteria.
The Lactoperoxidase system exerts what intrinsic activity?
Antimicrobial activity
What is the lactoperoxidase system?
A naturally occurring inhibitory system in milk
What does the lactoperoxidase system consist of?
Lactoperoxidase
Thiocyanate
Hydrogen peroxide (in natural amounts)
- However, there is typically additional thiocyanate and hydrogen peroxide added
What is the lactoperoxidase system inhibitory to?
Effective against gram-positive and negative microorganisms
What can the lactoperoxidase system do to the shelf life of milk?
Can extend shelf life from 2 - 5 days
The lactoperoxidase system works synergistically (cooperatively – both benefit) with what two enzymes?
Lactoferrin and lysozyme
Oxidation / Reduction potential (Eh) is the measure of what?
The measure of tendency to gain or lose electrons
What does it mean for something to be reduced?
To have negative electric potential.
To favor anaerobic growth.
What does it mean for something to be oxidized?
To have positive electric potential.
To favor aerobic growth.
Eh changes within a food based on what 3 things?
Microorganism growth (resulting in respiration)
Processes that impact the atmosphere (M
Cooking / heating (forces oxygen out)
Anaerobes need what type of environment?
Reduced environment
Aerobes need what type of environment?
Oxidized environment
Define water activity.
The ratio of free, available water within a food.
What does available water mean?
Available for use by microorganisms
An aw (water activity) of 0.0 means what?
Bone dry
An aw (water activity) of 1.0 means what?
Pure water
Water activity greatly impacts what 3 things?
Physical characteristics of food
Chemical reactions
Microbial growth
Most bacteria have what type of water activity?
Fairly high water activity (0.91 - 0.88 at 25ºC)
What can grow at lower water activites?
Mold (but needs a little higher water activity in order to produce toxin)
How does lower water activity affect shelf life?
It allows for longer shelf life
How does higher water activity affect shelf life?
It causes shorter shelf life
What is the mechanism behind water activity?
Movement of water molecules from high to low aw.
This is known as osmotic stress.
What is the measurement of water activity and how do you measure it?
Ratio of free, available water within a food
Equilibrate liquid-phase water in sample to vapor-phase water in headspace
(Relative humidity is measured to indirectly determine water activity)
What are some consequences of osmotic stress that can challenge the food industry?
Dormancy
Filaments (elongation without separation until more favorable conditions)
Cross-protection (same protein used to respond to multiple stresses)
What is the typical aw (water activity) of fresh, raw fruits, vegetables, meat, and fish?
Greater than 0.98 (this is a high water activity)
- Usually high water activity constitutes greater than 0.95
What is the typical aw (water activity) of cooked meat and bread?
0.95 - 0.98
What is the typical aw (water activity) of cured meat products and cheeses?
0.91 - 0.95
What is the typical aw (water activity) of sausages and syrups?
0.87 - 0.91
What is spoilage?
Physical, chemical, enzymatic or biologcial changes
Spoilage can be the result of biological changes caused by what?
Bacteria, yeasts, or molds
What can prevent spoilage?
Extrinsic / intrinsic factors can be manipulated to extend the shelf life
Addition of preservatives
Prevention of exposure to spoilage microorganisms
Antimicrobials do what?
Inhibit microbial growth with bacteriostatic action
Bacteriostatic action does what?
Prevents multiplication
Antimicrobials also act as?
Biological preservation
What are some examples of antimicrobials?
NaCl
Acids
Nitrites
Phosphates
Sulfites
Lysozyme/lactoferrin/lactoperoxidase system
What is an example of antimicrobial inhibition?
Organic acids to treat produce
How do acids exert antimicrobial activity?
Manipulation of pH
Do weak acids have more effective antimicrobial activity and why or why not?
Yes, because they are able to dissociate within the cytoplasmic membrane.
What are preservatives?
A food additive that may:
- reduce or prevent browning
- reduce or prevent oxidation (antioxidant)
- stabilize the food formulation
- serve as an antimicrobial agent
Are preservatives bacteriostatic (prevents multiplicaiton)?
Yes
Traditional preservatives and antimicrobials can be?
Naturally derived or synthetically made
Do all preservatives have to be approved for use?
Yes