Gel-free proteomic identification of the Bacillus subtilis insoluble spore coat protein fraction

Species from the genus Bacillus have the ability to form endospores, dormant cellular forms that are able to survive heat and acid preservation techniques commonly used in the food industry. Resistance characteristics of spores towards various environmental stresses are in part attributed to their coat proteins. Previously, 70 proteins have been...

A mixed-species microarray for identification of food spoilage bacilli

Failure of food preservation is frequently caused by thermostable spores of members of the Bacillaceae family, which show a wide spectrum of resistance to cleaning and preservation treatments. We constructed and validated a mixed-species genotyping array for 6 Bacillus species, including Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus...

Active and intelligent packaging for food: Is it the future?

This paper gives an overview of the legal consequences of a new EU framework regulation on food contact materials which includes controls on active and intelligent packaging. Recent developments in active and intelligent packaging systems are described, two examples of which aim at achieving improvements in quality and safety of food products....

Genomics applications in food preservation and safety research

Genomes are being sequenced at an ever-increasing pace. Also genomes of many of the microorganisms of concern to food safety are now known. The next step is of course how to exploit this information in an effective way. This article briefly introduces the issues in the food processing industry as far as microbial food spoilage and safety are...

The cell wall stress response in Aspergillus niger involves increased expression of the glutamine: Fructose-6-phosphate amidotransferase-encoding gene (gfaA) and increased deposition of chitin in the cell wall

Perturbation of cell wall synthesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, either by mutations in cell wall synthesis-related genes or by adding compounds that interfere with normal cell wall assembly, triggers a compensatory response to ensure cell wall integrity. This response includes an increase in chitin levels in the cell wall. Here it is shown that...

Relevance of microbial interactions to predictive microbiology

Microbial interaction can be ignored in predictive microbiology under most conditions. We show that interactions are only important at high population densities, using published data on inhibition of growth of Listeria monocytogenes in broth. Our analysis using growth models from predictive microbiology indicated that interactions only occur at...

DNA based typing, identification and detection systems for food spoilage microorganisms: Development and implementation

The rapid identification of spoilage microorganisms is of eminent importance to the food industry. It provides the food industry with the opportunity to reduce economical losses by designing adequate intervention measures. The use of identification systems based on biochemical and physiological characteristics resulted often in disappointing...

A medium for the detection of bacteria causing green discolouration of cooked cured meat products

A cooked haemoglobin medium was developed for the detection of hydrogen-peroxide-producing bacteria. The composition and preparation of this medium are described. The medium has proved to be an adequate medium for diagnosis of the greening of cooked cured meat products caused by hydrogen-peroxide-producing lactic acid bacteria.