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Inactivation of Gram-negative pathogens in refrigerated milk by reuterin in combination with nisin or the lactoperoxidase system

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Abstract

Inhibitory activity of reuterin (β-hydroxypropionaldehyde) combined with the antimicrobial peptide nisin or the lactoperoxidase system (LPOS) against food-borne Gram-negative pathogens in milk refrigerated at 4 and 8 °C was investigated. At 4 °C, reuterin (8 AU/ml) and LPOS were bactericidal against Salmonella enterica, Campylobacter jejuni, Aeromonas hydrophila and Yersinia enterocolitica, whereas the only effect recorded for nisin was a slight inhibition of Escherichia coli O157:H7. At 8 °C, reuterin was bactericidal against all the Gram-negative pathogens studied. Same results were attained with LPOS, except for its effect on Y. enterocolitica which was only bacteriostatic. The combination of reuterin with nisin did not enhance the antimicrobial effect of reuterin. A strong synergistic bactericidal activity of reuterin in combination with LPOS on E. coli O157:H7 and S. enterica was observed in milk at 4 °C, and against all the Gram-negative bacteria assayed in milk refrigerated at 8 °C. The application of both antimicrobials would be a useful means to inhibit pathogenic microorganisms, which may be present in milk due to postpasteurization contamination.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by projects SC99-014 and AGL2000-0727-C03-03. Juan L. Arqués was recipient of a MEC grant.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dpto. de Tecnología de Alimentos, INIA, Carretera de La Coruña km 7, 28040, Madrid, Spain

    Juan L. Arqués, Eva Rodríguez, Manuel Nuñez & Margarita Medina

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  1. Juan L. Arqués
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  2. Eva Rodríguez
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  3. Manuel Nuñez
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  4. Margarita Medina
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Correspondence to Margarita Medina.

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Arqués, J.L., Rodríguez, E., Nuñez, M. et al. Inactivation of Gram-negative pathogens in refrigerated milk by reuterin in combination with nisin or the lactoperoxidase system. Eur Food Res Technol 227, 77–82 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00217-007-0695-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00217-007-0695-8

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