Behaviour of cold-adapted Listeria monocytogenes under conditions representative of meat processing plants

• Author / Creator

  Vail, Kathleen M

• The objective of this study was to examine filamentation characteristics of cold-adapted Listeria monocytogenes under conditions representative of a meat processing plant. Initial analysis of 16 strains found three strains with a wide range of filamentation characteristics and these were used in subsequent experiments. L. monocytogenes were grown at 3°C in Tryptic Soy Broth (TSB), TSB with 4% or 8% NaCl, TSB adjusted to pH 5.5, 6 or 8.5, and TSB with 4% NaCl adjusted to pH 6. Filamentation characteristics were determined with microscopy and flow cytometry. Filamentation in saline conditions peaked early in the logarithmic phase whereas in acidic conditions filamentation increased steadily over time. In alkaline media filamentation peaked twice during the growth cycle. A combination of acidic and saline conditions resulted in an initial peak, followed by gradual increase of filamentation over time. The length of filaments increased with an increase in stressful conditions.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Filamentation
  • Flow cytometry
  • Listeria monocytogenes

• Graduation date

  Spring 2012

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Master of Science

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R3BM05

• License

  This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.