Affiliation:
1. Department of Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Clostridium perfringens
type A isolates can carry the enterotoxin gene (
cpe
) on either their chromosome or a plasmid, but food poisoning isolates usually have a chromosomal
cpe
gene. This linkage between chromosomal
cpe
isolates and food poisoning has previously been attributed, at least in part, to better high-temperature survival of chromosomal
cpe
isolates than of plasmid
cpe
isolates. In the current study we assessed whether vegetative cells and spores of chromosomal
cpe
isolates also survive better than vegetative cells and spores of plasmid
cpe
isolates survive when the vegetative cells and spores are subjected to low temperatures. Vegetative cells of chromosomal
cpe
isolates exhibited about eightfold-higher decimal reduction values (D values) at 4°C and threefold-higher D values at −20°C than vegetative cells of plasmid
cpe
isolates exhibited. After 6 months of incubation at 4°C and −20°C, the average log reductions in viability for spores of plasmid
cpe
isolates were about fourfold and about threefold greater, respectively, than the average log reductions in viability for spores from chromosomal
cpe
isolates.
C. perfringens
type A isolates carrying a chromosomal
cpe
gene also grew significantly faster than plasmid
cpe
isolates grew at 25°C, 37°C, or 43°C. In addition, chromosomal
cpe
isolates grew at higher maximum and lower minimum temperatures than plasmid
cpe
isolates grew. Collectively, these results suggest that chromosomal
cpe
isolates are commonly involved in food poisoning because of their greater resistance to low (as well as high) temperatures for both survival and growth. They also indicate the importance of proper low-temperature storage conditions, as well as heating, for prevention of
C. perfringens
type A food poisoning.
Publisher
American Society for Microbiology
Subject
Ecology,Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology,Food Science,Biotechnology
Cited by
109 articles.
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