STAPHYLOCOCCAL GROWTH AND ENTEROTOXIN PRODUCTION IN THE PRESENCE OF MEAT CULTURES (NON LAB)

The effect of meat cultures (non lactic acid bacteria) on the growth a nd production of enterotoxins and thermonuclease by Staphylococcus aur eus was studied. Micrococcus varians did not affect growth nor the syn thesis of metabolites. Levels of enterotoxins A, B and D produced by t he respective S. aureus strains were reduced by S. xylosus, S. saproph yticus and S. carnosus. The two latter species prevented production of enteroroxin C-1 and S. xylosus markedly reduced the amount produced. The three coagulase-negative staphylococci showed little inhibitory ef fect on the growth of S. aureus. Penicillium nalgiovense did not show inhibitory activity against the four S. aureus strains. Debaryomyces h ansenii slightly inhibited growth of the enterotoxin A-producing str a in, but reduced enterotoxin synthesis at 30 degrees C. Thermonuclease was detected whenever enterotoxins were detected though the influence of the effector organism was dependent on the test strain. Copyright ( C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd