Ur. Pothakamury et al., ULTRASTRUCTURAL-CHANGES IN STAPHYLOCOCCUS-AUREUS TREATED WITH PULSED ELECTRIC-FIELDS, Food science and technology international, 3(2), 1997, pp. 113-121
Early stationary phase cells of Staphylococcus aureus were inoculated
into a model food, simulated milk ultrafiltrate (SMUF) and subjected t
o 16, 32, and 64 pulses at electric field intensities of 20, 40 and 60
kV/cm at 13 degrees C. In addition temperatures of 20, 25 and 30 degr
ees C were also tested with 32 pulses and an electric field of 60 kV/c
m. The temperature of the SMUF increased by 1-2 degrees C at the end o
f the 64 pulses. Cells subjected to 64 pulses at 20, 40 and 60 kV/cm w
ere observed for ultrastructural changes using scanning and transmissi
on electron microscopy techniques. The cell surface was rough after tr
eatment with electric field when observed by scanning electron microsc
opy (SEM). The cell wall was broken, and the cytoplasmic contents were
leaking out of the cell after exposure to 64 pulses at 60 kV/cm when
observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The breaking of th
e cell wall is an indication of electro-mechanical breakdown of the ce
ll. The increase in inactivation with an increase in the electric fiel
d strength can be related to the increase in the damage to the cells.
Cells subjected to 32 pulses at 60 kV/cm and 13, 20 or 25 degrees C we
re compared microscopically with the untreated control cells. Cells su
bjected to heat treatment (10 min, at 66 degrees C) were compared with
electric field-treated and untreated control cells. Although importan
t changes were observed in the protoplast, no cell wall breakdown was
observed in heat-treated cells when compared to the electric field-tre
ated cells. This result indicates a different mechanism of inactivatio
n of cells with heat treatment.