Identifier

etd-07132005-113114

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

School of Nutrition and Food Sciences

Document Type

Dissertation

Abstract

Listeria monocytogenes has been recognized as a human pathogen since 1929. This pathogen is found in many foods and listeriosis infections affect approximately 2,500 people in the United States each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Of those infected with L. monocytogenes approximately 500 die as a result of the illness. Listeria monocytogenes is a bacterium, commonly found in water, soil, plant material, animals and human. Today, different methods are used by food manufacturers, to reduce the risk of Listeria monocytogenes, such as antimicrobial agents, heating, irradiation, and fermentation. The ability of the bacteria to grow at temperatures as low as 3°C permits multiplication in refrigerated foods. The purpose of this study was to determine the antimicrobial effect of copper ions against Listeria monocytogenes on the surface of copper, brass and concrete coated with polyurethane containing different concentrations of copper ions. The utilization of pH, nutrients and temperatures were applied. Copper alloys antimicrobial effect in two different crawfish processing plants was also evaluated. The amount of copper ions released into raw and cooked shrimp at different temperatures was also assessed. Our study has been successful in understanding the survival of Listeria monocytogenes at different copper ions concentrations under different temperatures, pH and nutrients. It has also been observed that the use of different copper ions concentrations haves great potential as antimicrobial agents that can be employed by food processors.

Date

2005

Document Availability at the Time of Submission

Release the entire work immediately for access worldwide.

Committee Chair

Marlene Janes

DOI

10.31390/gradschool_dissertations.2996

Download

Included in

Life Sciences Commons

Share

COinS