Mechanisms of Bacillus subtilis spore inactivation by single- and multi-pulse high hydrostatic pressure (MP-HHP)

• Published in: Innovative food science & emerging technologies Vol. 81; p. 103147
• Main Authors: Mok, Jin Hong, Sun, Yaxin, Pyatkovskyy, Taras, Hu, Xiaosong, Sastry, Sudhir K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.10.2022
• Subjects: Bacillus subtilis; cortex; disulfides; fluorescence microscopy; food science; germination; heat stress; High hydrostatic pressure processing (HHP); high pressure treatment; hydrogen peroxide; lysozyme; Mechanical disruption; membrane permeability; Multi-pulse; Spores; temperature; High hydrostatic pressure processing (HHP); Mechanical disruption; Bacillus subtilis; Multi-pulse; Spores
• ISSN: 1466-8564; 1878-5522
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ifset.2022.103147

Herein we investigate the effect of multi-pulse high hydrostatic pressure (MP-HHP) on the inactivation of Bacillus subtilis spores. B. subtilis spores were subjected to MP-HHP under pressures at 200–500 MPa at temperatures of 40 and 60 °C with 3 pulses (holding time of 3 min) with a total processing time of 10 min and compared it with a single pressurization (S-HHP). Mechanism of spore inactivation by S- or MP-HHP was explored by assessing germination by heat shock treatment, spore susceptibility to lysozyme and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), release of dipicolinic acid (DPA), and the permeability of inner membrane and cortex. Our results presented the highest spore inactivation (5.8 log reduction), when MP-HHP was applied under the highest temperature and pressure. The increased inactivation appears to be largely due to mechanical disruption of spore coat and inner and outer membranes, as evidenced by DPA release, increased susceptibility to lysozyme and H2O2 (indicative of breakage of disulfide bonds in the spore coat), and membrane permeability as assessed by spore staining and fluorescence microscopy. No differences were seen in germination between MP-HHP and S-HHP. There was no evidence of any loss of cortex lytic enzymes or degradation of small acid-soluble proteins (SASPs) during both MP-HHP and S-HHP treatments. •Multiple pulses of high pressure inactivated more B. subtilis spores than a single pulse.•500 MPa × 3 pulses at 60 °C resulted in >5 log reductions of spores.•Inactivation appears to be due to mechanical disruption of spore coat and membranes.•Cortex lytic enzymes or small acid soluble protein inactivation are not significant factors.