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Applied and Environmental Microbiology, January 2006, p. 522-526, Vol. 72, No. 1
0099-2240/06/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/AEM.72.1.522-526.2006
Copyright © 2006, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Stable Concentrated Emulsions of the 1-Monoglyceride of Capric Acid (Monocaprin) with Microbicidal Activities against the Food-Borne Bacteria Campylobacter jejuni, Salmonella spp., and Escherichia coli

Halldor Thormar,^* Hilmar Hilmarsson, and Gudmundur Bergsson

Institute of Biology, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland

Received 16 June 2005/ Accepted 20 October 2005

Of 11 fatty acids and monoglycerides tested against Campylobacter jejuni, the 1-monoglyceride of capric acid (monocaprin) was the most active in killing the bacterium. Various monocaprin-in-water emulsions were prepared which were stable after storage at room temperature for many months and which retained their microbicidal activity. A procedure was developed to manufacture up to 500 ml of 200 mM preconcentrated emulsions of monocaprin in tap water. The concentrates were clear and remained stable for at least 12 months. They were active against C. jejuni upon 160- to 200-fold dilution in tap water and caused a >6- to 7-log₁₀ reduction in viable bacterial count in 1 min at room temperature. The addition of 0.8% Tween 40 to the concentrates as an emulsifying agent did not change the microbicidal activity. Emulsions of monocaprin killed a variety of Campylobacter isolates from humans and poultry and also killed strains of Campylobacter coli and Campylobacter lari, indicating a broad anticampylobacter activity. Emulsions of 1.25 mM monocaprin in citrate-lactate buffer at pH 4 to 5 caused a >6- to 7-log₁₀ reduction in viable bacterial counts of Salmonella spp. and Escherichia coli in 10 min. C. jejuni was also more susceptible to monocaprin emulsions at low pH. The addition of 5 and 10 mM monocaprin emulsions to Campylobacter-spiked chicken feed significantly reduced the bacterial contamination. These results are discussed in view of the possible utilization of monocaprin emulsions in controlling the spread of food-borne bacteria from poultry to humans.

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* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Institute of Biology, University of Iceland, Askja, Sturlugata 7, 101 Reykjavik, Iceland. Phone: 354-525 4602. Fax: 354-525 4069. E-mail: halldort{at}hi.is

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Applied and Environmental Microbiology, January 2006, p. 522-526, Vol. 72, No. 1
0099-2240/06/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/AEM.72.1.522-526.2006
Copyright © 2006, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

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