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Access Type
WSU Access
Date of Award
January 2020
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
M.S.
Department
Nutrition and Food Science
First Advisor
Dr. Yifan Zhang
Abstract
ABSTRACT
ISOLATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF LISTERIA SPECIES FROM LOCALLY- GROWN FRESH PRODUCE
by
AMRITA SUBRAMANYA SWAMY
May 2020
Advisor: Dr. Yifan Zhang
Major: Nutrition and Food Science
Degree: Master of Science
Urban farming has been growing by more than 30% in the United States in the past 30 years. It has been estimated that urban agriculture can meet 15- 20% of global food demand; however, there is limited data available on microbial safety on the Listeria contamination in locally- grown fresh produce. The objective of the present study was to examine the prevalence and distribution of Listeria species and their ability to form biofilms at different temperatures. A total of 109 samples of leafy (86) and root (23) vegetables were pooled, followed by Listeria isolation and characterization, and biofilm determination. Clonal relatedness among bacteria was determined using PFGE. Common species such as L. innocua, L. welshimeri, and L. monocytogenes were recovered from fresh produce. Five L. monocytogenes isolates including P 52.1b (potato, 1/2a), P 43.1a (Radish, 4b), and three isolates of 4b from romaine lettuce (WV 11 a, WV 11 b and WV 11 c) were chosen for the determination of biofilm formation. Overall, biofilm formation was found to be high in all isolates except forWV11a that was a weak to moderate biofilm former. This study suggests that presence of Listeria species, including L. monocytogenes, in locally- grown fresh produce may pose public health concern to local consumers.
Recommended Citation
Subramanya Swamy, Amrita, "Isolation And Characterization Of Listeria Species From Locally- Grown Fresh Produce" (2020). Wayne State University Theses. 780.
https://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/oa_theses/780