Comparison of culture-dependent and independent techniques for characterisation of the microflora of peroxyacetic acid treated, vacuum-packaged beef.

The diversity of microflora associated with peroxyacetic acid (POAA) treated and untreated beef was investigated by 16S rDNA gene cloning, DGGE analysis and conventional bacterial cultivation. Following vacuum packaging, POAA treated and untreated meat samples were stored for up to 18 weeks at -1.5 degrees C.

Possible involvement of psychrotolerant Enterobacteriaceae in blown pack spoilage of vacuum-packaged raw meats.

Recent investigations of blown pack spoilage in New Zealand chilled vacuum-packaged meats have found moderate to high numbers of Enterobacteriaceae in the spoilage flora, but no clostridia, such as C. estertheticum and C. gasigenes, that are usually associated with blown pack spoilage.

Development of a multiplex and real time PCR assay for the specific detection of Arcobacter butzleri and Arcobacter cryaerophilus.

A new multiplex PCR and two specific TaqMan assays were developed to target the emerging pathogens A. butzleri and A. cryaerophilus.

Identifying the bacterial community on the surface of Intralox belting in a meat boning room by culture-dependent and culture-independent 16S rDNA sequence analysis.

We examined the bacterial community present on an Intralox conveyor belt system in an operating lamb boning room by sequencing the 16S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) of bacteria extracted in the presence or absence of cultivation. RFLP patterns for 16S rDNA clone library and cultures were generated using HaeIII and MspI restriction endonucleases. 16S rDNA amplicons produced 8 distinct RFLP pattern groups.