Paenibacillus agarexedens sp. nov., nom. rev., and Paenibacillus agaridevorans sp. nov.

Twenty-two agarolytic, aerobic, spore-forming strains were characterized taxonomically by DNA-DNA reassociation experiments, riboprint analyses, 16S rDNA sequencing and phenetic similarity analyses. Based on riboprint analyses, the strains formed eight ribogroups, six of which contained 2-6 strains and two encompassed single strains. Within the multi-strain ribogroups, similarities ranged from 91-99%.

Application of flow cytometry to rapid microbial analysis in food and drinks industries.

In food and drinks industries, the time required for conventional tests can lead to substantial delays in product release to the market. Flow cytometry (FCM) has been used in conjunction with viability markers for rapid counting of yeast, mould and bacterial cells in food products. A single-parameter flow cytometer has proved applicable to the rapid detection of low numbers of microbial contaminants in finished products.

[The effectiveness of disinfectants from kinetic viewpoints].

In a pilot project, two instrumental disinfectants were tested quantitatively in germ carrier experiments. The disinfectants chosen belonged to the class of aldehydes. The germ carriers comprised wet and dried cotton pieces as well as mineralized soft rubber tubes.

[Quantitative recovery of bacteria from different germ carrier materials].

A number of germ carriers have been tested quantitatively, in order to select the optimum germ carrier for future quantitative tests of chemical disinfectants, belonging to the class of surface and instrument disinfectants. Quality criteria applied were the storage capacity of the carrier and the germ recovery fraction. For the surface disinfectant, the cotton piece was confirmed to be suited best, while for the instrument disinfection the mineralized soft rubber tube proved to be optimal.

Reisolation and growth conditions of bacillus agar-exedens.

Several agarolytic Bacillus strains have been isolated. The properties agree with those described by Wieringa (1941) for Bacillus agar-exedens. These strains are the first reisolates since the original cultures were lost.