PROBABILITY OF GROWTH OF CLOSTRIDIUM BOTULINUM AS AFFECTED BY STRAIN, CELL AND SEROLOGIC TYPE, INOCULUM SIZE AND TEMPERATURE AND TIME OF INCUBATION IN A MODEL BROTH SYSTEM

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Abstract
Using factorial design experiments and MPN methodology, we evaluated the probability (P) of growth initiation of 17 individual proteolytic (A,B,F) and non‐proteolytic (B,E,F) C. botulinum strains (spores and cells) in a model broth as it is affected by strain, cell and serologic type, inoculum size (100–106), temperature (4–47°C) and time of incubation (up to 28 days). Regression analyses of the P of growth of the most capable strains for all conditions tested, allowed the development of quantitative equations relating P of growth initiation by one spore or cell to the variables studied. The close agreement between observed and predicted Ps demonstrated the potential usefullness of the modeling approach in studying microbial interactions with food environments.