STAPHYLOCOCCAL ENTEROTOXIN AND NUCLEASE PRODUCTION IN FOAMS

Abstract
Air was incorporated into culture media by the addition of cellulose or nonabsorbent cotton pads to cornstarch pastes and by foam formation in an agar gel. Production of staphylococcal enterotoxin types A, B and C during incubation at 37°C was increased both on a per ml basis and per 106 CFU by such air incorporation but not in deaerated controls. Nuclease production followed the same trend. Cell numbers were less affected. Even limited inclusion of air within a food system thus increases the rate of staphylococcal production of enterotoxin.