Effect of gamma irradiation on staphylococcal thermonuclease (TNase)

• Published in: International journal of food sciences and nutrition Vol. 51; no. 1; pp. 55 - 58
• Main Authors: KUMAR, J. K, SHARMA, A. K, KULKARNI, P. R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basingstoke Informa UK Ltd 2000; Taylor & Francis; Nature Publishing; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Bacteria; Biological and medical sciences; Culture Media; Dairy Products - microbiology; Food contamination & poisoning; Food industries; Food irradiation; Food microbiology; Food science; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gamma Rays; Meat Products - microbiology; Micrococcal Nuclease - radiation effects; Staphylococcus aureus - enzymology; Staphylococcus aureus - radiation effects; Stability; Enzyme; Applied microbiology; Biological marker; Meat product; Dairy product; Esterases; Gamma irradiation; Sensitivity resistance; Food industry; Hydrolases; Micrococcales; Bacteria; Micrococcaceae; Nuclease; Biological contamination; Staphylococcus aureus
• ISSN: 0963-7486; 1465-3478
• DOI: 10.1080/096374800100903

Stability of staphylococcal thermonuclease (TNase) on exposure to irradiation though expected has not been experimentally established. In the present work. TNase in presence of standard growth media as well as dairy and meat products was found to be completely resistant even at a dose of 10 kGy indicating that the TNase can be used as an indicator of Staphylococcal aureus contamination even in foods in which S. aureus have been destroyed by irradiation. This new application of TNase is being reported for the first time.