Enzymatic Activity Of Microorganisms Research Articles

Investigation of the Number and Enzymatic Activity of Microorganisms in Soils Contaminated with Pesticides

The results of a study of the number and enzymatic activity of microorganisms in the soils of the Zardob district (Azerbaijan), from the territory of the pesticide storage base, are presented. It was revealed that the soils of the base were polluted to a very strong extent, and the content of pesticides (including DDT) exceeded the maximum permissible concentration (MPC) by tens to hundreds of times. Microbiological studies of soil samples showed that, unlike pure soil, in all soil samples contaminated with pesticides, the number of microorganisms and enzymatic activity decreased, which indicated the negative impact of soil contamination with pesticides on the structure and activity of microbiocenosis and was an indicator of limited assimilation potential and low self-cleaning ability of these soils in relation to pollutants.

IMPACT OF BISPHENOL A IN POWDER FORM ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF CORYNEBACTERIUM GLUTAMICUM AND MICROCOCCUS LUTEUS

Bisphenol A (BPA) is an important monomer in the production of polycarbonate plastic and its derivatives. The daily and widespread use of BPA-containing products has led to its wide distribution as a contaminant and xenobiotic in water, soil, and the atmosphere. Its impact is associated with disruptions in the endocrine, nervous, immune, and reproductive systems. Currently, methods for effective removal of BPA from the environment are actively being researched, including through enzymatic activity of microorganisms. Literature provides numerous data on the effects of dissolved xenobiotics on microbial viability, but there is a lack of information on the effects of solid powdered BPA. This study investigated the impact of granular BPA at concentrations significantly exceeding those found in soils on the growth and lignin peroxidase activity of Corynebacterium glutamicum and Micrococcus luteus. It has been established that the pollutant in powdered form is capable of inhibiting the growth of both studied prokaryotic species within just 24 hours of cultivation. The diameter of the lysis zones ranged between 0.4-0.7 cm for M. luteus and 0.5-0.9 cm for C. glutamicum, depending on the dose of the pollutant applied. For C. glutamicum, a prolonged destructive impact of the compound was noted, evidenced by an increase in lysis diameter up to 168 hours into the experiment. In contrast, no definitive pattern was observed for M. luteus – maximum growth inhibition was observed at 48 hours, with no significant differences noted thereafter. It has been observed that the introduction of powdered BPA in all studied concentrations, particularly at 7.5 mg/mL in liquid nutrient media, promotes the growth of microorganisms and increases the content of total protein and the activity of lignin peroxidase. These results are likely explained by the action of bisphenol A on microorganisms as a stress factor. Under these conditions, it is probable that protective mechanisms of bacteria, including those that aid in the utilization of bisphenol A, begin to be synthesized and activated.. Keywords: bisphenol A (BPA), BPA exposure, chemical pollutants, microbial development, bioremediation.

State-of-the-Art Review of Aliphatic Polyesters and Polyolefins Biodeterioration by Microorganisms: From Mechanism to Characterization

As a result of the exponential growth in the production of plastics and their extended degradation period, strong environmental concerns in association with the disposal of plastic waste have emerged. Pursuing sustainable solutions for managing plastic waste has led to significant interest in plastic biodegradation research, with a specific focus on biodeterioration facilitated by microorganisms. The biodeterioration of plastic by microorganisms is a complex phenomenon that can be influenced by a variety of environmental factors such as humidity, temperature, and pH, as well as polymer properties such as molecular structure, molecular weight, and crystallinity. Toward a better understanding of this phenomenon for resolving the issue of plastic waste, this review article focuses on the biodeterioration of synthetic polymers, in particular aliphatic polyesters and polyolefins, through the enzymatic activities of microorganisms. First, the mechanism of polymer biodegradation via enzymatic activity is discussed, followed by the physical properties of polymers and environmental conditions that influence their biodegradability rates. Then, an overview of experimental approaches and standardized protocols used to assess the biodegradability of polymers by these degrading agents is provided. Finally, current developments in employing biodeterioration for the degradation of aliphatic polyesters and polyolefins are reviewed. The review concludes with a discussion on the complexity of biodegradation by microorganisms, the necessity of proper engineering of polymer properties during production to enhance their biodegradability, and the need for further research to discover sustainable and environmentally acceptable alternatives.

Effect of birch tar embedded in polylactide on its biodegradation

The plasticized film was made of polylactide and birch tar, which was used in a concentration of 1, 5 and 10 % by weight. Tar was added to the polymer to obtain materials with antimicrobial properties. The main purpose of this work is to characterize and biodegradation of this film after the end of its use. Therefore, the following analyzes were performed: enzymatic activity of microorganisms in the presence of polylactide (PLA) film containing birch tar (BT), biodegradation process in compost, barrier changes and structural properties of the film before and after biodegradation and bioaugmentation. Biological oxygen demand BOD21, water vapor permeability (Pv), oxygen permeability (Po), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and enzymatic activity of microorganisms were assessed. Microorganism strains Bacillus toyonensis AK2 and Bacillus albus AK3 were isolated and identified, which constituted an effective consortium increasing the susceptibility of polylactide polymer material with tar to biodegradation in compost. Analyses with the use of the above-mentioned strains had an impact on the change of physicochemical properties, e.g. the presence of biofilm on the surface of the analyzed films and the reduction of the barrier properties of the film, which translates into the recorded susceptibility to biodegradation of these materials. The analyzed films can be used in the packaging industry, and after use, subjected to intentional biodegradation processes, including bioaugmentation.

Empirical analysis of amylolytic and proteolytic activities of microbial isolates recovered from deteriorating painted wall surfaces in Lagos Nigeria

The biodeterioration of painted walls have been associated with several biological mechanisms such as organic acid production and enzymatic activity of microorganisms amongst other factors. Therefore, this study aims to reveal the involvement of amylases and proteases from indigenous microbes on biodeteriorating painted walls. Microbial strains isolated from biodeteriorating painted walls of selected buildings in Lagos, Nigeria and previously characterized as belonging to the genera Pseudomonas, Candida, Fusarium, Aspergillus, Cerrena and Meyerozyma were used in this study. Amylolytic and proteolytic activities at varying conditions of temperature, pH, incubation time and substrate concentrations were tested. To bridge the knowledge gaps regarding statistical quantification of enzymatic mechanisms in biodeterioration, the Wilcoxon signed rank sum test was used to test the hypothesis that amylolytic/proteolytic activities are equal at all conditions tested. The conditions for optimal activity were observed to be 24h, 37oC, pH 2 and 0.01% substrate concentration and 48h, 25oC, pH 2, and 1% substrate concentration for amylase and protease respectively. Wilcoxon signed rank test revealed that amylolytic and proteolytic activities do not impact aesthetics on painted walls equally at all environmental conditions considered.

Пищевые аллергены и способы получения гипоаллергенных пищевых продуктов

Introduction. Healthy nutrition is one of the global problems that humanity is facing today, of which food safety and food allergies are the most relevant issues. A lot of chemicals used as food raw materials possess allergenic properties. Food producers are only beginning to realize the scale of this problem. As a result, hypoallergenic products and methods of food allergy prevention are at an early stage of development.
 Study objects and methods. The paper is a review of twenty years of research on food allergy.
 Results and discussion. The article describes the main sources of food allergens and allergenic proteins of plant and animal origin. It also gives various classifications of food allergens in terms of their stability and ability to maintain antigenic properties after processing, as well as provides methods for allergenicity reduction and hypoallergenic food production.
 Conclusion. Thermal and enzymatic processing are currently the most popular methods of reducing allergenicity of food raw materials. New approaches are based on enzymatic activity of microorganisms, the chemical modification of allergenic proteins, and the removal of allergenic proteins by binding them into complexes. The combination of enzymatic processing with high hydrostatic pressure or high-intensity ultrasound is the most promising direction in the production of hypoallergenic raw materials. Other promising methods are based on the enzymatic activity of microorganisms, chemical modification of allergenic proteins, and complexation with polyphenols, anthocyanins, etc. The future lies with genetic modification, which, however, still remains too complex, time-consuming, and understudied. Most novel methods need clinical trials to confirm the possibility of their use for commercial hypoallergenic food production.

Concept and principles of development of a new generation symbiotic preparation

The article presents the results of the research on the cultivation of B. bifidum and B. subtillis in a high-carbohydrate nutrient medium composed of beet molasses, obtaining metabolites and scientific and practical substantiation of the resulting culture liquid as a biologically active additive. The material of the laboratory studies was sugar beet molasses of 5%-10%-15%-20%-25% concentrations. The studies used the probiotic microorganism B. bifidum, strain No. 1 and B. subtilis, strain DSM-3242. To obtain bacterial concentrate, a daily culture of microorganisms was used, which was standardized to 1×106 CFU / cm3. The testing process was carried out according to the indicators of the mass fraction of fermented sugars, determined by the calculation method, branch standard OCT 18-395-82. The number of CFU was calculated in the Goryaev chamber using the method of GPhA (General Pharmacopeic Article) 1.7.2.0008.15. The content of amino acids, vitamins, and organic acids in the culture fluid was determined by capillary electrophoresis in the device “Drops”. During the cultivation of B. bifidum and B. subtillis, a certain metabolic activity of their vitality was found, which is expressed in a decrease in the mass fraction of the amount of fermented sugars in the range of 53.7% to 23.7%. The hydrogen index is from 6.70 to 3.77 in experimental samples of molasses. The number of B. bifidum and B. subtillis CFUs cultivated on 5% molasses on the second day reached 7x106 CFU/cm3 and 8.2 × 106 cm3. In other concentrations, a maximum indicator of the number of microorganisms occurred on the third day and did not exceed 6.6 and 7 × 106 CFU/cm3. A significant synthesis of metabolites in the form of indispensable and conditionally dispensable amino acids and organic acids was determined. The dynamics of amino acid synthesis is consistent with the amylolytic and enzymatic activity of microorganisms in the molasses culture medium. In this case the level of enzymes is directly dependent on the number of CFU.

Effects of termites growth on litter decomposition: a modeling approach

PurposeLitter decomposition is a biological process resulting from enzymatic activities of microorganisms and influenced in a variety of ways by activities of termites in semi-arid regions. We presented a general model of the decomposition process from litter to carbon sequestration and nitrogen. We aimed at building a termite population growth model which could deal with one substrate.MethodsOur model divides the decomposition/growth process at the population level. We put these changes into equations using an analogy with chemical reactions at equilibrium.ResultsOur findings provide evidence that activities of termites can promote the significant activity of microbial decomposers and increase degradation rates of soil organic matter (SOM). Also, termite activity was probably an additional contributor to the difference between fungus-comb chamber and soil environment, in which the fungus-comb compartment was positively related to carbon and nutrients release. According to the developed, observed differences in decomposition rate, changes were strongly affected by the termite communities’ activities in the two types of compartment.ConclusionThis functional distinction highlights the importance of termites’ activities on microbial activities stimulation through their development featuring their impacts on soil nutrient cycling.

Effect of aluminium oxide nanoparticles on the enzymatic activity on microorganisms of activated sludge

The increased production and commercial use of nanoparticles (NPs), combined with a lack of regulation regarding their disposal, may result in the unwanted introduction of NPs to wastewater. Wastewater nutrient removal depends on the metabolisms of activated sludge bacteria and their related key enzymes. Therefore, the aim of this work was to determine the effect of aluminium oxide nanoparticles concentrations on the activated sludge enzymatic activity of microorganisms. Tested nanoparticles inhibition cellular respiration in TTC method in the four highest tested concentrations. Moreover, in most samples observed increase dehydrogenase activity. In this study, nano-Al2O3 also caused a clear stimulation of the activity of hydrolytic enzymes microorganisms of activate sludge. Effects of aluminum oxide (compound in bulk forms) on enzymatic activity were different than in the case of the nano from of Al2O3.

Catalase and Phosphatase Activities During Hydrocarbon Removal from Oil-Contaminated Soil Amended with Agro-Industrial By-products and Macronutrients

Microbiological activities are essential in the bioremediation of polluted soils. The enzymatic activities of microorganisms are usually used as a biological indicator of soil health. The aim of this work was to observe the catalase, acid phosphatase (AcP), and alkaline phosphatase (AlP) activities in soil that was amended with agro-industrial by-products and macronutrients during the process of total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) removal. To this end, microcosm tests were performed with soil and agro-industrial by-products ratios of 100:2:2, for soil:sugarcane bagasse pith:filter cake mud (SSF); 100:2, for both soil:sugarcane bagasse pith (SS); and for soil filter cake mud (SF). The macronutrients—carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus—in the experimental treatments were adjusted to 100:10:1 with a solution of NH4NO3 and K2HPO4. The best TPH removal (51.4%) was obtained with SSF at 15 days. In addition, a significant correlation was observed between TPH removal and AlP as well as AcP (r = 0.74, p < 0.0001; r = 0.70, p < 0.0107, respectively). Fungi growth was also correlated with both AlP (r = 0.97, p < 0.0001) and AcP (r = 0.95, p < 0.0001) activities. Besides, bacterial and fungi growth showed a correlation with TPH (r = 0.86, p < 0.001; r = 0.77, p < 0.0034, respectively). It could be said that the agro-industrial by-products and macronutrients contributed to pollutant removal from the oil-polluted soil at relatively short amount of time. In addition, the enzymatic activities were increased after the treatment; in this study, the high sensitivity enzyme was AlP, and it could be used as an indirect indicator of oil pollutant removal.

An intelligent based decision support system for the detection of meat spoilage

In food industry, safety and quality are considered important issues worldwide that are directly related to health and social progress. Meat spoilage is the result of decomposition and the formation of metabolites, caused by the growth and enzymatic activity of microorganisms, and it presents not only a health hazard but an economic burden to the producer. In this research work, we explore the potential of Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy in combination of principal components analysis and neuro-fuzzy modelling, to determine beef spoilage microorganisms during aerobic storage at chill and abuse temperatures. FTIR spectra were obtained from the surface of beef samples, while culture microbiological analysis determined the total viable count (TVC) for each sample. The dual purpose of the proposed modelling approach is not only to classify beef samples in the respective quality class (i.e., fresh, semi-fresh and spoiled), but also to predict their associated microbiological population directly from FTIR spectra. The proposed neuro-fuzzy network model utilises a prototype defuzzification scheme, whereas the number of input membership functions is directly associated to the number of rules, reducing thus, the “curse of dimensionality” problem. Results confirmed the superiority of the adopted methodology compared to other schemes such as multilayer perceptron and the partial least squares techniques and indicated that FTIR spectral information in combination with an efficient choice of a learning-based modelling scheme could be considered as an alternative methodology for the accurate evaluation of meat spoilage.

The effect of chlorsulfurone and MCPB-Na on the enzymatic activity of microorganisms

herbicides, have a broad spectrum effect on weeds, in relatively low doses and with a much reduced toxicity on livestock. In this study were used two herbicides: dacsulfuron with the active substance chlorsulfuron (0.005 - 0.035 ?g/g soil) and butoxone with the active substance MCPB-Na (0.005 - 0.035 mg/L/g soil). The samples were collected from a depth of 0-20 cm from chernozem soil. The effect of herbicide was estimated by measuring the activity of catalase, actual and potential dehydrogenase, urease and cellulase activities. All samples being incubated for 10 days at 27?C using Sapp medium for isolation and study of cellulosolytic bacteria. The inhibitory effect of the tested herbicides was the most intense for the urease and dehydrogenase enzymatic activities. The most resistant cellulosolytic bacteria to the effects of dacsulfuron were Cellfalcicula fusca, Cellfalcicula viridis, Cellvibrio fulvus and Fuseaux veris and for butoxone Cellfalcicula mucosa, C. viridis and C. fulvus.

Porosity of Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis LD61 colonies immobilised in model cheese

During cheese ripening, micro-organisms grow as immobilised colonies, metabolising substrates present in the matrix which generate products triggered by enzymatic reactions. Local limitation rates of diffusion, either in the matrix or within the bacterial colonies, can be responsible for modulation in the metabolic and enzymatic activities of micro-organisms during ripening. How bacterial colonies immobilised in cheese are porous to these diffusing solutes has never been explored. The objective of this study was to determine if fluorescent dextrans of different sizes (4.4, 70 and 155kDa) are able to penetrate through colonies of Lactococcus lactis LD61 immobilised in solid media, either agar or model cheese. Confocal microscopic observations showed that lactococcus colonies immobilised in these two media were porous to dextrans from 4kDa to 155kDa. However, the rate of diffusion of the solutes was faster inside the colonies immobilised in ultrafiltered-cheese than in agar when large dextrans were considered (≥70kDa). The colonial shape of the lactococcus strain was also shown to be lenticular in agar and spherical in the model cheese, indicating that the physical pressure exerted on the colony by the surrounding casein network was probably isotropous in the UF-cheese but not in agar. In both cases, the fact that lactococcus colonies immobilised in solid media are porous to large dextran solutes suggests that substrates or enzymes are likely also to be able to migrate inside the colonies during cheese ripening.

Potential prediction of the microbial spoilage of beef using spatially resolved hyperspectral scattering profiles

Spoilage in beef is the result of decomposition and the formation of metabolites caused by the growth and enzymatic activity of microorganisms. There is still no technology for the rapid, accurate and non-destructive detection of bacterially spoiled or contaminated beef. In this study, hyperspectral imaging technique was exploited to measure biochemical changes within the fresh beef. Fresh beef rump steaks were purchased from a commercial plant, and left to spoil in refrigerator at 8 °C. Every 12 h, hyperspectral scattering profiles over the spectral region between 400 and 1100 nm were collected directly from the sample surface in reflection pattern in order to develop an optimal model for prediction of the beef spoilage, in parallel the total viable count (TVC) per gram of beef were obtained by classical microbiological plating methods. The spectral scattering profiles at individual wavelengths were fitted accurately by a two-parameter Lorentzian distribution function. TVC prediction models were developed, using multi-linear regression, on relating individual Lorentzian parameters and their combinations at different wavelengths to log 10(TVC) value. The best predictions were obtained with r 2 = 0.95 and SEP = 0.30 for log 10(TVC). The research demonstrated that hyperspectral imaging technique showed potential for real-time and non-destructive detection of bacterial spoilage in beef.

Effect of UV radiation transmitted through light-correcting films on the enzymatic activity of oil-polluted soil

The effect of photoluminescent (light-correcting) polymeric films on the enzymatic activity of microorganisms in oil-polluted soil was investigated under laboratory conditions. The efficiency of the use of films as a covering material containing organic and inorganic photoluminophores was studied under the UV-irradi-ation of the soil polluted with oil products in a concentration of up to 50 g/kg. The application of light-correcting films increases the activity of enzymes in oil-polluted soil: catalase by a factor of 2–4, dehydrogenase 2.5, urease 4.5, polyphenoloxidase and peroxidase by a factor of 2–3. In this situation, as chromatographic investigations showed, biodegradation of oil hydrocarbons polluting the soil proceeds 5–6 times faster in comparison with the reference versions for which a usual polymeric high-pressure polyethylene film was used.

Uranium Biomineralization as a Result of Bacterial Phosphatase Activity: Insights from Bacterial Isolates from a Contaminated Subsurface

Uranium contamination is an environmental concern at the Department of Energy's Field Research Center in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. In this study, we investigated whether phosphate biomineralization, or the aerobic precipitation of U(VI)-phosphate phases facilitated by the enzymatic activities of microorganisms, offers an alternative to the more extensively studied anaerobic U(VI) bioreduction. Three heterotrophic bacteria isolated from FRC soils were studied for their ability to grow and liberate phosphate in the presence of U(VI) and an organophosphate between pH 4.5 and 7.0. The objectives were to determine whether the strains hydrolyzed sufficient phosphate to precipitate uranium, to determine whether low pH might have an effect on U(VI) precipitation, and to identify the uranium solid phase formed during biomineralization. Two bacterial strains hydrolyzed sufficient organophosphate to precipitate 7395% total uranium after 120 h of incubation in simulated groundwater. The highest rates of uranium precipitation and phosphatase activity were observed between pH 5.0 and 7.0. EXAFS spectra identified the uranyl phosphate precipitate as an autunite/meta-autunite group mineral. The results of this study indicate that aerobic heterotrophic bacteria within a uranium-contaminated environment that can hydrolyze organophosphate, especially in low pH conditions, may play an important role in the bioremediation of uranium.

Effect of compost temperature on oxygen uptake rate, specific growth rate and enzymatic activity of microorganisms in dairy cattle manure

Investigations were carried out to find out the relationship between temperature and microbial activity in dairy cattle manure composting using oxygen uptake rate, specific growth rate and enzymatic activities during autothermal and isothermal composting experiments. In autothermal composting, oxygen uptake rate and specific growth rate were found to be most intensive in order of 43 °C, 60 °C and 54 °C. Isothermal composting at 54 °C resulted highest levels of enzymatic activity and promoted the volatile solids reduction. Based on the maximum enzymatic activity, specific growth rate appeared to be more closely linked with microbial activity in compost than with oxygen uptake rate. The enhancement of specific growth rate, enzymatic activity and volatile solids reduction were induced at 54 °C in cattle manure composting.

Direct Microbial Reduction and Subsequent Preservation of Uranium in Natural Near-Surface Sediment

The fate of uranium in natural systems is of great environmental importance. X-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy (XANES) revealed that U(VI) was reduced to U(IV) in shallow freshwater sediment at an open pit in an inactive uranium mine. Geochemical characterization of the sediment showed that nitrate, Fe(III), and sulfate had also been reduced in the sediment. Observations of the sediment particles and microbial cells by scanning and transmission electron microscopy, coupled with elemental analysis by energy dispersive spectroscopy, revealed that uranium was concentrated at microbial cell surfaces. U(IV) was not associated with framboidal pyrite or nanometer-scale iron sulfides, which are presumed to be of microbial origin. Uranium concentrations were not detected in association with algal cells. Phylogenetic analyses of microbial populations in the sediment by the use of 16S rRNA and dissimilatory sulfite reductase gene sequences detected organisms belonging to the families Geobacteraceae and Desulfovibrionaceae. Cultivated members of these lineages reduce U(VI) and precipitate iron sulfides. The association of uranium with cells, but not with sulfide surfaces, suggests that U(VI) is reduced by the enzymatic activities of microorganisms. Uranium was highly enriched (760 ppm) in a subsurface black layer in unsaturated sediment sampled from a pit which was exposed to seasonal fluctuations in the pond level. XANES analysis showed that the majority of uranium in this layer was U(IV), indicating that uranium is preserved in its reduced form after burial.

Temperature effect on aerobic biodegradation of feces using sawdust as a matrix

Temperature is one of the most important factors affecting microbial growth and biological reactions. In this study, the effect of temperature on aerobic biodegradation of feces is described through the comparison and analysis of experimental oxygen utilization rates (OUR) profiles obtained from batch tests conducted at several temperatures covering mainly mesophilic and thermophilic ranges. Additionally, the temperature effect was incorporated into the bio-kinetic model introduced by Lopez Zavala et al. (Water Res 38(5) (2004) 1327) and simulation of experimental OUR profiles was conducted. Results show that mesophilic and thermophilic microorganisms behaved differently to temperature; additionally, results suggest that the optimum temperature from the viewpoint of feces biodegradability is within the thermophilic range, nearly 60°C. The enzymatic activity of microorganisms at 70°C was remarkably diminished. For better predictions in the mesophilic range, two fractions of slowly biodegradable organic matter were identified, easily hydrolyzable organic matter ( X Se ) and slowly hydrolyzable organic matter ( X Ss ).

Rapid and quantitative detection of the microbial spoilage of meat by fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and machine learning.

Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy is a rapid, noninvasive technique with considerable potential for application in the food and related industries. We show here that this technique can be used directly on the surface of food to produce biochemically interpretable "fingerprints." Spoilage in meat is the result of decomposition and the formation of metabolites caused by the growth and enzymatic activity of microorganisms. FT-IR was exploited to measure biochemical changes within the meat substrate, enhancing and accelerating the detection of microbial spoilage. Chicken breasts were purchased from a national retailer, comminuted for 10 s, and left to spoil at room temperature for 24 h. Every hour, FT-IR measurements were taken directly from the meat surface using attenuated total reflectance, and the total viable counts were obtained by classical plating methods. Quantitative interpretation of FT-IR spectra was possible using partial least-squares regression and allowed accurate estimates of bacterial loads to be calculated directly from the meat surface in 60 s. Genetic programming was used to derive rules showing that at levels of 10(7) bacteria.g(-1) the main biochemical indicator of spoilage was the onset of proteolysis. Thus, using FT-IR we were able to acquire a metabolic snapshot and quantify, noninvasively, the microbial loads of food samples accurately and rapidly in 60 s, directly from the sample surface. We believe this approach will aid in the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point process for the assessment of the microbiological safety of food at the production, processing, manufacturing, packaging, and storage levels.