Modelling Growth and Decline in a Two-Species Model System: Pathogenic Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Psychrotrophic Spoilage Bacteria in Milk

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O157:H7 is a food-borne pathogen and the major cause of hemorrhagic colitis. Pseudomonas is the genus most frequent psychrotrophic spoilage microorganisms present in milk. Two-species bacterial systems with E. coli O157:H7, non-pathogenic E. coli, and P. fluorescens in skimmed milk at 7, 13, 19, or 25 °C were studied. Bacterial interactions were modelled after applying a Bayesian approach. No direct correlation between P. fluorescens's growth rate and its effect on the maximum population densities of E. coli species was found. The results show the complexity of the interactions between two species in a food model. The use of natural microbiota members to control foodborne pathogens could be useful to improve food safety during the processing and storage of refrigerated foods.