Despite being exposed to bacteria in our food, which could cause food poisoning, some people never become ill.
Despite being exposed to bacteria in our food, which could cause food poisoning, some people never become ill. Researchers have also mulled on this question. Professor Colin Hill has described how bacteria use different tricks to aid their survival inside the body, helping to explain why food poisoning can be so unpredictable.
One of the biggest challenges faced by food-borne bacteria is acid.
Acidic conditions, particularly in the stomach and in the gut will kill most microbes found in contaminated food.
Professor Hill's group at University College Cork has revealed that Listeria bacteria, which may be found in soft cheeses and chilled ready-to-eat products, can overcome harsh acidic conditions by exploiting key food ingredients.
Listeria that survive are able to cause serious and sometimes fatal infections, particularly in the elderly and pregnant women.
Certain food constituents such as the amino acid, glutamate, can help the bacteria neutralise acid, allowing the bacteria to pass through the stomach unscathed.
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"Of course this is further complicated by the fact that a contaminated, low-glutamate food could be eaten in combination with a high-glutamate food such as tomato juice, which could also increase the risk of infection," he added.
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"Bacteria that are exposed to low pH before entering the body may adapt to become more acid-tolerant and therefore better equipped to deal with acidic conditions in the body. For example, Listeria contaminating naturally acidic foods such as cheese may be more likely to cause infection than Listeria carried at a more neutral pH in water.
Professor Hill explains how his group's work could help reduce the incidence of Listeria infections.
"The number of cases of listeriosis has nearly doubled in the last decade in Europe. This is because the bacterium is so good at overcoming the challenges it faces in food and in the body. Our studies show that consuming Listeria in one food may be quite safe, while eating the same amount in another food might be lethal. By understanding the role of the food matrix we may be able to identify and eliminate high-risk foods from the diet of susceptible people," he said.
He presented his work at the Society for General Microbiology's autumn meeting in Nottingham.
Source-ANI