Growth pH does not affect the initial physiological state parameter (p0) of Listeria monocytogenes

It has proven difficult to develop adequate mathematical models for the lag phase (λ) which characterizes the adaptation period prior to the initiation of exponential growth by microorganisms. This is due, in part, to our incomplete understanding of the nature of the initial physiological state of cells (defined as h0 or p0 depending on the model), and changes taking place during adaptation. The objectives of the present study were to characterize p0 using data from growth of Listeria monocytogenes in an automated turbidimetric instrument (Bioscreen), and to determine the influence of limiting growth pH. A model was developed for individual cells which combined a continuous adaptation phase (defined by p0) with a discrete step marking the transition to a continuous exponential growth phase (the CDC model). Parameters of the new model were: p0; the specific growth rate (μ); the initial cell number (N0); and the maximum cell density (Nmax). Progressive reduction of the growth pH in the Bioscreen to 4.7 decreased the μ. It was noted that the regression lines for all trials at all pH values appeared to have a common x-intercept (20.086±1.092), and it was deduced that, when the Bioscreen detection limit (15.07 ln cfu well−1) was subtracted, the resulting value represented the “true” value for the initial physiological state of the cells.