Factors Affecting

Microbial Growth

FATTOM
Food
Acid
Temperature
Time
Oxygen
Moisture
Factors Affecting Microbial Growth

Food

Factors Affecting Microbial Growth

Food

Nutrients needed by microorganisms include:

Carbon carbon containing compounds are
needed as
an energy source (ex. glucose)
for building blocks.
Nitrogen
needed for amino acids and nucleotides;
some can synthesize all 20 amino acids;
others have to have some provided in their
medium.
Factors Affecting Microbial Growth

Food
Sulfur

needed for amino acids, coenzymes,

Phosphorus needed for ATP, phospholipids, and
nucleotides
Vitamins
a vitamin is an organic substance that an organism
requires in small amounts and that is typically used
as a coenzyme;
many bacteria make their own, but some are
required in the medium;
microbes living in the human intestine manufacture
vitamin K, needed for blood clotting, and some of
the B vitamins, thus benefiting their host.
Certain trace elements ex. copper, iron, zinc, sodium,
chloride, potassium, calcium, etc.;
often serve as cofactors in enzymatic reactions.
Factors Affecting Microbial Growth

Acid (pH)

Measures alkalinity or acidity

Most spoilage bacteria grow best near neutral
pH
Most bacteria grow between pH 6.5-7.5
Molds and yeasts grow between pH 5 and 6
Most bacteria produce organic acids as they
grow and metabolize
Buffers

Factors Affecting Microbial Growth

Effects of acids on organisms

enzyme activity affected
proteins, DNA, other molecules denatured
longer lag, less rapid growth

Factors Affecting Microbial Growth

Classification
of microbes
according
to tolerance
of pH
extremes

Factors Affecting Microbial Growth

Typical growth rates of different types of

microorganisms as affected by pH

Factors Affecting Microbial Growth

Limits of pH for growth of

pathogens

Factors Affecting Microbial Growth

10

Temperature

Factors Affecting Microbial Growth

11

Temperature
Type of
microorganism

Growth Range

Optimum

Psychrophiles

-10 - 20C

10 - 15C

Psychrotrophs

0 - 30C

20 - 25C

Mesophiles

10 - 50C

36 - 38C

Thermophiles

40 - 72C

55 - 65C

Thermodurics

35 - 80C

45 - 55C

Factors Affecting Microbial Growth

12

Temperature
effects
on growth
rate.

Factors Affecting Microbial Growth

13

Typical growth rates of different types of

microorganisms in response to temperature

Factors Affecting Microbial Growth

14

Food spoilage temperature

Factors Affecting Microbial Growth

15

Time

Not more than 2-4

hours at temperature
danger (growth) zone

Factors Affecting Microbial Growth

16

Oxygen
Poisonous at high concentrations
Often combined with hydrogen to form
water
Microorganisms have variation in need to
metabolize oxygen

Factors Affecting Microbial Growth

17

Oxygen
Type of Organism

Description

Oxygen Level

Example

Obligate aerobe

With O2

20%

B.subtilis

Obligate anaerobe

Without O2

0%

C. botulinum

Facultative anaerobe

With/without O2

0-20%

E.coli

Microaerophiles

With O2

2-10%

Campylobacter

Aerotolerant

With/without O2

0-20%

Factors Affecting Microbial Growth

18

Oxygen and Growth

Obligate aerobic
anaerobes
facultative
aerobes
Microaerophiles

Aerotolerant
anaerobes

Factors Affecting Microbial Growth

19

Oxygen Requirements: The Shake Tube

Factors Affecting Microbial Growth

20

Moisture

Types of water
Bound

water not available for

microorganisms
Free water available for microorganisms

Water activity
Amount

of free water
Potentially hazardous 0.97-0.99
Lowest Aw to prevent bacterial growth: 0.85
Factors Affecting Microbial Growth

21

Effects of low water levels

longer

lag, slower growth

impaired transport
loss of membrane fluidity

Factors Affecting Microbial Growth

22

Approximate Aw values of selected food categories

Factors Affecting Microbial Growth

23

Approximate Aw values of selected food categories

Factors Affecting Microbial Growth

24

Addendum: Osmotic Pressure

High osmotic pressures remove necessary water

from the cell
Plasmolysis shrinkage of the cells plasma
membrane
Growth of cell is inhibited as the plasma
membrane pulls away from the cell wall
Served as the basis of food preservation
methods using salt and sugar
Factors Affecting Microbial Growth

25

Plasmolysis

Factors Affecting Microbial Growth

26

Osmotic Pressure

Halophiles
Can

withstand high salt concentration

Obligate require high salt concentrations
(30%)
Facultative do not require high salt
concentration, but can survive high salt
concentrations (2-15%)

Factors Affecting Microbial Growth

27

Classification
of microbes
according
to salinity
tolerances.

Factors Affecting Microbial Growth

28