Short‐chain organic acids at pH 5.0 kill Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. without causing membrane perturbation
Abstract
When strains of Escherichia coli K12 and Salmonella spp. were incubated with 0.5–0.7 mol/l formic or propionic acid at pH 5.0, propionic acid was more active than formic acid. It killed 90% of the cell population within 60 min compared with over 3 h for formic acid. Cell death was not associated with a reduction in culture turbidity or a loss of membrane integrity since morphologically normal membranes were observed by electron microscopy and only a small proportion of the cytoplasmic enzyme β‐galactosidase leaked into the supernatant fluid of acid‐treated E. coli K12 cultures.
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A significant proportion of SCFAs produced in the distal bowel is reabsorbed from the gut lumen by facilitated apical solute transport via multiple transporters and passive diffusion.
“A significant proportion of the SCFAs produced in the distal bowel is reabsorbed from the gut lumen by facilitated apical solute transport via multiple different transporters114–117 as well as via passive (concentration-dependent) diffusion118.”
From Dietary metabolism, the gut microbiome, and heart failure (2019) · cites this paper as [114]
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- Authors
- Cherrington, C. A., Hinton, M., Pearson, G. R., & Chopra, I.
- Affiliations
- University of Bristol (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Hinton, M.
- Venue
- Journal of Applied Bacteriology
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 1991-02
- Volume
- 70
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 161-165
- ISSN
- 0021-8847 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2050495605
- Cited by
- 225
- References
- 16
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 13 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 17 · 2019: 11 · 2018: 19 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 9 · 2015: 10 · 2014: 12 · 2013: 9 · 2012: 6
- FWCI
- 2.83
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Applied Bacteriology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Chemistry › Organic Chemistry › Antimicrobial agents and applications
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Bacterial Genetics and Biotechnology
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Biotechnology › Microbial Inactivation Methods
- Keywords
- short-chain organic acids, propionic acid, formic acid, Escherichia coli, Salmonella, membrane integrity, low pH, antimicrobial activity
- MeSH terms
- beta-Galactosidase, Cell Membrane, Escherichia coli, Formates, Hydrogen-Ion Concentration, Microscopy, Electron, Propionates, Salmonella
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