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

Shiga toxin-producing O157:H7 is a food-borne pathogen and the major cause of hemorrhagic colitis. is the genus most frequent psychrotrophic spoilage microorganisms present in milk. Two-species bacterial systems with O157:H7 non-pathogenic , and 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 's growth rate and its effect on the maximum population densities of 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.