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Expert: - 11/13/2009


Question
Hi,

I am going to be doing a experiment on the effect of domestic disenfectants on bacteria, I am wanting this bacteria to be a naturally ocurring 'good' bacteria - one found on surfaces that is useful or simply not harmful to food preperation or humans. However through my research I have been unsucsessful.

I was hoping you could name any bacteria fitting the above or anywhere where I would find the information.

Thanks very much,

Jack Curtis

Answer
Hi,

There are many different types of bacteria that would fit the description of being ubiquitous (found most places) and not a danger to food preparation.  The first one that comes to mind is Bacillus species.  Nearly all of the species in this genus are harmless and they are found everywhere in nature (dirt, yogurt, etc).  It is also a good organism to use when studying the effect of disinfectants, as it is a spore former.  Bacteria that can form spores are more capable of surviving hostile environmental conditions (such as chemical cleaners, heat, lack of water, etc).

Hope this helps,
C

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Chris Bemis

Expertise

I will answer questions relating to the identification of bacterial and fungal isolates using phenotypic (macroscopic/microscopic appearance, biochemical bench tests, fatty-acid analysis) as well as genotypic (RiboPrinting) methods. I can also answer questions relating to environmental microbiology, especially those specifically relating to the pharmaceutical industry. I am less familiar with clinical microbiology.

Experience

I have worked within the biotech industry for 9 years, most of that time spent in a Quality Control Microbiology laboratory setting. Within the laboratory, I routinely performed bioburden testing; sterility testing; gel-clot and kinetic LAL testing; biological indicator testing; stability testing; microbial limits testing; media performance/growth promotion testing; microbial identifications testing using API, Vitek, MIDI (GC-MIS) and RiboPrinter identifications systems; total/fecal coliform testing; environmental monitoring; media preparation; stock culture maintenance; qualification of identification test kits and QuantiCult Plus organisms. I executed the QC validation of the DuPont Qualicon RiboPrinter Microbial Characterization System. I also supported sites internationally with the fungal/microbial identification process, the RiboPrinter assay, stock culture maintenance and the microbial identification process flow.

Organizations
Nationally Registered Microbiologist, American Society of Microbiology (2005)

Publications
Applied and Environmental Microbiology

Education/Credentials
B.S. in Microbiology (2000)

Awards and Honors
Received my company's 'Best Practice Award' for the Validation of the RiboPrinter Microbial Characterization System, 2004

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