Synergetic effects of high-pressure carbon dioxide and nisin on the inactivation of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus

Synergetic effects of high-pressure carbon dioxide (HPCD) and nisin on Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were evaluated. Changes in morphology, interior structure, and membrane permeability were analyzed by scanning and transmission electron microscopy, and flow cytometry. Synergetic effects were found, especially in S. aureus. HPCD alone or with nisin led to morphological and intracellular alterations in both bacteria, but nisin alone led to these damages only in S. aureus. A positive correlation between membrane damage and inactivation was found, but ratios of inactivation were higher, probably because of viable but non-culturable state. Mechanisms were proposed for synergism: for E. coli, outer membrane was damaged first by HPCD, and then HPCD and nisin jointly acted on and destroyed the cytoplasmic membrane, leading to further intracellular damage by HPCD; for S. aureus, HPCD and nisin acted on the cytoplasmic membrane together leading to cell death.