Autoclave and autoplater to evaluate natural antimicrobial action and efficacy

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

This application requests purchase of two pieces of equipment essential to the continuing research being conducted through NSERC, industry and industry-association sponsorship. The program supported by acquisition of the requested equipment (an autoclave to sterilize and an Autoplate 4000 which semi-automates bacterial counting) consists of an active, productive and comprehensive group of microbiological studies examining food safety, the use of natural antimicrobials and the microbial ecology of foods. The goal of these studies is to improve the safety of foods and maximize product shelf-life without safety compromise. Requests for both pieces of equipment are motivated by current limits on capacity and increasing incidents of failure during operation of equipment presently available. While the research underway draws reasonable support from NSERC (individual, strategic) alternate means to access needed equipment are not apparent.