Inactivation mechanism of Vibrio parahaemolyticus via supercritical carbon dioxide treatment

Abstract The effects of supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO 2 ) treatments on Vibrio parahaemolyticus cells were determined using viable plate count method at different treatment times (10 and 40 min), pressures (10–25 MPa), and temperature (40 °C). Using the changes in the physical (absorbance, transmission electron microscope and contents of fatty acids) and chemical indexes (pH value, activity of Na +  K + -ATPase, SDS-PAGE) were for further understand the mechanisms of bacterial inactivation under SC-CO 2 . The result showed that 25 MPa treatment for 40 min in 40 °C could significantly ( P V. parahaemolyticus . The pH value and activity of Na +  K + -ATPase of SC-CO 2 treated groups significantly ( P 2 treatment time and pressure. Therefore, our results indicate that SC-CO 2 can be applied to inactivate V. parahaemolyticus by causing a low pH, as well as severe damage to key substances and structures.