Patent ID: 6589771
Filing Date: 2003-07-08
Classification: C12N,Y10S

Abstract:
A method for arousing dormant bacteria comprising:inducing diffusion of intracellular solutes from the bacteria by exposing the bacteria to a hypotonic solution via extraction, and allowing the bacteria to adjust to the hypotonic solution for a length of time effective to initiate arousal in the bacteria; said extraction comprising the steps of: a) microfuging the bacteria to form a pellet; b) suspending the pellet in a phosphate buffered saline; c) allowing the pellet to adjust to the saline; d) microfuging the pellet to form a second pellet; e) suspending the second pellet in phosphate buffered saline; f) allowing the second pellet to adjust to the saline; and g) repeating steps a)-c) until the method is effective in arousing the bacteria; said bacteria being selected from the group consisting of L. monocytogenes, L. caseii, L. plantarum, E. coli, and P. aeruginosa.