Fighting hazards with bacteriophages
Dr. Xiuping Jiang, Associate Professor of Food Science and Human Nutrition leads a team that is working to isolate bacteriophages against spoilage microorganisms responsible for production of hydrogen sulfide and ammonia in rendering materials.These bacteria can
multiply exponentially by degrading protein-rich raw animal products
and produce gaseous end products that can be harmful or even fatal to
humans. Due to the hazardous nature of hydrogen sulfide, effective
control of the growth of sulfide- and ammonia-producing bacteria is
essential -- not only to ensure the safety of workers handling raw
materials but also to produce high-quality rendered meal products.
Dr. Jiang is studying use of bacteriophages to control the growth of sulfide- and ammonia- producing bacteria.