Effect of physico-chemical and molecular mobility parameters on Staphylococcus aureus growth

The role played by water activity, ‘mobility’ and physico‐chemical properties of the media in modulating microbial response has been the object of large debate in the scientific community. In this study, Staphylococcus aureus growth parameters (lag phase and cell density at 24 h) in brain heart infusion (BHI) and BHI:NaCl (1:1) were analysed in their correlation with physico‐chemical/mobility parameters descriptive of the media [solid content, aw, kinematic viscosity, 17O NMR (R2, Pbw and inline image)]. In these high moisture content, liquid and ‘homogeneous’ media S.aureus growth related to all the physico‐chemical and molecular mobility parameters analysed in a similar manner and it was found to be influenced more significantly by added NaCl than by the physico‐chemical and molecular mobility of the media. Staphylococcus aureus growth parameters correlated better with aw (relatively independent of NaCl concentration) than with any other parameter considered in this study.