PredicAquaMics: study of microbiological quality and safety, predictive modeling and microbial diversity of bottled mineral water

• Grant number: 17/22455-0
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: December 01, 2018
• End date: November 30, 2020
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Food Science and Technology - Food Science
• Principal Investigator: Anderson de Souza Sant'Ana
• Grantee: Anderson de Souza Sant'Ana
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Engenharia de Alimentos (FEA). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Aline Crucello ; Lucélia Cabral

Abstract

Little is known about the diversity and pheno- and genotypic characteristics of microorganisms present in mineral water (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, for instance). In the literature, there are no studies that correlated aspects, such as, the influence of storage conditions on the microbial ecology of mineral waters. There are also limitations regarding the knowledge of the pathogenic potential of these bacteria and, therefore, it is necessary and essential to conduct studies that address these needs. Therefore, this project aims to: i) assess the concentration of P. aeruginosa and heterotrophic bacteria in mineral water sold in the state of São Paulo; ii) characterize, by pheno- and genotypic methods, P. aeruginosa strains isolated from mineral water samples; iii) estimate the varibility of growth parameters of different strains of P. aeruginosa isolated from mineral water and from clinical cases, through a single cell approach; iv) evaluate the adhesion/biofilm formation capacity by different strains of P. aeruginosa isolated from mineral water samples and clinical cases; v) develop primary and secondary predictive growth models for P. aeruginosa isolated from mineral water samples and clinical cases; vi) study the microbial diversity of mineral waters sold in the state of São Paulo as well as kept under different storage conditions. The findings of this research could be useful for estimation of public health impact associated to the consumption of mineral water and as a scientific basis for development of preventive measures. Furthermore, the novel data obtained regarding the growth/survival of microorganisms in mineral water and on the microbial diversity of mineral water samples commercialized in the state of São Paulo will be generated. (AU)