Osmophillic organisms are extremophiles that are able to grow in environments with a high sugar concentration. Osmophiles are similar to halophillic (salt-loving) organisms because a critical aspect of both types of environment is their low water activity, aW. High sugar concentrations represent a growth-limiting factor for many microorganisms, yet osmophiles protect themselves against this high osmotic pressure by the synthesis of osmoprotectants such as alcohols and amino acids. Nearly all osmophillic microorganisms fall under the yeast genus.
Osmophile yeasts are important because they cause spoilage in the sugar and sweet goods industry, with products such as fruit juices, fruit juice concentrates, liquid sugars (such as golden syrup), honey and in some cases marzipan.
Among the most osmophillic are:
| Organism | Minimum aW |
|---|---|
| Saccharomyces rouxii | 0.62 |
| Saccharomyces bailii | 0.80 |
| Debaryomyces | 0.83 |
| Saccharomyces cerevisiae | 0.90 |
Pathogenicity
Osmophiles with possible pathogenesis are Aspergillus, Saccharomyces, Enterobacter aerogenes and Micrococcus. [1] However, none of them are highly pathogenic, and only cause opportunistic infections, i.e. infections in people with weakened immune system. They are rather a cause of general food spoiling than causing any food poisoning in humans.
References
- ^ MICROBES INVOLVED IN FOOD SPOILAGE Authors: Gabriel Chavarria, Julia Neal, Parul Shah, Katrina Pierzchala, Bryant Conger
- L. R. Beuchat (December 1981). "Efficacy of agar media for enumerating two Saccharomyces species in sucrose syrups". Mycopathologia (Springer Netherlands) 76 (3): 13–17. doi:.
- Ancasi EG; Carrillo L; Benitez Ahrendts MR (Apr-Jun 2006). "Moulds and yeasts in bottled water and soft drinks (in Spanish)". Rev Argent Microbiol. 38 (2): 93–6. PMID 17037258.
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