Abstract
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the mechanism of sterilization of Staphylococcus aureus by electron beam irradiation (0.5-, 1-, 2-, 4-, and 6-kGy treatments) and whether it reduces the toxicity of its fermentation supernatant. In this study, we investigated the mechanism of sterilization of S. aureus by electron beam irradiation using colony count, membrane potential, intracellular ATP, and UV absorbance measurements; we used hemolytic, cytotoxic, and suckling mouse wound models to verify that electron beam irradiation reduced the toxicity of the S. aureus fermentation supernatant. The results showed that 2 kGy of electron beam irradiation treatment completely inactivated S. aureus in suspension culture, and 4 kGy inactivated cells in S. aureus biofilms. This study suggests that the bactericidal effect of electron beam irradiation on S. aureus may be attributed to reversible damage to the cytoplasmic membrane, resulting in its leakage and the significant degradation of genomic DNA. The combined results of hemolytic, cytotoxic, and suckling mouse wound models demonstrated that the toxicity of S. aureus metabolites was significantly reduced when the electron beam irradiation dose was 4 kGy. In summary, electron beam irradiation has the potential to control S. aureus and reduce its toxic metabolites in food. IMPORTANCE Electron beam irradiation of >1 kGy damaged the cytoplasmic membrane, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) penetrated the cells. Electron beam irradiation of >4 kGy reduces the combined toxicity of virulent proteins produced by Staphylococcus aureus. Electron beam irradiation of >4 kGy can be used to inactivate Staphylococcus aureus and biofilms on milk.