Food Safety
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Food Safety
  • NEWS
    • Latest News
    • White Papers
  • PRODUCTS
  • TOPICS
    • Contamination Control
    • Food Types
    • Management
    • Process Control
    • Regulatory
    • Sanitation
    • Supply Chain
    • Testing and Analysis
  • PODCAST
  • EXCLUSIVES
    • Food Safety Five Newsreel
    • eBooks
    • FSM Distinguished Service Award
    • Interactive Product Spotlights
    • Videos
  • BUYER'S GUIDE
  • MORE
    • ENEWSLETTER >
      • Archive Issues
      • Subscribe to eNews
    • Store
    • Sponsor Insights
  • WEBINARS
  • FOOD SAFETY SUMMIT
  • EMAG
    • eMagazine
    • Archive Issues
    • Editorial Advisory Board
    • Contact
    • Advertise
  • SIGN UP!
NewsContamination Control

Scientists Discover Vibrio Bacteria Can Go Dormant, Wake Up

Vibrio
February 1, 2021

Research scientists in England have discovered that a certain type of Vibrio bacteria can go dormant and later "wake up."

Vibrio parahaemolyticus can cause gastroenteritis when it infects raw/undercooked shellfish, such as oysters, and mussels, which are later eaten by consumers. 

If temperatures are cold, the bacteria is able to become dormant, and can remain in a hibernation state for long periods of time, before it resuscitates. 

Vibrio parahaemolyticus generally grows in warm and/or tropical marine environments, but in recent years due to rising sea temperatures it now can be found in UK waters during summer months. 

The University of Exeter scientists who discovered the population of dormant cells that are better at waking up also discovered an enzyme that is involved in the process. Although most of the bacteria die when they encounter poor growth conditions, some sub-populations are able to stay dormant.

These findings have major implications for seafood safety, since the dormant cells aren't able to be found using routing screenings tests, and the true bacterial load (amount of bacteria) might not be found.

The study was partially funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, Lyons Seafoods providing additional funding and support.

Click here to read the full study.

KEYWORDS: shellfish Vibrio parahaemolyticus

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
to unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • people holding baby chicks

    Serovar Differences Matter: Utility of Deep Serotyping in Broiler Production and Processing

    This article discusses the significance of Salmonella in...
    Testing & Analysis
    By: Nikki Shariat Ph.D.
  • woman washing hands

    Building a Culture of Hygiene in the Food Processing Plant

    Everyone entering a food processing facility needs to...
    Sanitation
    By: Richard F. Stier, M.S.
  • graphical representation of earth over dirt

    Climate Change and Emerging Risks to Food Safety: Building Climate Resilience

    This article examines the multifaceted threats to food...
    Management
    By: Maria Cristina Tirado Ph.D., D.V.M. and Shamini Albert Raj M.A.
Manage My Account
  • eMagazine Subscription
  • Subscribe to eNewsletter
  • Manage My Preferences
  • Website Registration
  • Subscription Customer Service

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the Food Safety Magazine audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of Food Safety Magazine or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • Two men standing in a produce storage facility having a discussion.
    Sponsored byOrkin Commercial

    Staying Compliant With FSMA

  • Deli Salads
    Sponsored byCorbion

    How Food Safety is Becoming the Ultimate Differentiator in Refrigerated and Prepared Foods

Popular Stories

FoodSafetyMattersFinal-900x550-(002).jpg

Ep. 195. Dr. Christopher Daubert: The Value of a Food Science Education

Students returning their lunch trays in a cafeteria

California Bill Would Remove Ultra-Processed Foods from School Lunches

Two men standing in a produce storage facility having a discussion.

Staying Compliant With FSMA

Events

June 26, 2025

How to Design and Conduct Challenge Studies for Safer Products and Longer Shelf Life

Live: June 26, 2025 at 2:00 pm EDT: During this webinar, attendees will learn how to conduct challenge studies for microbial spoilage and pathogen growth, including the common challenges encountered, laboratory selection, and use of predictive models.

May 11, 2026

The Food Safety Summit

Stay informed on the latest food safety trends, innovations, emerging challenges, and expert analysis. Leave the Summit with actionable insights ready to drive measurable improvements in your organization. Do not miss this opportunity to learn from experts about contamination control, food safety culture, regulations, sanitation, supply chain traceability, and so much more.

View All

Products

Global Food Safety Microbial Interventions and Molecular Advancements

Global Food Safety Microbial Interventions and Molecular Advancements

See More Products
Environmental Monitoring Excellence eBook

Related Articles

  • pile of shrimp

    Scientists Discover How Foodborne Vibrio Infects People, Could Lead to New Treatments

    See More
  • Cornell Scientists Discover Five New Listeria Species

    See More
  • digital rendering of virus cells

    Scientists Discover Antibodies That Could Lead to Broadly Effective Norovirus Vaccine

    See More

Related Products

See More Products
  • food safety.jpg

    Food Safety Contaminants and Risk Assessment

  • food-safety-making.jpg

    Food Safety: Making Foods Safe and Free From Pathogens

  • 1119258073.jpg

    FSMA and Food Safety Systems: Understanding and Implementing the Rules

See More Products

Related Directories

  • Salus Scientific Inc.

    Providing innovative bacteria enrichment and culture mediums to detect pathogenic, spoilage, or other contaminating bacteria. The Actero™ Enrichment Media benefits are one step enrichment, faster “time-to-results”, and targeted accuracy. Actero™ EZ-Media Bag provides pre-measured and pre-sterilized enrichment media that can be prepared in under 30-minutes. The newest innovation is a true Multiplex enrichment media that simultaneously enriches 2 to 3 pathogenic bacteria in one step. “Always Easy. Always Right.”
  • OneEvent Technologies

    OneEvent provides wireless temperature monitoring of coolers and freezers through a cellular gateway. Data is collected from temperature and door sensors and when a temperature exceeds your pre-set limits, you get notified. And, OneEvent can predict if a unit will exceed its temperature limits up to 30 days in advance.
  • Thermo Fisher Scientific

    For over 70 years, Thermo Fisher Scientific has been helping customers improve the safety and quality of their packaged and unpackaged food products. Thermo Scientific(TM) metal detectors, X-ray inspection systems and checkweighers are configurable to virtually any application. Discover solutions to help protect consumers and your brand.
×

Never miss the latest news and trends driving the food safety industry

eNewsletter | Website | eMagazine

JOIN TODAY!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Directories
    • Store
    • Want More
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • eNewsletter
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X (Twitter)
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing