ELECTROLYSED WATER COMBINED WITH CITRIC ACID ON CONTROLLING AEROMONAS SPP. INOCULATED ON BARRAMUNDI (LATES CALCARIFER) FILLETS

Abstract

The objective of this study was to explore the bactericidal mechanism of citric acid (CA) combined with electrolysed water (EW) on Aeromonas spp. in barramundi (Lates calcarifer) by in vitro metabolomics method. The bactericidal mechanism was investigated by microbiological analysis, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and fluorescence staining analysis. The results showed that the combined treatment significantly reduced the number of Aeromonas bacteria and extended the shelf life of barramundi fillets. In addition, the combined treatment had a higher effect on the cell membrane integrity of the bacteria. Under the synergistic stress of CA and EW, carbohydrate metabolism, amino acid metabolism, and energy metabolism were changed considerably. These findings indicated that the bactericidal mechanism of the bactericidal substance might be explained by the interference of the metabolic pathway, which guided post-treatment sanitisation and extended the applicability of the NMR spectrum to the analysis of fish specific spoilage organisms.