Heat Sensitivity of Micro-Organisms | Microbiology

The heat sensitivity of various micro-organisms is illustrated by Table 4.3 which shows their D values. Generally psychrotrophs are less heat resistant than mesophiles, which are less heat resistant than thermophiles; and Gram-positives are more heat resistant than Gram-negatives. Most vegetative cells are killed almost instantaneously at 100 °C and their D values are measured and expressed at temperatures appropriate [...]