Scott E. Martin

Professor of Food Microbiology

Research Interests

Phenomenon of sublethal injury to microorganisms; detection of Listeria monocytogenes; factors involved in the virulence of Listeria monocytogenes (hemolysis, catalase, and superoxide dismutase)

Dr. Martin’s research interests include an understanding of how the environment in which a pathogen grows influences its virulence. The bacterium currently under investigation is the foodborne pathogen Listeria monocytogenes. This microorganism can cause serious infection and even death following consumption of contaminated food. Several enzymes have been identified as being important in listerial virulence: listeriolysin O, phospholipase C, catalase and superoxide dismutase. Dr. Martin’s laboratory group has found that the growth environment influences the amounts of these enzymes produced, and is currently examining flagella formation in this bacterium.

Selected Publications
Yu, X., S.E. Martin S.J. Schmidt. 2008. Exploring the problem of mold growth and the efficacy of various mold inhibitor methods during moisture sorption isotherm measurements. J. Food Sci. 73 (2) 69-81.

Feng, H. and S.E., Martin. 2007. Ultrasonic pasteurization of foods. In Encyclopedia of Agricultural, Food, and Biological Engineering, (ed.) Heldman DR, Marcel Dekker, New York.

Ugarte-Romero E., H.Feng and S. E. Martin. 2007. Inactivaiton of Shigella boydii 18 IDPH and Listeria monocytogens Scott A with power ultrasound at different acoustic energy densities and temperature, J. Food Sci. 72: 103-107.

Ugarte-Romero, E., H. Feng, S.E. Martin and K.R. Cadwallader. 2006. Inactivation of Escherichia coli with Power Ultrasound in Apple Cider. J. Food Sci. 71(2): E102-108.

Teaching

Courses recently taught:

FSHN 274 - Non-majors Food Microbiology

FSHN 471 - Food and Industrial Microbiology

FSHN 472 - Sanitation of Food Processing 

Latest Degree

Ph.D. Kansas State University-1973

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Scott E. Martin received his B.S. degree in Biology from Tarkio College, Tarkio, Missouri, in 1968. He received his M.S. in Microbiology from Wichita State University in 1970 and his Ph.D., also in Microbiology, from Kansas State University in 1973. He was a post-doctoral fellow at the University of California at Irvine in Medical Microbiology from 1973 to 1975. Following another post-doctorate in Food Microbiology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign from 1975 through 1977, he joined the Department of Food Science as an Assistant Professor. He became a full Professor in 1990. Dr. Martin is married and has two children, a son and a daughter.