Figure 4.

Concentrations (mM) of the six dissociated organic acids—propionic, l-lactic, formic, citric, butyric, and acetic—at the MIC_Ms of the 96 C. jejuni strains. The larger, lightly shaded band shows the difference between dissociated citric acid and formic acid concentrations required for inhibition of 100% of the strains for all organic acids, Δ = 22.07 mM, in excess of the level required for inhibition of all strains by citric acid. The line through the citric acid 1-strain (100% of strains) and acetic acid 13-strains (99% of strains) MIC_M data points are encompassed by the narrow dark band or difference in acid concentrations for inhibition of 100, 97, 99, and 99% of the C. jejuni strains by citric, butyric, acetic, and propionic acids, respectively, Δ = 4.47 mM. The five arrows pointing toward the organic acids on the lower right of the figure are those OAs suggested in the literature as being utilized by C. jejuni. The number of strains is displayed adjacent to each MIC_M data point.