Influence of lactose-citrate co-metabolism on the differences of growth and energetics in Leuconostoc lactis, Leuconostoc mesenteroides ssp. mesenteroides and Leuconostoc mesenteroides ssp. cremoris

The biodiversity of growth and energetics in Leuconostoc sp. has been studied in MRS lactose medium with and without citrate. On lactose alone, Ln. lactis has a growth rate double that of Ln. cremoris and Ln. mesenteroides. The pH is a more critical parameter for Ln. mesenteroides than for Ln. lactis or Ln. cremoris; without pH control Ln. mesenteroides is unable to acidify the medium under pH 4.5, while with pH control and as a consequence of a high Y(ATP) its growth is greater than Ln. lactis and Ln. cremoris. In general, lactose-citrate co-metabolism increases the growth rate, the biomass synthesis, the lactose utilisation ratio, and the production of lactate and acetate from lactose catabolism. The combined effect of the pH and the co-metabolism lactose-citrate on the two components of the proton motive force (deltap = deltapsi - ZdeltapH) has been studied using resting-cell experiments. At neutral pH deltap is nearly entirely due to the deltapsi, whereas at acidic pH the deltapH is the major component. On lactose alone, strains have a different aptitude to regulate their intracellular pH value, for Ln. mesenteroides it drastically decreases at acidic pH values (pH, = 5.2 for pH 4), while for Ln. lactis and Ln. cremoris it remains above pH 6. Lactose-citrate co-metabolism allows a better control of pH homeostasis in Ln. mesenteroides, consequently the pHi becomes homogeneous between the three strains studied, for pH 4 it is in an interval of 0.3 pH unit (from pHi = 6.4 to pHi = 6.7). In this metabolic state, and as a consequence of the variation in deltapH, and to some extent in the deltapsi, the difference of deltap between the three strains is restricted to an interval of 20 mV.     

Oxygen effect on lactose catabolism by a Leuconostoc mesenteroides strain: modeling of general O2-dependent stoichiometry

Lactose metabolism of a Leuconostoc mesenteroides strain was studied in batch cultures at a pH of 6.5 and 30 degrees C in 10 L of a modified MRS (De Man, Rogosa, Sharp) broth. The end products of this heterolactic bacterium were D-lactate, acetate, ethanol, and carbon dioxide. To test the effect of oxygen on their synthesis, the medium was sparged with different gases: nitrogen, air, and pure oxygen. When oxygen was available, oxygen uptake occurred, which caused a modification in acetate and ethanol production but not in lactate or carbon dioxide production; acetate plus ethanol together were produced in constant amounts, which were independent of the level of aeration. The influence of oxygen on end-product formation could be summed up by the general equation: lactose + x O(2) --> 2 D-lactate + (x + 0.1) acetate + (2 - x) ethanol + 2 CO(2). Maximal oxygen uptake (x = 2) was reached under a 120 L/h flow rate of pure oxygen. In addition, this equation provided useful information on the possible pathway of galactose catabolism by a heterofermentative microorganism. (c) 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

The aerobic growth and product formation of Lactobacillus,Leuconostoc, Brochothrix,and Carnobacterium in batch cultures

Summary The aerobic growth and metabolism of eleven homofermentative and three heterofermentative Lactobacillus strains, three Leuconostoc strains, two Brochothrix thermosphacta strains and two Carnobacterium strains were studied in batch cultures at pH 6.0 and 25°C on a complex substrate containing 10.0 g glucose per litre. All strains, except Carnobacterium divergens 69, grew well aerobically. An oxygen consumption was registered for 18 of the strains—the exceptions being Lactobacillus alimentarius DSM 20249^T, Lactobacillus farciminis DSM 20284^T and Lactobacillus sharpeae DSM 20505^T. The homofermentative lactobacilli showed a maximal oxygen consumption during the stationary growth phase and this was coupled with a low final viable count. Leuconostoc strains, heterofermentative lactobacilli, Brochothrix thermosphacta and Carnobacterium strains showed a maximal oxygen consumption during the exponential growth phase together with a high final viable count. The maximum specific growth rate varied from 0.19 to 0.54 h^-1 while the growth yield varied from 19 to 86 g dry weight per mol glucose consumed. In general, homofermentative lactobacilli produced dl-lactic acid, acetic acid and acetoin. The three heterofermentative lactobacilli produced dl-lactic acid and acetic acid, two strains also produced ethanol Leuconostoc spp. formed d-lactic acid, acetic acid, and ethanol. B. thermosphacta produced acetoin, acetic acid, formic acid, isobutyric acid and isovaleric acid but no lactic acid. Carnobacterium produced l-lactic acid, acetic acid and acetoin. All strains accumulated hydrogen peroxide except L. alimentarius DSM 20249^T, Carnobacterium piscicola 3 and B. thermosphacta.née Blickstad     

Origin of end-products from the co-metabolism of glucose and citrate by Leuconostoc mesenteroides subsp. cremoris

Summary The addition of citrate to glucose broth led to an increase in specific growth rate and glucose catabolism, but a decrease in molar growth yield from glucose, in Leuconostoc mesenteroides subsp. cremoris. Acetate and formate were produced during the stationary phase of growth. According to the fermentation balance, part of the acetate and lactate came from the pyruvate of citrate metabolism. L. mesenteroides subsp. cremoris incorporated radioactive metabolites from [1,5-¹⁴C] citrate into cell material, primarily into lipids. [U-¹⁴C] Glucose was not incorporated into cell material.     

Effect of process parameters on the production and drying of Leuconostoc mesenteroides cultures

Leuconostoc mesenteroides BLAC was grown on MRS broth or on a carrot juice medium, and the effects of sugar concentration, type of pH control, aeration and fermentor size on viable counts were examined. The effect on viability of the type of centrifuge used to concentrate the bacterial culture was also examined. When the MRS broth had the traditional 110 mM glucose, pH control did not increase the final population. However, using a zone pH control mode, increasing the glucose content of MRS both from 110 to 220 mM almost doubled the population. In MRS broth, the amount of acetic acid produced was the same for all treatments, and was proportional to the amount of citrate consumed. There was a significantly lower cell yield in the carrot juice medium when the pH was not regulated. In the carrot juice medium, pH had a more pronounced effect on the final population level than did aeration, even though the quantity of viable cells was greater when the culture was aerated. In MRS broth, glucose was completely consumed during fermentation, but this was not the case in carrot juice medium. Aeration resulted in increased acetic acid content of the fermented medium. Viable counts were not affected by scaling the volume of the fermentation from 2 to 15 l ,or by the type of centrifuge used to concentrate the cells. Cells were concentrated by a factor of 10, but in both centrifuge types, viable counts showed only an eightfold average increase. However, freeze-dried powders obtained from the continuous pilot-plant-centrifuged cultures had, on the average, 33% lower populations than those obtained from the laboratory unit. Journal of Industrial Microbiology & Biotechnology (2002) 28, 291–296 DOI: 10.1038/sj/jim/7000245 Received 09 July 2001/ Accepted in revised form 25 January 2002     

Influence of temperature and pH on production of two bacteriocins by Leuconostoc mesenteroides subsp. mesenteroides FR52 during batch fermentation

The influence of temperature and pH on growth of Leuconostoc mesenteroides subsp. mesenteroides FR52 and production of its two bacteriocins, mesenterocin 52A and mesenterocin 52B, was studied during batch fermentation. Temperature and pH had a strong influence on the production of the two bacteriocins which was stimulated by slow growth rates. The optimal temperature was 20 °C for production of mesenterocin 52A and 25 °C for mesenterocin 52B. Optimal pH values were 5.5 and 5.0 for production of mesenterocin 52A and mesenterocin 52B respectively. Thus, by changing the culture conditions, production of one bacteriocin can be favoured in relation to the other. The relationship between growth and specific production rates of the two bacteriocins, as a function of the culture conditions, showed different kinetics of production and the presence of several peaks in the specific production rates during growth. Received: 13 February 1998 / Received revision: 27 May 1998 / Accepted: 1 June 1998     

The relationship between nutrient feed rate and specific growth rate in fed batch cultures

Summary Equations are described which relate nutrient feed rate to specific microbial growth rate in fed batch culture. Fed batch cultures are classified into three types: 1) those allowing constant specific microbial growth rate, 2) those in which the rate of change of flow rate is constant and 3) those in which the nutrient flow rate is constant. The basic properties of these three types are described.Symbols F medium flow rate, L³ T^–1 - F _o medium flow rate at zero time, L³ T^–1 - g rate of change of flow rate with time, L³ T^–2 - K _v volume constant, being the total cell weight at zero time divided by the product of the yield coefficient and growth-limiting substrate concentration in the feed, L³ - s _r growth limiting substrate concentration in the feed, ML^–3 - V volume of liquid in the growth vessel, L³ - V _f volume of medium fed to the growth vessel, L³ - V _o volume of liquid in the growth vessel at zero time, L³ - X total weight of cells, M - x concentration of cells, ML^–3 - X _g total weight of cells grown, M - X _o total weight of cells at zero time, M - Y yield coefficient, weight of cells grown per unit weight of growth-limiting substrate - specific microbial growth rate, T^–1     

Fermentation of brined turnip roots using Lactobacillus plantarum and Leuconostoc mesenteroides starter cultures

The controlled fermentation of turnip slices using Lactobacillus plantarum or Leuconostoc mesenteroides as starter cultures led to earlier acid production and earlier and more pronounced inhibition of Enterobacteriaceae than with uninoculated (natural) fermentation. Unlike the natural fermentation, the controlled fermentations did not show a yeast secondary fermentation and also had a better colour. Due to its ability to produce higher amounts of acid, the use of Lact. plantarum is more desirable than of Leuc. mesenteroides.     

Effect of oxygen on batch yogurt cultures

A yogurt culture (Streptococcus thermophilus 15HA + Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus 2-11) was studied in conditions of aerobic batch fermentation (10–40% dissolved oxygen in milk). The growth and acidification of S. thermophilus 15HA were stimulated at 20% oxygen concentration and the lactic acid process in a mixed culture was shortened by 1 h (2.5 h for the aerobic culture and 3.5 h for the anaerobic mixed culture). Streptococcus thermophilus 15HA oxygen tolerance was significantly impaired at oxygen concentrations in the milk above 30%. Though S. thermophilus 15HA was able to overcome to some extent the impact of high oxygen concentration (40%), the lactic acid produced was insufficient to coagulate the milk casein (4.0 g lactic acid l⁻¹ in the mixed culture and 3.8 g lactic acid l⁻¹ in the pure culture). A dramatic decrease in the viable cell count of L. delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus 2-11 in the pure and mixed cultures was recorded at 30% dissolved oxygen. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Alteration of the growth rate and lag time of Leuconostoc mesenteroides NRRL-B523.

Bacterial profile modification is an important enhanced oil recovery technique used to direct injected water into a reservoir's low permeability zone containing trapped crude oil. During water flooding, the use of bacteria to plug the high permeability water zone and divert flow into the oil-bearing low-permeability zone will have a significant economic impact. However, during the field implementation of bacterial profile modification, the rapid growth of bacteria near the injection well bore may hinder the subsequent injection of growth media so that profile modification of the reservoir occurs only in the immediate vicinity of the well bore. By slowing the growth rate and prolonging the lag phase, the onset of pore-space plugging may be delayed and the biologically active zone extended deep into the reservoir. High substrate loading, high pH values, and the addition of the growth inhibitors sodium dodecylsulfate and sodium benzoate have been used in combination to alter the growth characteristics of Leuconostoc mesenteroides NRRL-B523 grown in batch conditions. The highest sucrose concentration used in these studies, 500 g/L, produced lag times 12-fold greater than the slowest lag times achieved at low sucrose concentrations. When L. mesenteroides was grown in media containing 500 g/L sucrose, an alkaline pH value threshold was found above which bacteria did not grow. At this threshold pH value of 8.1, an average lag time of 200 h was observed. Increasing the concentration of sodium benzoate had no effect on lag time, but reduced the growth rate until the threshold concentration of 0.6%, above which bacteria did not grow. Last, it was found that a solution of 0.075 mM sodium dodecylsulfate in media containing 15 g/L sucrose completely inhibited bacterial growth.     

Reduction of porous media permeability from in situ Leuconostoc mesenteroides growth and dextran production

In situ growth of bacteria in a porous medium can alter the permeability of that media. This article reveals that the rate of permeability alteration can be controlled by the inoculation strategy, nutrient concentrations, and injection rates. Based on experimental observations a phenomenological model has been developed to describe the inoculation of the porous medium, the in situ growth of bacteria, and the permeability decline of the porous medium. This model consists of two phases that describe the bacteria in the porous medium: (1) the nongrowth phase in which cell transport and retention are occurring; and (2) the growth phase in which the retained cells grow and plug the porous media. Transition from the transport phase to the growth phase is governed by the growth lag time of the cells within the porous medium. The importance of the inoculum injection strategy and the nutrient injection strategy is illustrated by the model. (c) 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

The effect of CO on growth and product formation in batch cultures ofClostridium acetobutylicum

Summary Carbon monoxide sparged in batch fermentations ofC. acetobutylicum inhibits the production of H₂ by the hydrogenase and enhances the production of solvents by making available larger amounts of NAD(P)H₂ to the cells. CO also inhibits biomass growth and acid formation. Its effect is most pronounced under fermentation conditions of excess carbon- and nitrogen-source supply.     

Detection of microbial contamination in fermentation processes: mass spectrometric determination of gram-negative bacteria in Leuconostoc mesenteroides cultures

Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry was used to detect the presence of Enterobacter cloacae in cultures of Leuconostoc mesenteroides, an organism used in an industrial process for production of dextrane. The penta-fluorobenzoyl-methyl ester derivative of 3-hydroxy-myristic acid, a characteristic compound of gram-negative bacteria, was used as the analyte. By using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry with selected ion monitoring, E. cloacae was determined over the range of 1 ppm to 1% in cultures of L. mesenteroides. The proposed analytical approach represents a useful alternative to conventional methods for determining contaminating organisms in industrial fermentation processes.     

Influence of growth conditions on production and activity of mesenterocin 5 by a strain of Leuconostoc mesenteroides

The effects of various parameters on production and activity of mesenterocin 5, a bacteriocin produced by Leuconostoc mesenteroides subsp. mesenteroides UL5, were investigated. Titres of bacteriocin and minimum inhibitory concentration values were determined by a critical dilution micromethod, using a sensitive strain of Listeria ivanovii as an indicator. Production of the antimicrobial compound was optimal at 37 and 40°C after 9 h of incubation, and was maximized in an aerobic fermentor maintained at pH 5.0. Tween 80 was a major factor in increasing mesenteroxin 5 production and specific production. Large quantities of bacteriocin could be obtained in whey and in whey permeate supplemented with yeast extract in the presence of the surfactant (0.1%). Most of the Listeria strains tested including L. monocytogenes were highly sensitive to the bacteriocin in the pH range 5.5 to 6.0 and at a temperature of 20 to 25°C.     

Cloning, expression and characterization of an extracellular enolase from Leuconostoc mesenteroides

Enolase on the surface of streptococci putatively facilitates pathogenic invasion of the host organisms. The related Leuconostoc mesenteroides 512FMCM is nonpathogenic, but it too has an extracellular enolase. Purified isolates of extracellular dextransucrase from cultures of L. mesenteroides contain minute amounts of enolase, which separate as small crystals. Expression of L. mesenteroides enolase in Escherichia coli provides a protein (calculated subunit mass of 47 546 Da) catalyzing the conversion of 2-phsopho-D-glycerate to phosphoenolpyruvate. The pH optimum is 6.8, with Km and kcat values of 2.61 mM and 27.5 s(-1), respectively. At phosphate concentrations of 1 mM and below, fluoride is a noncompetitive inhibitor with respect to 2-phospho-D-glycerate, but in the presence of 20 mM phosphate, fluoride becomes a competitive inhibitor. Recombinant enolase significantly inhibits the activity of purified dextransucrase, and does not bind human plasminogen. Results here suggest that in some organisms enolase may participate in protein interactions that have no direct relevance to pathogenic invasion.