Functional Compounds in Fermented Buckwheat Sprouts

Fermented buckwheat sprouts (FBS) are used as multifunctional foods. Their production process includes fermentation with lactic acid bacteria. The major strains were found to include Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus brevis, Lactobacillus pentosus, Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis, and Pediococcus pentosaceus in an investigation of the lactic acid bacteria. We searched for the functional components, and nicotianamine (NA) and 2″-hydroxynicotianamine (HNA) were identified as angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. NA and HNA increased during fermentation. Indole-3-ethanol was identified as an antioxidant (a SOD active substance), and may have been generated from tryptophan during fermentation because it was not contained in green buckwheat juice. A safety test demonstrated that FBS contained were safe functional food components, showing negative results in buckwheat allergy tests. Any buckwheat allergy substances might have been degraded during the fermentation process.     

Effects of lactic acid fermentation and gamma irradiation of barley on antinutrient contents and nutrient digestibility in mink (Mustela vison) with and without dietary enzyme supplement

Abstract

The experiment was conducted to study the effects of fermentation of barley, using two different strains of lactic acid bacteria, a Lactobacillus plantarum/pentosus strain isolated from spontaneously fermented rye sourdough (AD2) and a starch-degrading Lactobacillus plantarum (AM4), on contents of mixed-linked (1 → 3) (1 → 4)-β-glucans, α-amylase inhibitor activity, inositol phosphates, and apparent digestibility of macronutrients in mink. Effects of fermentation were compared with effects of gamma irradiation (γ-irradiation: ⁶⁰Co γ-rays at 25 kGy). The diets were fed to mink with and without a supplementary enzyme preparation. Both lactic acid fermentation and γ-irradiation followed by soaking and incubation, reduced concentrations of soluble β-glucans, phytate and α-amylase inhibitor activity. Dietary enzyme supplementation increased significantly digestibility of crude protein, fat, starch and crude carbohydrate (CHO). Fermentation of the barley increased digestibility of starch and CHO. Fermentation with lactic acid bacteria AD2 resulted in higher starch and CHO digestibility than strain AM4, and had greater effect than γ-irradiation, soaking and incubation. The highest digestibility of starch and CHO was obtained after AD2 fermentation followed by enzyme supplementation. It is concluded that both lactic acid fermentation of barley and enzyme supplementation have positive nutritional implications in the mink by limiting the effects of antinutrients and improving digestibility and energy utilization.     

棒状乳杆菌FZU63发酵对红茶汤风味品质改善的作用

乳酸菌发酵可赋予茶饮料独特的香气与滋味,且可改变其物质组成,产生益生因子等。目前,针对乳酸菌在不同发酵阶段对茶汤中风味物质形成影响的研究较少。本研究以从中国传统泡菜中筛选获得的棒状乳杆菌FZU63为发酵菌株,对不同发酵阶段红茶汤中的挥发性香气成分、还原糖、游离氨基酸、有机酸等含量的变化过程进行分析,并对发酵红茶汤的感官品质进行评价。结果表明,棒状乳杆菌FZU63以红茶汤中的葡萄糖、果糖、甘露糖和木糖作为发酵过程中的主要碳源物质。红茶汤经棒状乳杆菌FZU63发酵作用后,香气成分丰度显著增加,且主要香气组分结构发生改变,发酵红茶汤在花香、坚果香的基础上增添了水果香;此外,部分苦味氨基酸含量下降,甜味和鲜味氨基酸含量增加;并且,乳酸、苹果酸、柠檬酸等有机酸含量在发酵过程中呈现积累。同时,感官评定结果表明棒状乳杆菌FZU63发酵可改善红茶汤的感官品质,且在发酵48h后达到较优。本文系统分析了经棒状乳杆菌发酵不同阶段对红茶汤风味的影响,可为乳酸菌发酵茶饮料的品质控制与产业化应用提供理论参考。     

内蒙古呼伦贝尔地区传统发酵乳中乳酸菌的多样性分析

【目的】对内蒙古呼伦贝尔地区传统发酵乳制品中乳酸菌资源的生物多样性进行研究。【方法】采用纯培养和16S rRNA基因序列分析法对内蒙古呼伦贝尔地区传统发酵乳中的乳酸菌进行多样性分析。【结果】从8份传统发酵乳制品(6份酸牛奶和2份酸马奶)样品中分离到24株乳酸菌,通过16S rRNA基因序列分析和系统进化关系分析将24株乳酸菌鉴定为2株Lactobacillus kefiranofaciens、2株Lactobacillus kefiri、5株Lactobacillus paracasei、3株Lactobacillus plantarum、1株Lactobacillus rhamnosus、6株Lactococcus lactis subsp.lactis、2株Leuconostoc mesenteroides subsp.dextranicum、2株Streptococcus thermophilus和1株Enterococcus faecium。【结论】Lactococcus lactis subsp.lactis为内蒙古呼伦贝尔地区传统发酵乳制品的优势菌种,占总分离株的25%,其次为Lactobacillus paracasei,占总分离株的20.83%。     

Bacterial community associated with ensilage process of wilted guinea grass

Aims: To determine the effects of wilting, storage period and bacterial inoculant on the bacterial community and ensiling fermentation of guinea grass silage. Methods and Results: Fermentation products, colony counts and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) profiles were determined. There was more lactic acid than acetic acid in all silages, but the lactic acid to acetic acid ratio decreased with storage time. This shift from lactic to acetic acid was not prevented even with a combination of wilting and bacterial inoculant. The DGGE analyses suggest that facultatively heterofermentative lactic acid bacteria (Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus brevis and Lactobacillus pentosus) were involved in the shift to acetic acid fermentation. Conclusions: Lactic acid can dominate the fermentation in tropical grass silage with sufficient wilting prior to ensiling. Prolonged storage may lead to high levels of acetic acid without distinctive changes in the bacterial community. Significance and Impact of the Study: The bacterial community looks stable compared to fermentation products over the course of long storage periods in tropical grass silage. Acetic acid fermentation in tropical grass silage can be a result of the changes in bacterial metabolism rather than community structure.     

土霉素残留对蔬菜发酵过程微生物群落演替及代谢产物的影响

【目的】探究土霉素残留对蔬菜自然发酵过程中微生物群落演替和代谢产物动力学的影响,为评估抗生素残留对蔬菜发酵的影响提供理论基础。【方法】超高效液相色谱-串联质谱法测定土霉素残留;高效液相色谱法测定有机酸、电子鼻和气相色谱-质谱联用测定挥发性成分和高通量技术测定微生物种类。【结果】蔬菜自然发酵过程中,土霉素残留从4.00 mg/L下降到2.53 mg/L;不含抗生素残留的蔬菜发酵含有同型和异型乳酸发酵,而土霉素残留的蔬菜发酵仅含有同型乳酸发酵;同时,其特征微生物由Lactobacillus pentosus和Lactobacillus plantarum转变为Lactobacillus paratarrginis、Lactobacillus buchneri和Lactobacillus kisonensis;土霉素残留明显影响了乳酸、柠檬酸、乙酸、香茅醇、3-辛醇、异硫氰酸烯丙酯、乙酸香叶酯、乙烯基硬脂醚和异硫氰酸苯乙酯等代谢产物的含量。【结论】土霉素残留影响了蔬菜乳酸发酵的类型、微生物群落的演替、有机酸和挥发性化合物的形成过程,因此应将抗生素残留纳入发酵蔬菜原料的质量控制指标。     

Ensilage of tropical grasses mixed with legumes and molasses

The effects of adding two legumes, Gliricidia sepium and Leucaena leucocephala, cv. Cunningham, and molasses on the fermentation characteristics of silages made from two tropical grasses (Pangola grass, Digitaria decumbens, and Setaria sphacelata cv. Kazungula) were investigated. Pangola grass silages contained significantly higher contents of water-soluble carbohydrates and lactic acid than did setaria silages after 100 days fermentation, but there were no significant differences between the two silages in populations of lactic acid bacteria and contents of total N and NH₃–N. Addition of either species of legume had no significant effect on fermentation acids and NH₃–N contents, and numbers of lactic acid bacteria. Addition of both legumes reduced NH₃–N production in the silages by 59% after 5 days' fermentation. Numbers of lactic acid bacteria were not significantly affected by the different treatments. Enterococcus faecalis represented 60% of the lactic acid bacteria isolated from the treated herbages prior to ensiling. By 100 days of fermentation, only lactobacilli were isolated: 82% homo-fermenters and 18% hetero-fermenters. Lactobacillus mesenteroides subsp. dextranicum was found only in the silage supplemented with 33% (w/w) legume. It was concluded that the low quality of tropical grasses used as feeds for ruminants may be significantly improved by ensiling these grasses with small amounts of molasses and with high-protein tree leaves.M. Tjandraatmadja and B.W. Norton are with the Department of Agriculture. The University of Queensland, Queensland, 4072, Australia; I.C. Mac Rae is with the Department of Microbiology, The University of Queensland, Queensland, 4072, Australia.     

Lactobacillus pentosus CECT 4023 T co-utilizes glucose and xylose to produce lactic acid from wheat straw hydrolysate: Anaerobiosis as a key factor

Lactic acid is a versatile chemical that can be produced via fermentation of lignocellulosic materials. The heterolactic strain Lactobacillus pentosus CECT 4023 T, that can consume glucose and xylose, was studied to produce lactic acid from steam exploded wheat straw prehydrolysate. The effect of temperature and pH on bacterial growth was analyzed. Besides, the effect of oxygen on lactic acid production was tested and fermentation yields were compared in different scenarios. This strain showed very high tolerance to the inhibitors contained in the wheat straw prehydrolysate. The highest lactic acid yields based on present sugar, around 0.80 g g⁻¹, were obtained from glucose in presence of 25%, 50%, and 75% v v⁻¹ of prehydrolysate in strict anaerobiosis. Lactic fermentation of wheat straw hydrolysate obtained after enzymatic hydrolysis of the prehydrolysate yielded 0.39 g of lactic acid per gram of released sugars, which demonstrated the high potential of L. pentosus to produce lactic acid from hemicellulosic hydrolysates. Results presented herein not only corroborated the ability of L. pentosus to grow using mixtures of sugars, but also demonstrated the suitability of this strain to be applied as an efficient lactic acid producer in a lignocellulosic biorefinery approach. © 2018 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 35: e2739, 2019     

Genetic screening of wine‐related enzymes in Lactobacillus species isolated from South African wines

Aims: The objective of this study was to investigate the presence of genes coding for enzymes of oenological relevance in wine Lactobacillus strains isolated from South African grape and wine samples during the 2001 and 2002 harvest seasons. Methods and Results: A total of 120 wine lactobacilli isolates belonging to Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus hilgardii, Lactobacillus brevis, Lactobacillus pentosus, Lactobacillus paracasei, Lactobacillus sakei and Lactobacillus paraplantarum were genetically screened for enzyme‐encoding genes using PCR with primers specific for β‐glucosidase, protease, esterase, citrate lyase and phenolic acid decarboxylase. The results of PCR screening showed that the Lactobacillus strains possessed different combinations of enzymes and that some strains did not possess any of the enzymes tested. Confirmation analysis with gene sequencing also showed high similarity of genes with those available in GenBank database. Conclusion: In this study, we have demonstrated the existence of genes coding for wine‐related enzymes in wine lactobacilli that could potentially hydrolyse wine precursors to positively influence wine aroma. Significance and Impact of the Study: An expansion of knowledge on the genetic diversity of wine‐associated lactic acid bacteria will enable the selection of novel malolactic fermentation starter cultures with desired oenological traits for the improvement of the organoleptic quality of the wine, and hence wine aroma.     

生长猪结肠乳酸菌菌群的昼夜节律性变化

【目的】本文旨在研究生长猪在24 h内结肠乳酸菌的多样性变化、丰富度变化与节律性变化。【方法】选取6头装有结肠瘘管的“杜×长×大”三元杂交生长猪,于清晨6:00开始,每隔3 h连续采集一天内生长猪的结肠食糜,提取DNA,用乳酸菌特异性引物进行高通量测序,在属和种水平上分析结肠乳酸菌菌群丰度与节律性变化。【结果】生长猪结肠乳酸菌在24 h内Chao1和Simpson指数发生显著性变化(P<0.05);属水平上Lactobacillus相对丰度最高,一天内在6:00时相对丰度最低,为94.15%,18:00时相对丰度最高,为97.46%;种水平上Lactobacillus johnsonii相对丰度最高,一天内在3:00时相对丰度最低,为47.66%,18:00时相对丰度最高,为71.59%,Lactobacillus reuteri丰度次之。生长猪结肠乳酸菌中46个核心OTU具有节律性,均为Lactobacillus;而在种水平上Lactobacillus gasseri、Lactobacillus johnsonii、Lactobacillus sp. KC45a和Lactobacillus reuteri显现出节律性(P<0.05)。【结论】生长猪结肠乳酸菌在24 h内多样性发生显著性变化,在种水平上显现出节律性,丰富了我们对猪肠道微生物昼夜节律的了解。     

Fermentation patterns of forage sorghum ensiled under different environmental conditions

The effects of temperature, aerobic and anaerobic conditions in the silo and plant characteristics [water-soluble carbohydrate (WSC) contents, growing season] on the fermentation characteristics of a tropical forage species, Sorghum bicolor cv. sugar-drip, were investigated. Silages fermented in oxygen-impermeable bags were well preserved and had low pH (3.7), high lactic acid [72 g kg^–1 dry matter (DM) 80% of total acids], and low butyric acid (0.12 g kg^–1 DM) and ammonia nitrogen (NH₃–N) (57 g kg^–1 total nitrogen contents. Conversely, the use of oxygen-permeable bags as silos allowed aerobic decomposition of the ensiled forages. Increasing the incubation temperature lowered the population of lactic acid bacteria, reduced lactic acid production and caused the pH to rise. The heterofermentative Leuconostoc spp. predominated on fresh forages but homofermentative Lactobacillus plantarum began to dominate after 5 and 8 days of fermentation. Heterofermentative lactobacilli, notably Lactobacillus brevis, were dominant among the isolates obtained from 100-day silages. Varying the WSC contents, by crushing and/or chopping the forage, and growing season did not significantly affect the fermentation quality of the resulting silages. It was concluded that the maintenance of anaerobic conditions is essential if good quality silage is to be produced from tropical forage species.     

Usefulness of length heterogeneity-PCR for monitoring lactic acid bacteria succession during maize ensiling

The use of length-heterogeneity PCR was explored to monitor lactic acid bacteria succession during ensiling of maize. Bacterial diversity was studied during the fermentation of 30-day-old maize in optimal and spoilage-simulating conditions. A length heterogeneity PCR profile database of lactic acid bacteria isolated from the silage and identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing was established. Although interoperonic 16S rRNA gene length polymorphisms were detected in some isolates, strain analysis showed that most of the lactic acid bacteria species thriving in silage could be discriminated by this method. The length heterogeneity PCR profiles of bacterial communities during maize fermentation were compared with those on a database. Under optimal fermentation conditions all the ecological indices of bacterial diversity, richness and evenness, deduced from community profiles, increased until day thirteen of fermentation and then decreased to the initial values. Pediococcus and Weissella dominated, especially in the first days of fermentation. Lactococcus lactis ssp. lactis and Lactobacillus brevis were mainly found after six days of fermentation. A peak corresponding to Lactobacillus plantarum was present in all the fermentation phases, but was only a minor fraction of the population. Unsuitable fermentation conditions and withered maize leaves in the presence of oxygen and water excess caused an enrichment of Enterococcus sp. and Enterobacter sp.     

Novel Leuconostoc citreum starter culture system for the fermentation of kimchi, a fermented cabbage product

To determine the dominant microorganisms involved in kimchi fermentation and to examine their effect on kimchi fermentation, we randomly isolated and characterized 120 lactic acid bacteria from kimchi during a 5-day fermentation at 15°C. Leuconostoc citreum was dominant during the early and mid-phases of kimchi fermentation whereas Lactobacillus sake/Lactobacillus curvatus or Lactobacillus brevis were found during later stages. Eighty-two out of 120 isolates (68%) were identified as Leuconostoc citreum by means of a polyphasic method, including 16S rDNA sequencing and DNA/DNA hybridization. A few Weissella confusa-like strains were also isolated during the mid-phase of the fermentation. Strain IH22, one of the Leuconostoc citreum isolates from kimchi, was used as an additive to evaluate growth and acid production in kimchi fermentation. This strain was consistently over 95% of the population in IH22-treated kimchi over a 5-day fermentation, while heterogeneous lactic acid bacteria were observed in the control kimchi. The pH in IH22-treated kimchi dropped rapidly but was stably maintained for 5 days, compared to its slow and prolonged decrease in the control kimchi. These results indicate that Leuconostoc citreum IH22 dominates over and retards the growth of other lactic acid bacteria in kimchi, suggesting it can be used as a bacterial starter culture to maintain the quality of kimchi for prolonged periods. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Growth characterization of individual rye sourdough bacteria by isothermal microcalorimetry

Aims: The present work tests the feasibility of the isothermal microcalorimetry method to study the performance of individual lactic acid bacteria during solid‐state fermentation in rye sourdough. Another aim was to elucidate the key factors leading to the formation of different microbial consortia in laboratory and industrial sourdough during continuous backslopping propagation. Methods and Results: Strains of the individual LAB isolated from industrial and laboratory sourdough cycle were grown in 10 kGy irradiated rye dough in vials of an isothermal calorimeter and the power–time curves were obtained. Sugars, organic acids and free amino acids in the sourdough were measured. The OD–time curves of the LAB strains during growth in flour extract or MRS (De Man, Rogosa and Sharpe) broth were also determined. The maximum specific growth rates of Lactobacillus sakei, Lactobacillus brevis, Lactobacillus curvatus and Leuconostoc citreum strains that dominated in backslopped laboratory sourdough were higher than those of Lactobacillus helveticus, Lactobacillus panis, Lactobacillus vaginalis, Lactobacillus casei and Lactobacillus pontis strains originating from industrial sourdough. Industrial strains had higher specific growth rates below pH 4·8. It was supposed that during long‐run industrial backslopping processes, the oxygen sensitive species start to dominate because of the O₂ protective effect of rye sourdough. Conclusions: Measurements of the power–time curves revealed that the LAB strains dominating in the industrial sourdough cycle had better acid tolerance but lower maximum growth rate and oxygen tolerance than species isolated from a laboratory sourdough cycle. Significance and Impact of the Study: Isothermal microcalorimetry combined with chemical analysis is a powerful method for characterization of sourdough fermentation process and determination of growth characteristics of individual bacteria in sourdough.     

Diversity of lactic acid bacteria from Miang,a traditional fermented tea leaf in northern Thailand and their tannin-tolerant ability in tea extract

The microbiota of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in thirty-five samples of Miang, a traditional fermented tea leaf product, collected from twenty-two different regions of eight provinces in upper northern Thailand was revealed through the culture-dependent technique. A total of 311 presumptive LAB strains were isolated and subjected to clustering analysis based on repetitive genomic element-PCR (rep-PCR) fingerprinting profiles. The majority of the strains belonged to the Lactobacillus genera with an overwhelming predominance of the Lb. plantarum group. Further studies of species-specific PCR showed that 201 of 252 isolates in the Lb. plantarum group were Lb. plantarum which were thus considered as the predominant LAB in Miang, while the other 51 isolates belonged to Lb. pentosus. In contrast to Lb. plantarum, there is a lack of information on the tannase gene and the tea tannin-tolerant ability of Lb. pentosus. Of the 51 Lb. pentosus isolates, 33 were found to harbor the genes encoding tannase and shared 93-99% amino acid identity with tannase obtained from Lb. pentosus ATCC 8041^T. Among 33 tannase gene-positive isolates, 23 isolates exhibited high tannin- tolerant capabilities when cultivated on de Man Rogosa and Sharpe agar-containing bromocresol purple (0.02 g/L, MRS-BCP) supplemented with 20% (v/v) crude tea extract, which corresponded to 2.5% (w/v) tannins. These Lb. pentosus isolates with high tannin-tolerant capacity are expected to be the high potential strains for functional tannase production involved in Miang fermentation as they will bring about certain benefits and could be used to improve the fermentation of tea products.     

Production of formate,acetate, and succinate by anaerobic fermentation of Lactobacillus pentosus in the presence of citrate

Summary The formation of acetate, formate and succinate was studied in Lactobacillus pentosus. These compounds were produced in addition to lactic acid when cells were exposed to anaerobic growth conditions with limited carbohydrates and in the presence of citrate. Citrate was metabolised via oxalacetate serving as an H-acceptor in a joint process together with lactate. The metabolism of citrate resulted in stoichiometric amounts of succinate and acetate. Lactate was degraded to formate and acetate in a reaction catalysed by pyruvate formate lyase. These fermentation products can potentially affect the flavour of fermented food but ecological factors in fermenting meat, e.g. the presence of glucose, nitrate or nitrite prevent this reaction. Offprint requests to: G. Wolf     

Microbiology of sayur asin fermentation

Summary Sayur asin is a fermented mustard cabbage product of Indonesia. The cabbage is fermented naturally in the presence of brined water taken from boiled rice. Fermentation was characterized by a sequential growth of the lactic acid bacteria, Leuconostoc mesenteroides, Lactobacillus confusus, Lactobacillus curvatus, Pediococcus pentosaceus, and Lactobacillus plantarum. Starch degrading species of Bacillus, Staphylococcus and Corynebacterium exhibited limited growth during the first day of fermentation. The yeasts, Candida sake and Candida guilliermondii contributed to the fermentation. Lactic acid, acetic acid, succinic acid, ethanol and glycerol were products of fermentation. Glucose, generated by the degradation of rice starch and maltose, was metabolized by the species that grew.     

Relation of Cheddar Cheese Ripening to Bacterial Lipolysis

This investigation was undertaken to find the relationship between fat hydrolysis and lipolytic activities of lactic acid bacteria participated in Cheddar cheese ripening. Increases in titratable acidities due to lactic fermentation were completed at early stage of ripening. Ripening indices (ratio of water-soluble nitrogen to total nitrogen) increased rapidly until 90 days and thereafter gradually up to 150 days. Considerable amounts of free fatty acids were released from cheese fat throughout the ripening period. Cheese bacteria were enumerated on the media of tomato-glucose-agar and acetate-agar. About 70% of bacteria isolated from cheese at age of 150 days were classified into Lactobacillus casei and L. plantarum. Lipolytic activities of lactobacilli isolated were detected definitely on double-layered agar plates containing Victoria blue-stained olive oil. Lipase activities were determined in cheese extracts during ripening.     

耐乙酸乳杆菌的筛选及其产乳酸特性

【背景】耐受乙酸的乳酸菌是传统谷物醋醋酸发酵过程中产生乳酸及其风味衍生物的重要功能微生物。【目的】从镇江香醋醋醅中分离鉴定具有耐乙酸特性的乳酸菌,并评价不同条件下该菌株的产乳酸能力。【方法】利用4%(体积比)乙酸含量的MRS培养基分离耐乙酸乳酸菌;对其进行16S rRNA基因鉴定、基因组测序、形态观察以及生理生化特性研究;考察不同乙酸浓度、葡萄糖浓度、发酵温度和时间对菌株产乳酸能力的影响。【结果】分离得到一株可耐受6%乙酸的乳杆菌Lactobacillus sp. JN500903;在厌氧静置、接种量5%、乙酸浓度5%、葡萄糖浓度40 g/L、发酵温度37°C、发酵时间10 d条件下,该菌株乳酸产量为16.1 g/L。【结论】乳杆菌JN500903能够耐受6%乙酸浓度,具有在酸性环境下合成乳酸的能力,有一定的应用潜力。     

Microbial communities and chemical changes during fermentation of sugary Brazilian kefir

The microorganisms associated with sugary Brazilian kefir beverage were investigated using a combination of culture-dependent and -independent methods. A total of 289 bacteria and 129 yeasts were identified via phenotypic and genotypic methods. Lb. paracasei (23.8%) was the major bacterial isolate identified, followed by Acetobacter lovaniensis (16.31%), Lactobacillus parabuchneri (11.71%), Lactobacillus kefir (10.03%) and Lactococcus lactis (10.03%). Saccharomyces cerevisiae (54.26%) and Kluyveromyces lactis (20.15%) were the most common yeast species isolated. Scanning electron microscopy showed that the microbiota was dominated by lemon-shaped yeast cells growing in close association with Lactobacillus (long and curved). Some lactic acid bacteria detected by sequence analysis of DGGE (denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis) bands were not recovered at any time through fermentation by plating. Conversely, DGGE fingerprints did not reveal bands corresponding to some of the species isolated by culturing methods. The bacteria Acetobacter lovaniensis and the yeast Kazachstania aerobia are described for the first time in sugary kefir. During the 24 h of fermentation, the concentration of lactic acid ranged from 0.2 to 1.80 mg/ml, and that of acetic acid increased from 0.08 to 1.12 mg/ml. The production of ethanol was limited, reaching a final mean value of 1.24 mg/ml.