Influence of lyophilization, fluidized bed drying, addition of protectants, and storage on the viability of lactic acid bacteria

Aims:  The present study focuses on the impact of two different drying technologies and the influence of protectants on process survival and storage stability of the two lactic acid bacterial strains Enterococcus faecium and Lactobacillus plantarum .
Methods and Results:  After incubation with the protectants glucose, sucrose, trehalose, and maltodextrin the concentrated bacterial suspensions were subjected to fluidized bed drying and lyophilization and subsequently stored at 4, 22, and 35°C for half a year. Lactobacillus plantarum turned out to be more sensitive to both drying methods than Ent. faecium . Without the addition of a protectant cells of both strains suffered higher losses during fluidized bed drying. Elevated storage temperatures correlate with a higher decline of viable bacterial cells.
Conclusions:  Although survival rates varied between the strains, the nonreducing disaccharides revealed overall best protection for both investigated lactic acid bacteria during processing and storage. The addition of protective carbohydrates can prevent the decline in viability during fluidized bed drying.
Significance and Impact of the Study:  The influence of protectants proved to be species specific and therefore needs to be determined on a case-to-case basis. Survival rates, duration, and energy consumption appear to be the crucial parameters to evaluate the economy of production processes for industrial starter cultures.     

Alternative drying processes for the industrial preservation of lactic acid starter cultures

The preservation of lactic acid starter cultures by alternative drying processes has attracted increasing attention due to the high costs and energy consumption of freezing and freeze drying. This review thus aims to provide a survey regarding the state of knowledge of starter culture production at high levels of viability. The results from numerous studies on various drying processes and lactic acid bacteria are summarized. The alternative drying processes considered, such as spray drying, fluidized bed drying, and vacuum drying, are mainly of industrial interest. The features, advantages, and disadvantages of these drying processes are described. In conclusion, the important factors that need to be considered, standardized, or optimized to achieve high levels of viability include intrinsic tolerance of cultures, growth media and conditions, stress induction, cell harvesting conditions, protective agents, rehydration conditions, enumeration of cells, and storage conditions.     

Inactivation mechanisms of lactic acid starter cultures preserved by drying processes

The preservation of lactic acid starter cultures by drying are of increased interest. A further improvement of cell viability is, however, still needed, and the insight into inactivation mechanisms of the cells is a prerequisite. In this present work, we review the inactivation mechanisms of lactic acid starter cultures during drying which are not yet completely understood. Inactivation is not only induced by dehydration inactivation but also by thermal- and cryo-injuries depending on the drying processes employed. The cell membrane has been reported as a major site of damage during drying or rehydration where transitions of membrane phases occur. Some drying processes, such as freeze drying or spray drying, involve subzero or very high temperatures. These physical conditions pose additional stresses to cells during the drying processes. Injuries of cells subjected to freezing temperatures may be due to the high electrolyte concentration (solution effect) or intracellular ice formation, depending on the cooling rate. High temperatures affect most essential cellular components. It is difficult to identify a critical component, although ribosomal functionality is speculated as the primary reason. The activation during storage is mainly due to membrane lipid oxidation, while the storage conditions such as temperature moisture content of the dried starter cultures are important factors.     

Effect of protective solutes on leakage from and survival of immobilized Lactobacillus subjected to drying, storage and rehydration

When lactic acid bacteria are used industrially as fermentation starters it is important to obtain stable and highly viable bacterial cultures. Six strains of Lactobacillus encapsulated in Ca-alginate gel beads were investigated to determine whether dehydration, storage and rehydration may inflict injury. A negative relationship between leakage of lactate dehydrogenase and survival rates was found. Mesophilic lactobacilli showed only negligible leakage compared with thermophilic strains when dehydrated at 30 °C to a level of 0·11 g H₂0 (g dry wt)⁻¹. The choice of an appropriate suspending medium to be introduced before drying was therefore very important for thermophilic lactobacilli in order to increase the survival rates during dehydration, storage and rehydration. The osmoregulatory solutes tested were adonitol, betaine, glycerol and reconstituted non-fat milk solids (NFMS). Less injury was inflected during dehydration for Lactobacillus helveticus with adonitol, glycerol and NFMS. Survival rates for the strains subjected to immobilization, dehydration, storage and rehydration varied with the strain and the protective solute when fluidized-bed drying was used at 5 °C to a level as high as 0·34 g H₂0 (g dry wt)⁻¹. Non-fat milk solids gave the best protection for thermophilic lactobacilli, while adonitol and NFMS were best for mesophilic lactobacilli.     

Batch fermentations on synthetic mixed sugar and starch medium with amylolytic lactic acid bacteria

The green crop drying industry in Denmark uses Italian rye grass, clover, and alfalfa as raw materials for the production of green pellets. The green crop drying industry solves its energy economical problems by heating and pressing of the green crop before drying. The produced sidestream is called brown juice. Brown juice was shown to be an excellent medium for lactic acid fermentation. The aim of this study was to investigate the utilisation of brown juice in the production of polylactic acid, where wheat starch would be added to increase the lactic acid yield and, thus, the feasibility of the process. A number of amylolytic lactic acid bacteria have been identified, and in this work, six different strains were tested for their ability to produce α-amylase and to utilise all sugars with high lactic acid yield in a medium with a complex composition of free sugars (brown juice) and starch. Lactobacillus plantarum A6 was the only strain that showed both a good lactic acid production and utilisation of starch in this medium. The growth rate of this strain was approximately 0.4 h⁻¹ and the lactic acid yield was 0.7.     

高密度发酵和真空冷冻干燥工艺对乳酸菌抗冷冻性的影响

经真空冷冻干燥得到的乳酸菌发酵剂存活率和后期的低温贮藏稳定性与诸多因素相关。本文综述了制备乳酸菌发酵剂过程中高密度发酵和真空冷冻干燥工艺的不同对乳酸菌抗冷冻性的影响,其中高密度发酵过程中的培养基组分、培养温度、发酵恒定pH、中和剂的选择、菌体收获时期和发酵结束后处理以及真空冷冻干燥过程中保护剂的添加、预冷冻处理等是影响乳酸菌抗冷冻性的重要因素。通过对这些相关因素的综述分析,为提高乳酸菌发酵剂的冻干存活率和后期的低温贮藏稳定性提供新的思路,且应用抗冷冻性强、活力高的乳酸菌发酵剂对有效提高乳制品的质量和企业的经济效益意义重大。     

Sublethal injury makes Gram-negative and resistant Gram-positive bacteria sensitive to the bacteriocins, pediocin AcH and nisin

Gram-negative and some Gram-positive bacteria that are resistant to bacteriocins of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) were subjected to sublethal stresses and treated with nisin and pediocin AcH. Both bacteriocins reduced the viability of cells surviving sublethal stresses. The results explain the possible mechanisms by which bacteriocins of LAB enter through the walls (or outer membranes) to destabilize the cytoplasmic (or inner) membranes and kill cells of sensitive Gram-positive and resistant, but injured, Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria.     

The effective diffusion coefficient and the distribution constant for small molecules in calcium-alginate gel beads

The effective diffusion coefficient, D(e), and the distribution constant, K(i), for selected mono- and disaccharides and organic acids were determined in homogeneous calcium-alginate gel with and without entrapped bacteria. Results were obtained from transient concentration changes in well-stirred solutions of limited volume, in which the gel beads were suspended. The effective diffusioncoefficients and the distribution constants were estimated by fitting mathematical model predictions to the experimental data using a nonlinear model fitting program (MODFIT). Both single solute diffusion and multiple solute diffusion were performed. A small positive effect was obtained onthe values of D(e) for the system of multiple solute diffusion; however, the values of K(i) were not significantly influenced. For the nine solutes tested, D(e) for 2% Ca-alginate gel beads was found to be approximately 85% of the diffusivity measured in water. The effects on D(e) and K(i), for lactose and lactic acid were determined for variations of alginate concentration, pH, temperature, and biomass content in the beads. D(e) decreased linearly for both lactose and lactic acid with increasing cell concentration in the Ca-alginate gel. K(i), was constant for both lactose and lactic acid with increasing cell concentration. D(e) was significantly lower at pH 4.5 than at pH 5.5 and 6.5 for both lactose and lactic acid. Furthermore, D(e) seemed to decrease with increased alginate concentration in the range of 1% to 4%. The diffusion rate increased with increasing temperature, and the activation energy for the diffusion process for both lactose and lactic acid was constant in the temperature range tested. (c) 1995 John Wiley & Sons Inc.     

Collapse temperature of freeze-dried Lactobacillus bulgaricus suspensions and protective media

Optimization of the freeze-drying process needs to characterize the physical state of frozen and dried products. A protocol to measure the collapse temperature of complex biological media such as concentrated lactic acid bacteria using freeze-drying microscopy was first elaborated. Afterward, aqueous solutions of one or several components as well as concentrated lactic acid bacterial suspensions were analyzed in order to study how the structure of these materials is degraded during freeze-drying. A similar behavior toward collapse was observed for all aqueous solutions, which was characterized by two temperatures: the "microcollapse" temperature (T(microc), beginning of a local loss of structure) and the "collapse" temperature (T(c), beginning of an overall loss of structure). For aqueous solutions, these two temperatures were close, differing by less than 3 degrees C. Nevertheless, when lactic acid bacteria were added to aqueous solutions, the collapse temperatures increased. Moreover, the interval between microcollapse and collapse temperatures became larger. Lactic acid bacterial cells gave a kind of "robustness" to the freeze-dried product. Finally, comparing glass transition, measured by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and collapse temperature for aqueous solutions with noncrystallizable solutes, showed that these values belonged to the same temperature range (differing by less than 5 degrees C). As suggested in the literature, the glass transition temperature can thus be used as a first approximation of the collapse temperature of these media. However, for lactic acid bacterial suspensions, because the difference between collapse and glass transition temperatures was about 10 degrees C, this approximation was not justified. An elegant physical appearance of the dried cakes and an acceptable acidification activity recovery were obtained, when applying operating conditions during freeze-drying in vials that allowed the product temperature to be maintained during primary drying at a level lower than the collapse temperature of lactic acid bacterial suspensions. Consequently, the collapse temperature T(c) was proposed as the maximal product temperature preserving the structure from macroscopic collapse and an acceptable biological activity of cells.     

Stimulation of Lactic Acid Bacteria by a Micrococcus Isolate: Evidence for Multiple Effects

Growth of, and rate of acid production by, six cultures of lactic acid bacteria were increased in the presence of Micrococcus isolate F4 or a preparation of its capsular material. Concentrations of hydrogen peroxide found in pure cultures of the lactic acid bacteria were not detectable, or were greatly reduced, in mixed culture with Micrococcus isolate F4. The capsular material was not as effective as whole cells in preventing accumulation of H(2)O(2). Catalase stimulated growth of, and the rate of acid production by, the lactic acid bacteria, but not to the same extent as Micrococcus isolate F4 in some cultures. The existence of two mechanisms for micrococcal stimulation of the lactic acid bacteria is postulated. One mechanism involves removal of H(2)O(2); the other has not been characterized.     

Selected lactic acid bacteria synthesize antioxidant peptides during sourdough fermentation of cereal flours

A pool of selected lactic acid bacteria was used for the sourdough fermentation of various cereal flours with the aim of synthesizing antioxidant peptides. The radical-scavenging activity of water/salt-soluble extracts (WSE) from sourdoughs was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than that of chemically acidified doughs. The highest activity was found for whole wheat, spelt, rye, and kamut sourdoughs. Almost the same results were found for the inhibition of linoleic acid autoxidation. WSE were subjected to reverse-phase fast protein liquid chromatography. Thirty-seven fractions were collected and assayed in vitro. The most active fractions were resistant to further hydrolysis by digestive enzymes. Twenty-five peptides of 8 to 57 amino acid residues were identified by nano-liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry. Almost all of the sequences shared compositional features which are typical of antioxidant peptides. All of the purified fractions showed ex vivo antioxidant activity on mouse fibroblasts artificially subjected to oxidative stress. This study demonstrates the capacity of sourdough lactic acid bacteria to release peptides with antioxidant activity through the proteolysis of native cereal proteins.     

流式细胞术在乳酸菌自溶检测中的应用

【目的】使用流式细胞术(Flow Cytometric)建立一种新的检测方法,可快速筛选自溶度不同的乳酸菌菌株。【方法】菌悬液经20mmol/L的PI-PBS染液在4℃条件下避光染色30min,上流式细胞仪进行测定,检测器激发光波长488nm,检测波长630nm,每个样品收集1×105个细胞,联机使用CellQuest软件分析结果。【结果】阳性染色细胞数与细胞总数之比很好地反映菌液中自溶细胞与非自溶细胞的比例关系,整个检测过程耗时仅为1h左右。【结论】与传统检测方法比较,FCM测定结果稳定可靠,检测时间短,为乳酸菌的自溶特性研究及筛选自溶度不同的菌株用作商业发酵剂提供了便利条件。     

Preliminary tests on nisin and pediocin production using waste protein sources. Factorial and kinetic studies

Lactic acid bacteria, the object of current interest as bacteriocin producers, are microorganisms with complex requirements for peptidic sources, making them appropriate indicators for testing the suitability of formulations based on proteinaceous wastes for use as microbiological media. Different peptones obtained from visceral and fish muscle residues promoted growth of lactic acid bacteria when applied individually or in combination. Kinetic parameters and bacteriocin production were similar and, in some cases (pediocin), far superior (>500%) to those obtained with bactopeptones and commercial media specifically recommended for lactic acid bacteria growth. Visceral residues, especially when subjected to a brief process of autohydrolysis at 20 degrees C, were more efficient for bacterial growth than muscle, even when muscle was treated with pepsin.     

Influence of microencapsulation and spray drying on the viability of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium strains

Improved production methods of starter cultures, which constitute the most important element of probiotic preparations, were investigated. The aim of the presented research was to analyse changes in the viability of Lactobacillus. acidophilus and Bifidobacterium bifidum after stabilization (spray drying, liophilization, fluidization drying) and storage in refrigerated conditions for 4 months. The highest numbers of live cells, up to the fourth month of storage in refrigerated conditions, of the order of 10(7) cfu/g preparation were recorded for the B. bifidum DSM 20239 bacteria in which the N-Tack starch for spray drying was applied. Fluidization drying of encapsulated bacteria allowed obtaining a preparation of the comparable number of live bacterial cells up to the fourth month of storage with those encapsulated bacteria, which were subjected to freeze-drying but the former process was much shorter. The highest survivability of the encapsulated L. acidophilus DSM 20079 and B. bifidum DSM 20239 cells subjected to freeze-drying was obtained using skimmed milk as the cryoprotective substance. Stabilization of bacteria by microencapsulation can give a product easy to store and apply to produce dried food composition.     

解淀粉乳酸细菌在L-乳酸发酵生产中的应用

对解淀粉乳酸细菌及其产生的淀粉酶和发酵工艺等方面的国内外研究现状进行了综述。解淀粉乳酸细菌具有分泌淀粉酶的能力,可免去原料水解处理工序直接发酵淀粉质原料生产乳酸,可以简化生产工艺,并可节约设备投资,进而降低生产成本。解淀粉乳酸细菌主要分离自传统发酵食品,也可从有机废弃物和厨余垃圾中分离得到。介绍了解淀粉乳酸细菌直接利用淀粉质原料的机理,比较了解淀粉乳酸菌发酵生产L-乳酸的工艺。提出通过诱变育种和基因工程育种等方法获得更加高效的解淀粉乳酸细菌,并结合先进的发酵、分离技术来提高乳酸生产效率。     

芝麻香型白酒发酵过程中乳酸菌多样性及其演替规律

【背景】乳酸菌是白酒发酵过程中一类非常重要的微生物,其种类及动态变化对于白酒品质具有重要影响。然而,目前对于芝麻香型白酒发酵过程中乳酸菌群落结构及其演替规律的认识并不全面。【目的】揭示芝麻香型白酒发酵过程中乳酸菌的多样性及菌群的演替规律,为更好地探索白酒酿造机理和控制白酒品质提供生物学依据。【方法】利用高通量测序技术对芝麻香型白酒发酵过程中乳酸菌菌群演替进行跟踪分析,同时采用实时荧光定量PCR对发酵过程中乳酸菌的生物量进行定量分析。【结果】高通量测序结果显示,芝麻香型白酒发酵过程涉及5个属的乳酸菌:魏斯氏菌属(Weissella)、片球菌属(Pediococcus)、乳杆菌属(Lactobacillus)、明串珠菌属(Leuconostoc)和乳球菌属(Lactococcus),共计43种乳酸菌。其中,在发酵过程中平均相对丰度大于0.5%的乳酸菌有10种,分别是类肠膜魏斯氏菌(Weissella paramesenteroides)、食窦魏斯氏菌(Weissella cibaria)、融合魏斯氏菌(Weissella confusa)、戊糖片球菌(Pediococcus pentosaceus)、假肠膜明串珠菌(Leuconostoc pseudomesenteroides)、发酵乳杆菌(Lactobacillus fermentum)、植物乳杆菌(Lactobacillus plantarum)、副干酪乳杆菌(Lactobacillus paracasei)、耐酸乳杆菌(Lactobacillus acetotolerans)和Lactobacillus sp.。在堆积发酵过程中,Weissella属占细菌总量的50%以上,其次是Pediococcus属和Lactobacillus属,而Leuconostoc属和Lactococcus属相对较少。在窖池发酵过程中Lactobacillus属的乳酸菌逐渐成为优势细菌,尤其是Lactobacillus sp.在窖池发酵中后期相对丰度达到80%以上。实时荧光定量PCR结果显示,在堆积发酵和窖池发酵前期乳酸菌总量变化不大;从窖池发酵5 d开始,乳酸菌总量迅速上升,30 d时达到最大值。【结论】对白酒发酵过程中乳酸菌种类及动态变化的研究有助于探究白酒酿造过程中乳酸菌功能,进而解析白酒酿造机理,最终达到控制白酒品质的目的。     

Antagonism Between Osmophilic Lactic Acid Bacteria and Yeasts in Brine Fermentation of Soy Sauce

Brine fermentation by osmophilic lactic acid bacteria and yeasts for long periods of time is essential to produce a good quality of shoyu (Japanese fermented soy sauce). It is well known that lactic acid fermentation by osmophilic lactic acid bacteria results in the depression of alcoholic fermentation by osmophilic yeasts, but the nature of the interaction between osmophilic lactic acid bacteria and yeasts in brine fermentation of shoyu has not been revealed. The inhibitory effect of osmophilic lactic acid bacteria on the growth of osmophilic yeasts was investigated. It was recognized that osmophilic shoyu yeasts such as Saccharomyces rouxii and Torulopsis versatilis were inhibited by a metabolite produced by osmophilic lactic acid bacteria (belonging to Pediococcus halophilus) in brine fermentation of shoyu. The primary inhibitor was considered to be acetic acid, although lactic acid was slightly inhibitory.     

Effects of cultivation conditions on folate production by lactic acid bacteria

A variety of lactic acid bacteria were screened for their ability to produce folate intracellularly and/or extracellularly. Lactococcus lactis, Streptococcus thermophilus, and Leuconostoc spp. all produced folate, while most Lactobacillus spp., with the exception of Lactobacillus plantarum, were not able to produce folate. Folate production was further investigated in L. lactis as a model organism for metabolic engineering and in S. thermophilus for direct translation to (dairy) applications. For both these two lactic acid bacteria, an inverse relationship was observed between growth rate and folate production. When cultures were grown at inhibitory concentrations of antibiotics or salt or when the bacteria were subjected to low growth rates in chemostat cultures, folate levels in the cultures were increased relative to cell mass and (lactic) acid production. S. thermophilus excreted more folate than L. lactis, presumably as a result of differences in the number of glutamyl residues of the folate produced. In S. thermophilus 5,10-methenyl and 5-formyl tetrahydrofolate were detected as the major folate derivatives, both containing three glutamyl residues, while in L. lactis 5,10-methenyl and 10-formyl tetrahydrofolate were found, both with either four, five, or six glutamyl residues. Excretion of folate was stimulated at lower pH in S. thermophilus, but pH had no effect on folate excretion by L. lactis. Finally, several environmental parameters that influence folate production in these lactic acid bacteria were observed; high external pH increased folate production and the addition of p-aminobenzoic acid stimulated folate production, while high tyrosine concentrations led to decreased folate biosynthesis.     

Microbes and membrane biology.

General principles of membrane function have been elucidated by the study of lactic acid bacteria. In this review, the operation and function of ion pumps, secondary transport systems and solute ATPases will be discussed. Despite their differences in kinetics and mechanisms between the transport systems, structural similarities can be recognized among these proteins irrespective of whether they originate from prokaryotes, lower or higher eukaryotes.     

新疆喀什地区母乳中乳酸菌的多样性分析

【目的】对新疆喀什地区母乳中乳酸菌多样性进行分析。【方法】采用菌落培养、显微镜观察、Repetitive genomic fingerprinting(Rep-PCR)指纹图谱和16S r RNA基因序列分析相结合的方法研究母乳中乳酸菌的菌群分布。【结果】从11份母乳中共分离出乳酸菌193株,利用16S r RNA基因序列同源分析和系统发育树对代表菌株进行了分子鉴定,193株乳酸菌隶属于4个属,分别为Lactobacillus(22株)、Streptococcus(42株)、Lactococcus(40株)、Enterococcus(89株)。其中,Enterococcus所占比例最大,达到46%。【结论】新疆喀什地区母乳中乳酸菌多样性丰富,极具开发潜力,将为开发母乳中的益生菌以及安全可靠的微生态制剂提供理论依据。