Improvement of the quality and abatement of the biogenic amines of grass carp muscles by fermentation using mixed cultures

BACKGROUND: To improve the quality of processed grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus) products and control the accumulation of hazardous substances therein, minced grass carp slices were salted for 6 h at room temperature and then inoculated with mixed starter cultures of Lactobacillus casei, Streptococcus lactis, Saccharomyces cerevisiae Hansen and Monascus anka and fermented for 12 h at 30 °C. The changes in some characteristics and biogenic amine contents of the fermented muscles were investigated. RESULTS: During the 12 h fermentation at 30 °C, muscles inoculated with mixed starter cultures showed a rapid decrease in pH from 6.0 to 5.1 and suppression of the growth of enterobacteria and pseudomonads. The fermented muscles exhibited better colour, appearance, flavour and overall acceptability than the control (P < 0.05). The changes in non‐protein nitrogen and free amino acid contents of the fermented muscles and in their sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis profiles indicated that severe hydrolysis of muscle proteins occurred during fermentation. The accumulation of biogenic amines in the muscles was efficiently reduced by fermentation with mixed starter cultures. CONCLUSION: Fermentation with mixed starter cultures of L. casei, S. lactis, S. cerevisiae Hansen and M. anka significantly improved the characteristics of grass carp muscles and controlled the accumulation of biogenic amines. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry     

Stimulation of Cadaverine Production by Foodborne Pathogens in the Presence of Lactobacillus,Lactococcus, and Streptococcus spp.

Abstract: The effect of Lactobacillus plantarum (FI8595), Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris MG 1363), Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis (IL 1403), and Streptococcus thermophilus on cadaverine and other biogenic amine production by foodborne pathogens was investigated lysine decarboxylase broth. Both of lactic acid bacteria and foodborne pathogens used (especially Staphylococcus aureus, E. coli, Lc. lactis subsp. lactis and Lb. plantarum) had an ability to convert aminoacids into biogenic amine. The conversion of lysine into cadaverine was the highest (167.11 mg/L) by Lactobacillus spp. Gram‐positive bacteria generally had a greater ability to produce cadaverine with corresponding value of 46.26, 53.76, and 154.54 mg/L for Enterococcus faecalis, S. aureus, and Listeria monocytogenes, respectively. Significant variations on biogenic amine production were observed in the presence of lactic acid bacteria strains (P < 0.05). The role of lactic acid bacteria on biogenic amine production by foodborne pathogens varied depending on strains and specific amine. Cadaverine accumulation by Enterobactericeae was increased in the presence of lactic acid bacteria strains except for St. thermophilus, which induced 2‐fold lower cadaverine production by S. Paratyphi A. Lc. lactis subsp. lactis and Lc. lactis subsp. cremoris induced 10‐fold higher increases in histamine for E. coli and K. pneumoniae, respectively. Lactic acid bacteria resulted in strong increases in cadaverine production by P. aeruginosa, although remarkable decreases were observed for histamine, spermidine, dopamine, agmatine, and TMA in the presence of lactic acid bacteria in lysine decarboxylase broth . The result of the study showed that amine positive lactic acid bacteria strains in fermented food led to significant amine accumulation by contaminant bacteria and their accumulation in food product may be controlled by the use of proper starters with amine‐negative activity. Practical Application: Foodborne pathogens and certain lactic acid bacteria are particularly active in the production of biogenic amines. Most of the strains of bacteria possess more than 1 amino acid decarboxylase activity under lysine enrichment culture conditions. Lactic acid bacteria strains had a significant role on increase putrescine accumulation by foodborne pathogens. The increased production of biogenic amines in mixed culture is the result of presence of amine positive lactic acid bacteria strains. The addition of a proper selected starter culture with amine‐negative activity is advisable to produce safer fermented food with low contents of biogenic amines.     

Effect of Select Parameters of the Sourdough Rye Fermentation on the Activity of Some Mixed Starter Cultures

The effect of select parameters (i.e., rye flour ash content, temperature, and dough yield) of the sourdough fermentation on the fermentation activity of different starter cultures (lactic acid bacteria Lactococcus lactis ssp. Lactis, Weissella confusa, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus brevis, Lactobacillus helveticus, and yeast Kluyveromyces marxianus subsp. Marxianus) was determined. The major metabolic end products of fermentation (D, L-lactic acid, acetic acid, ethanol and glycerol) and the evolution of total phenolic content and folic acid during bread making were measured. Lactobacillus helveticus and Kluyveromyces marxianus allowed obtaining sourdoughs with the highest lactic acid/acetic acid ratios. The mixed starter culture with Lactococcus lactis and Saccharomyces cerevisiae generated the most important quantities of D/L lactic acid. The maximum values of ethanol concentration were obtained in case of the sourdoughs from whole rye flour fermented at lower temperature (30°C) with mixed starter cultures containing Sacchomyces cerevisiae. The fermentation process and type of starter culture are also tools to increase the bioactive compounds, enabling the increase of the phenolic content of the sourdough.     

Suitability of selected autochthonous lactic acid bacteria cultures for Pecorino Sardo Dolce cheese manufacturing: influence on microbial composition,nutritional value and sensory attributes

The use of an autochthonous starter culture made up by Streptococcus thermophilus, Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis, Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus casei in the production of experimental Pecorino Sardo Dolce PDO resulted in a high presence of presumptive mesophilic lactococci and lactobacilli, ~10 log colony‐forming units (cfu), and in significantly higher amount of total free amino acids and free fatty acids, 195.1 vs 178.9 and 328.6 vs 191.8 mg/100 g of experimental vs control cheese (made using a commercial starter) respectively. The experimental cheese also displayed better sensory properties such as taste and aftertaste.     

Screening selected strains of probiotic lactic acid bacteria for their ability to produce biogenic amines (histamine and tyramine)

The aim of this study was to investigate the production of biogenic amines (BA), histamine and tyramine by some probiotic lactic acid bacteria (LAB). Fifteen strains representing six LAB species were screened qualitatively by growing them in a decarboxylase medium. Quantitative analysis was carried out by HPLC analysis with direct derivatization of acid extracts. Lactobacillus casei (TISTR 389) and Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus (TISTR 895) were found to produce BA. The highest levels of histamine (1820.9 ± 3.5 mg L^?1) and tyramine (5486.99 ± 47.6 mg L^?1) formation were observed for the TISTR 389 strain, while TISTR 895 produced only histamine (459.1 ± 0.63 mg L^?1) in the decarboxylase broth. Biogenic amine potential was not observed for the Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus lactis subsp. lactis, Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis, and Lactobacillus plantarum strains studied. This study confirmed that BA formation is strain dependent and not related to the species. Therefore, careful screening for amino acid decarboxylase activity is recommended before selecting LAB as appropriate starter or probiotic strains in food and dairy industry.     

The effect of ripening and storage conditions on the distribution of tyramine,putrescine and cadaverine in Edam-cheese

The aim of the work was to describe the development of selected biogenic amines (histamine, tyramine, putrescine and cadaverine) in 4 layers of Dutch-type cheese (Edam-cheese) depending on 3 ripening/storage regimes during a 98-day period. Biogenic amines were analysed by means of ion-exchange chromatography. A further goal was to identify microbial sources of biogenic amines in the material analysed. Phenotype characterization and repetitive sequence-based PCR fingerprinting were used to identify the isolated bacteria. The highest content of tyramine, putrescine and cadaverine was determined in cheeses stored in a ripening cellar at a temperature of 10 °C during the whole observation period. Lower biogenic amines content was determined in samples which were moved into a cold storage device (5 °C) after 38 days of storage in a ripening cellar (10 °C). The lowest concentrations of biogenic amines were detected in cheeses which were moved into a cold storage device (5 °C) after 23 days of storage in a ripening cellar (10 °C). During the 98-day period, histamine was not detected in any of the regimes. Within the cheeses analysed, non-starter lactic acid bacteria Lactobacillus curvatus, Lactobacillus casei/paracasei and Lactobacillus plantarum were detected as the main producers of the biogenic amines tested. In starter bacteria Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis and Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris the decarboxylase activity tested was not detected.     

Proteolysis of reconstituted goat whey fermented by Streptococcus thermophilus in co‐culture with commercial probiotic Lactobacillus strains

Reconstituted goat whey was fermented with the starter Streptococcus thermophilus TA‐40 in co‐culture with four probiotic adjuncts (independent treatments): Lactobacillus casei BGP93 (T1), Lactobacillus paracasei BGP1 (T2), Lb. paracasei LPC37 (T3) and Lactobacillus rhamnosus LR32 (T4). Lactobacillus populations were higher than 7 log cfu/mL after fermentation and storage. Proteolysis increased significantly (P < 0.05) during fermentation in all trials. Relative amount of low‐molecular‐weight protein fractions (<6.5 kDa) increased in goat whey trials with T1, T3 and T4 during fermentation and storage. The goat whey powder was considered a potential substrate for starter and probiotic cultures, which raised the opportunities to upgrade this by‐product into a functional food.     

Microbiological attributes and biogenic amine content of probiotic Turkish fermented sausage

Microbiological attributes and biogenic amine content of Turkish fermented sausage manufactured by using probiotic starter cultures (Lactobacillus casei, L. acidophilus or their combination) were investigated before and after fermentation-drying period and during refrigerated storage at 4 ± 1 °C for 8 months at 2 month intervals. As results of the study, during fermentation and storage biogenic amine content (histamine, putrescine, cadaverine and tyramine) of the samples were increased significantly. Salmonella, Staphylococcus aureus, coliform and fecal coliform microorganisms were not detected during fermentation and storage. Probiotic microorganism counts of all samples were higher than the lower limit of 6.0 log cfu/g which is requested for probiotic foods.     

Reduced biogenic amine contents in sauerkraut via addition of selected lactic acid bacteria

The contents of free amino acids and biogenic amines in spontaneously fermented sauerkraut, inoculated or not with specific lactic acid bacterium strains, were monitored throughout 45 d of storage. The strains tested were Lactobacillus plantarum 2142, Lactobacillus casei subsp. casei 2763 and Lactobacillus curvatus 2771. In both the control and the experiments, the total amino acid contents increased with time – and the predominant ones were aspartic acid, arginine and glutamic acid. However, upon inoculation with either strain, the total biogenic amine contents remained considerably lower than those of the control (especially in the cases of L. casei subsp. casei and L. curvatus); every single biogenic amine was actually below the 100 ppm-threshold. The dominant biogenic amines in the control were putrescine – and tyramine and histamine, to a lesser extent; the putrescine content was 10-fold lower if inoculation had taken place with either lactobacillus tested; and histamine and tyramine were essentially absent during storage, whereas they ranked above 200 ppm in the control by 45 d. Hence, an efficient food-grade biological tool was made available that constrains buildup of dangerous biogenic amines in fermented vegetables during storage.     

Lactic Acid Bacteria Isolated from Indigenous Fermented Bamboo Products of Arunachal Pradesh in India and Their Functionality

Ekung, eup and hirring are some common indigenous fermented bamboo products of Northeast India. We have isolated, characterized, and identified the predominant lactic acid bacteria (LAB) from 44 samples of ekung, eup, and hirring and studied their technological properties. The phenotypic characterizations of LAB isolates were based on physiological, biochemical tests and API kits, and were identified as Lactobacillus plantarum, L. brevis, L. casei, L. fermentum, Lactococcus lactis, and Tetragenococcus halophilus. Technological properties of LAB such as acidifying capacity, antimicrobial activities, degradation of phytic acid and oligosaccharides, bile-salt tolerance, enzymatic activities, biogenic amines production, and degree of hydrophobicity also were studied. This study showed that strains of LAB played important roles by their functional properties related to acidifying capacity, degradation of antinutritive factors, tolerance to bile-salt, wide enzymatic activities, and nonproducers of biogenic amines. Understanding the biological and biochemical basis of indigenous knowledge of the ethnic people of Northeast India for production of nonperishable bamboo shoots by lactic acid fermentation has merit. It helps to develop both low-cost functional foods, and understand the functionality of microbial diversity. Some of the LAB strains possess functional properties, which render them interesting candidates for use as LAB starter cultures.     

Fermentation of bighead carp (Aristichthys nobilis) surimi and the characteristics of fermented bighead carp surimi products

BACKGROUND: To improve the properties and functionality of bighead carp (Aristichthys nobilis) muscle, bighead carp surimi was inoculated with combinations of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Lactobacillus and Monascus and fermented, and then bighead carp sausages were prepared. The characteristics of fermented bighead carp surimi and sausages were investigated. RESULTS: During the 24 h fermentation at 30 °C, bighead carp surimi inoculated with mixed starter cultures resulted in a rapid decrease of pH, and suppression in the growth of Enterobacteria. The bighead carp sausages exhibited better colour, taste, flavour and appearance than the control (P < 0.05). The changes in non‐protein nitrogen (NPN), free amino acid in the fermented bighead carp surimi and SDS–PAGE patterns indicated that severe hydrolysis of muscle protein had occurred during fermentation. The sausages inoculated with the mixed starter cultures gained higher scores for flavour and overall acceptability than the control. CONCLUSIONS: The characteristic of fermented bighead carp surimi and sausages can be significantly improved by fermentation with the combinations of yeast, Lactobacillus and Monascus. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry     

Analysis of the microflora in Tibetan kefir grains using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis

The microflora of Tibetan kefir grains was investigated by culture- independent methods. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) of partially amplified 16S rRNA for bacteria and 26S rRNA for yeasts, followed by sequencing of the most intense bands, showed that the dominant microorganisms were Pseudomonas sp., Leuconostoc mesenteroides, Lactobacillus helveticus, Lactobacillus kefiranofaciens, Lactococcus lactis, Lactobacillus kefiri, Lactobacillus casei, Kazachstania unispora, Kluyveromyces marxianus, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and Kazachstania exigua. The bacterial communities between three kinds of Tibetan kefir grains showed 78–84% similarity, and yeasts 80–92%. The microflora is held together in the matrix of fibrillar material composed largely of a water-insoluble polysaccharide.     

Microbiological attributes and biogenic amine content of probiotic Turkish fermented sausage

Microbiological attributes and biogenic amine content of Turkish fermented sausage manufactured by using probiotic starter cultures (Lactobacillus casei, L. acidophilus or their combination) were investigated before and after fermentation-drying period and during refrigerated storage at 4?±?1?°C for 8?months at 2?month intervals. As results of the study, during fermentation and storage biogenic amine content (histamine, putrescine, cadaverine and tyramine) of the samples were increased significantly. Salmonella, Staphylococcus aureus, coliform and fecal coliform microorganisms were not detected during fermentation and storage. Probiotic microorganism counts of all samples were higher than the lower limit of 6.0 log cfu/g which is requested for probiotic foods.     

Mixed starter cultures to control biogenic amine production in dry fermented sausages

Several combinations of an amine-negative Lactobacillus sakei strain, along with proteolytic Staphylococcus carnosus or Staphylococcus xylosus strains, were used to study the influence of mixed starter cultures on biogenic amine production during the manufacture of dry fermented sausages. Changes in pH, water content, proteolysis, microbial counts, and biogenic amine contents were simultaneously examined in a spontaneously fermented batch and in three mixed starter-mediated batches. A double-controlled microbial charge initially inoculated as mixed starter culture of L. sakei and Staphylococcus spp. (all amine-negative strains) drastically reduced tyramine, cadaverine, and putrescine accumulation. No production of other aromatic amines such as histamine, phenylethylamine, or tryptamine was observed in any batch. The polyamines, spermine and spermidine, were found in raw materials and their levels decreased slightly in the spontaneously fermented batch. No correlation between proteolysis and biogenic amine production was observed. The use of proper technological conditions favoring starter development and the use of the raw materials with good hygienic quality make it possible to produce fermented sausages nearly free of biogenic amines.     

Bacterial community succession and biogenic amine changes during fermentation of fish-chili paste inoculated with different commercial starter cultures

The microbial dynamics, diversity and succession characterisation during the fermentation of fish-chili paste, with and without starter cultures by high-throughput sequencing, were investigated to identify the relationship between microbial composition and the accumulation of biogenic amines. Results showed that Firmicutes was the predominant phylum, and Lactobacillus and Weissella were the main genera during fermentation process, regardless of the inclusion of starter cultures. Compared with naturally fermented samples (NS; no starter cultures), Pediococcus and Staphylococcus flourished in samples inoculated with SBM-52 starter culture (Staphylococcus xylosus + Staphylococcus carnosus + Pediococcus pentosaceus + Pediococcus acidilactici). Staphylococcus also accounted for a larger proportion in samples inoculated with WBX-43 starter culture (Staphylococcus xylosus + Staphylococcus carnosus). Furthermore, Enterobacter was inhibited in inoculated samples. Unweighted pair-group method with arithmetic means and principal component analyses revealed that microbiota structures were different among NS, SBM and WBX samples. In case of biogenic amines, the concentration of putrescine, cadaverine and tyramine increased to higher levels in NS samples compared with inoculated samples. Our work also investigated the relationship between core bacterial communities and biogenic amines. This study provided an improved understanding for the effects of starter cultures on the microbial community and the quality of fish-chili paste.     

Influence of adjunct cultures on angiotensin‐converting enzyme (ACE)‐inhibitory activity,organic acid content and peptide profile of kefir

The angiotensin‐converting enzyme (ACE)‐inhibitory activities, peptide profiles and organic acid contents in kefir produced by kefir grains plus lactic acid bacteria as adjunct cultures were determined. All the kefir samples showed almost similar peptide profiles as detected by RP‐HPLC, but quantitative differences were observed during storage. The ACE‐inhibitory activities of different lactic cultures did not exhibit a linear tendency during storage period. After 7 days of storage, there was a significant increase in ACE‐inhibitory activity of the sample fermented with Lactobacillus helveticus. However, a kefir sample containing Streptococcus thermophilus, Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis exhibited a higher ACE‐inhibitory activity (92.23%) compared to the other samples.     

Tyramine production of technological important strains of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lactobacillus</Emphasis>, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lactococcus</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Streptococcus</Emphasis>

The aim of this paper was to study the biogenic amines (histamine, tyramine, putrescine, cadaverine, agmatine, spermine and spermidine) production of selected technological important lactic acid bacteria (strains of the genera Lactococcus, Lactobacillus and Streptococcus). Three methods (ion-exchange chromatography (IEC), PCR and cultivation method with pH indicator) were used. Within the 39 strains of lactic acid bacteria tested, the production of tyramine (formed by tyrosine decarboxylase) was detected in eight strains (3 strains of Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis, three strains of Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris, 1 strain of Streptococcus thermophilus and 1 strain of Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus). The other tested biogenic amines were not detected. Cultivation in decarboxylation broth seems to be the least accurate method for the detection of biogenic amines due to enhanced risk of false-positive reactions. Therefore, in order to detect bacteria producing biogenic amines, the combination of PCR and chromatographic methods (e.g. IEC) can be recommended.     

Comparison of the effects of a commercial and an autochthonous Pediococcus acidilactici and Staphylococcus vitulus starter culture on the sensory and safety properties of a traditional Iberian dry‐fermented sausage “salchichón”

The effect of the addition of an autochthonous starter culture and commercial starter culture on the physico‐chemical and sensory characteristics of the dry‐fermented sausage ‘salchichon’ was investigated. Sausages were prepared with a mixture of Pediococcus acidilactici MC184 and Staphylococcus vitulus RS34 as the autochthonous starter culture (P184S34), ripened for 86 days, and compared with a commercial starter batch (CS1). Strains of acid lactic bacteria and Staphylococcus were identified in the samples along the ripening process which demonstrated that the inoculation of sausages assures their implantation during the ripening process. However, P184S34 starter culture showed a higher inhibitory effect on enterobacteria and coliform flora than the CS1 batches, guaranteeing a better quality hygienic sausages. Dry‐fermented sausages ripened with P184S34 showed higher amounts of NPN and volatile compounds derived from amino acid catabolism than the CS1 batches. Especially important was the result found in biogenic amines, since the P184S34 reduced their accumulation compared to the commercial starter batch. The inoculation of a decarboxylase‐negative autochthonous starter culture P184S34 reduced the biogenic amine accumulation guaranteeing safety and homogeneity of the products without producing a negative effect on the sensory characteristics of the traditional fermented sausages.     

Effect of starter cultures on the quality of Suan yu,a Chinese traditional fermented freshwater fish

The generation of volatile compounds of four starter cultures composed of isolated microorganisms from traditional Suan yu was investigated. The cultures included two pure starters (PS1: Lactobacillus plantarum 120 and PS2: Pediococcus pentosaceus 220) and two mixed starters (MS1: L. plantarum 120, Staphylococcus xylosus 135 and Saccharomyces cerevisiae 31 at 1:1:1; MS2: P. pentosaceus 220, S. xylosus 135 and S. cerevisiae 31 at 1:1:1). Naturally fermented Suan yu was used as control. The volatile compounds were collected from the headspace of the samples by Solid‐phase microextraction and analysed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The type and total content of volatile compounds in the mixed‐starter‐fermented fish were higher than those of the pure‐starter‐fermented samples and control. A total of seventy nine and eighty volatile compounds were detected in Suan yu fermented with MS1 and MS2, respectively, with ethanol as the predominant compound and hexanal, ethyl acetate, 3‐methylbutanol, 3‐hydroxy‐2‐butanone, hexanoic acid ethyl ester and 2,3‐butanedione as the other compounds. Furthermore, the sensorial acceptance of the different products with mixed starter cultures seemed to improve the quality of Suan yu products.     

EFFECT OF COLD STORAGE ON CULTURE VIABILITY AND SOME RHEOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF FERMENTED MILK PREPARED WITH YOGURT AND PROBIOTIC BACTERIA

ABSTRACT

We examined the effect of storage time on culture viability and some rheological properties (yield stress, storage modulus, loss modulus, linear viscoelastic region, structural recuperation and firmness) of fermented milk made with Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus, Lactobacillus acidophilus (LA) and Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis in coculture with Streptococcus thermophilus (ST). Acidification profiles and factors that affect viability (postfermentation acidification, acidity and dissolved oxygen) were also studied during 35 days at 4C. Fermented milk prepared with a coculture of ST and Bifidobacterium lactis gave the most constant rheological behavior and the best cell viability during cold storage; it was superior to ST plus LA for probiotic fermented milk production.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

Probiotic cultures should grow quickly in milk, provide adequate sensory and rheological properties to the product, and remain viable during storage. Commercially, it is very common to use yogurt starter culture (i.e. Streptococcus thermophilus[ST] and Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus) in combination with the probiotic bacteria in order to reduce fermentation time. However, LB tends to post acidify fermented milk, which reduces the viability of the probiotic bacteria; thus, it is recommended to use starter cultures devoid of this species. We found that the technological properties and the viability of the probiotic bacterium Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis BL O4 in coculture with ST make it suitable for probiotic fermented milk production; it produces rheological characteristics similar to those of yogurt.