Casein breakdown during ripening of Idiazabal cheese: influence of starter and rennet type

The objective of this work was to determine the effect of starter and rennet type on casein breakdown during Idiazabal cheese ripening. Four batches of cheeses were manufactured with two rennets, commercial calf rennet and artisanal lamb rennet, and the use of natural flora or a commercial starter. Electrophoretic analysis of cheese samples showed six bands identified as α_s1‐, α_s2 + β‐, α_s1‐I‐, γ₁‐, β‐I‐ and para‐κ‐casein. As expected, the casein breakdown during cheese ripening was considerably affected by rennet type and the use of a commercial starter. The artisanal lamb rennet produced a higher hydrolysis of casein fractions than the commercial calf rennet, probably owing to its high percentage of chymosin (around 78%). The effect of addition of starter on proteolysis was dependent on the casein fractions generated by artisanal lamb rennet or commercial calf rennet. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry     

Characterization of wine rennet and its kinetics by gel electrophoresis

The rennet of glutinous rice wine (wine rennet) is an exclusive clotting agent for Chinese Royal cheese production. Some characterizations are reported herein in an attempt to provide evidence about the use of the protease as either a rennet substitute or an accelerator in cheese making and ripening. The results showed that wine rennet was a monomeric and unglycosylated protease. The N-sequencing indicated a high degree of similarity to other fungal rennets. The cleavage sites of wine rennet on oxidized insulin B chain identified by HPLC-mass spectrometry included Gln⁴-His⁵, Ala¹⁴-Leu¹⁵, Leu¹⁵-Tyr¹⁶, Tyr¹⁶-Leu¹⁷, and Phe²⁴-Phe²⁵ at pH 6.5, which were similar to those observed for Mucor rennet, but different from calf chymosin except for Leu¹⁵-Tyr¹⁶. A comparison study of the kinetic properties of wine rennet on bovine caseins with that of rennets from calf and Mucor miehei by gel electrophoresis showed that these rennets had similar coagulation efficiency but different reaction rates. Wine rennet exhibited a higher degree of degradation than the calf and Mucor enzymes at pH 6.5 and 40°C. Therefore, wine rennet would be an adjunct for calf rennet or an accelerator in cheese making.     

Ripening of Camembert-type cheese made from caprine milk using calf rennet or kid rennet as coagulant

Camembert-type cheese was made from caprine milk using either calf rennet or kid 'Grandine' rennet as coagulant. The pH of all cheeses increased throughout ripening and levels of pH 4.6-soluble nitrogen increased from 8.1 to 18.2% of total nitrogen (TN) and from 6.9 to 20% TN for the cheeses made using calf rennet and kid rennet, respectively. Degradation of β-casein, measured by urea–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and total and free amino acids were greater in the cheese made using kid rennet. Production of peptides, analysed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), was slightly more extensive in the Camembert-type cheese made using calf rennet as coagulant. In general, a higher degree of proteolysis was found in Camembert-type cheese made from caprine milk using kid rennet than in cheese made using calf rennet as coagulant.     

Biochemical and microbiological characterization of artisan kid rennet extracts used for Cabrales cheese manufacture

Four samples of artisanal kid rennet extracts from four different Cabrales cheese producers were biochemically and microbiologically characterized. Most samples had a very acidic pH (around pH 4.0), which may condition their biochemical and microbial variables. The milk-clotting activity of the extracts was assessed using a Formagraph apparatus. The properties of these artisanal rennets were found to be comparable to a 1/10 dilution of 1:10,000 commercial calf rennet; their enzymatic potentials, measured with a semi-quantitative commercial system (API ZYM), showed only very slight differences. A large population of lactobacilli was found in all artisanal kid rennet samples, whereas coliforms, enterococci, staphylococci and leuconostocs were only occasionally encountered. Sixty-four representative colonies were classified by PCR amplification and the sequencing of a stretch of their 16S rDNA genes. Strains of Lactobacillus plantarum completely dominated one of the extracts. In all others samples, strains of this homofermentative species and of the heterofermentative Lactobacillus brevis were present in similar amounts.     

Characteristics of Miniature Cheddar‐Type Cheese Made by Microbial Rennet from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens: A Comparison with Commercial Calf Rennet

Miniature Cheddar‐type cheeses were produced using microbial rennet from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens (milk‐clotting enzyme [MCE]) or calf rennet (CAR). With the exception of pH, there were no significant differences in gross composition between MCE‐cheese (MCE‐C) and CAR‐cheese (CAR‐C). The pH value of CAR‐C was significantly higher than that of MCE‐C at 40 and 60 d of ripening. The total nitrogen content of the pH 4.6‐soluble fraction obtained from MCE‐C was higher than that obtained from CAR‐C. However, nitrogen content of the 12% TCA‐soluble fraction was similar between CAR‐C and MCE‐C. The extent of α_s1‐casein and β‐casein hydrolysis, measured by urea‐PAGE, was similar in both cheese samples. The hydrolysis of β‐casein was lower than that of α_s1‐casein. Different reverse phase‐high‐performance liquid chromatography peptide profiles of ethanol‐soluble and ethanol‐insoluble fractions were obtained from CAR‐C and MCE‐C. The peptide content in the 2 cheese samples increased throughout ripening; the ratio of hydrophobic to hydrophilic peptides was lower in MCE‐C than in CAR‐C. Compared with CAR‐C, MCE‐C was softer as a result of higher protein hydrolysis. Microbial rennet from B. amyloliquefaciens contributed to higher proteolytic rates, which reduced ripening time.     

Rennet paste from lambs fed a milk substitute supplemented with Lactobacillus acidophilus: effects on lipolysis in ovine cheese

The present work was undertaken to evaluate the effects of Lactobacillus acidophilus supplementation of a milk substitute on the features of lamb rennet paste used for cheese making. Lipolysis in cheese manufactured with rennet paste from lambs receiving supplemented milk was also evaluated. Lambs were subjected to 3 different feeding regimens (mother suckling, MS; artificial rearing, AR; and artificial rearing with 7 log₁₀ cfu/mL of Lb. acidophilus supplementation of the milk substitute, ARLb) and slaughtered at 20 and 40 d of age for each feeding treatment. Abomasa of the lambs were processed to rennet paste. Microbial loads, enzymatic activities (chymosin, pepsin, and lipases), and renneting characteristics of the lamb rennet paste were determined. Free fatty acids and conjugated linoleic acids were detected in cheese at 60 d of ripening. Addition of 7 log₁₀ cfu/mL of Lb. acidophilus to the milk substitute was carried out successfully. Total recovery of viable cells was recorded in milk supplied daily to the lambs in the ARLb group. The ARLb rennet had greater amounts of lactobacilli than did the MS or AR rennet, irrespective of the slaughter age of the lambs, and the ARLb rennet had higher concentrations of lactococci when lambs were slaughtered at 40 d of age. Chymosin and lipase activities were also higher in ARLb rennet than in MS or AR rennet from lambs slaughtered at an older age. Milk supplementation of ARLb lambs resulted in improved coagulating ability of the rennet and enhanced cheese lipolysis after 60 d of ripening. A reduction of all free fatty acids was observed in all cheeses when passing from 20 to 40 d of slaughter of the lambs. Conjugated linoleic acids were more abundant in ARLb cheeses at both 20 and 40 d. Therefore, supplementation of the milk substitute with Lb. acidophilus improved the enzymatic features of rennet and the healthful and nutritional characteristics of it the ovine cheese. Moreover, the addition of lactobacilli to the milk substitute made it possible to increase the slaughter age of lambs without detrimental effects on rennet characteristics.     

Quality evaluation of mozzarella cheese made from buffalo milk by using paneer booti (Withania coagulans) and calf rennet

This systematic research was conducted to assess the suitability of Withania coagulans for the preparation of mozzarella cheese from buffalo milk. The extract of dried berries of paneer booti (W. coagulans) was prepared in three buffers separately viz. Tris‐HCl, phosphate, NaCl and appropriate concentration of crude extracts were tested for their milk coagulating activity. NaCl solution with 0.85% strength was found to be suitable for milk coagulation without any objectionable taste and flavour. The results revealed that 15 μL crude enzyme extract per mL of milk was the optimum concentration for coagulation while 4.25 and 37 °C were the best levels of pH and incubation temperature for coagulation respectively. Mozzarella cheese prepared from crude enzyme extract was compared with the cheese prepared by calf rennet using acidification process. There was a nonsignificant difference among all tested parameters of both the coagulants. These findings support the suitability of an aqueous extract of W. coagulans for the commercial preparation of different types of mozzarella cheeses.     

Effects of Enzyme Choice and Fractionation of Commercial Enzyme Preparations on Protein Recovery in Curd

Five different commercial milk clotting preparations (bovine rennet, calf rennet, calf rennet-porcine pepsin mixture, Mucor miebei protease, and modified Mucor miehei protease) were adjusted to equivalent milk clotting activities and then used to clot milk. Percentages of protein in the resulting wheys were compared. Calf rennet, bovine rennet, or modified Mucor miehei protease caused less loss of protein to the whey than Mucor miehei protease or calf rennet-porcine pepsin mixture. The five enzyme preparations were then fractionated by gel filtration. Fractions with milk clotting activity were pooled. Original enzyme preparations and the pooled fractions made from them were standardized to the same clotting activity, then used to coagulated milk to compare their effect on protein loss to the whey. Fractionation significantly improved protein recovery when bovine rennet and calf rennet-porcine pepsin mixture were used as coagulants but not when calf rennet, Mucor miehei protease, or modified Mucor miehei protease were used.     

Changes in the free amino acid content during ripening of Idiazabal cheese: influence of starter and rennet type

The effect of starter and rennet type on free amino acid release during ripening of Idiazabal cheese was studied. Four batches of cheeses were manufactured depending on the rennet used, commercial calf rennet or artisanal lamb rennet, and the addition or not of starter culture. Cheese samples contained 24 individual free amino acids Leu, Glu, Val and Phe showing the highest contents during the ripening. The results indicated that the release of the free amino acids during ripening was strongly affected by starter added to the cheeses, and that this effect varied markedly with the rennet used for cheesemaking. Total amounts of free amino acids were higher for the cheeses made with commercial calf rennet than for those made with artisanal lamb rennet, regardless of starter addition. Likewise, the highest total free amino acid levels were found in the cheeses made with starter, regardless of the type of rennet used.     

Contribution of Milk Enzymes, Starter and Rennet to Proteolysis During Storage of Quarg

The relative contributions of rennet, starter and plasmin to proteolysis during storage of the acid-coagulated cheese quarg were investigated. In the experimental design used, each agent was, in separate treatments, either omitted (rennet), replaced by a nonproteolytic substitute (glucono-δ-lactone instead of starter) or alternatively either increased by the addition of exogenous enzyme or decreased by addition of a specific inhibitor (plasmin). A final experimental variable involved heating milk to 90°C for 10 min prior to acidification. All quarg samples were thermised after acidification, to reduce levels of adventitious microflora and to extend shelf life. The experimental treatments used had little effect on composition or yield of quarg, with the exception of high heat treatment, which increased yield and moisture content due to whey protein denaturation. Omission of rennet during manufacture significantly reduced proteolysis during ripening of quarg, and altered both urea-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and reversed-phase HPLC patterns of proteolysis. Omission of starter had a considerably lesser effect. The role of plasmin was also minor, resulting in production of the large water-insoluble γ-caseins. The principal ripening agent in thermised quarg appeared to be rennet, while starter enzymes and plasmin played a lesser role.     

Compositional,biochemical and textural changes during ripening of Tulum cheese made with different coagulants

In the present study, biochemical, chemical and texture changes in Tulum cheeses made using calf rennet and microbial rennets (Aspergillus niger protease and Rhizomucor miehei protease) were compared during ripening for up to 90 days. A total of 15 free fatty acids (FFAs) were detected in the cheese samples. The peroxide values (PV) of the cheeses increased significantly (P < 0.05) during ripening and the cheese made with calf rennet had the highest PV. Proteolysis in the cheeses increased as the ripening time increased. α_s1‐casein and β‐casein degradation was higher in cheeses manufactured with R. miehei protease. Cheeses made with calf rennet were significantly (P < 0.05) harder, more adhesive, more cohesive and more resilient than those made with microbial rennet.     

Diffuse Reflectance Profiles of Eight Milk-Clotting Enzyme Preparations

Eight milk-clotting enzyme prepartations were standardized to equal clot time and used to coagulate pasteurized whole milk. Diffuse reflectance profiles were monitored for 60-min using a fiber optic sensor sensitive to infrared light at 950 nm. Modified M. miehei and M. pusillus protease, recombinant chymosin and calf rennet produced similar profiles. Rates of increase in diffuse reflectance were E. parasitica recombinant chymosin > calf rennet > modified M. miehei, M. pusillus var. Lindt > 50:50 blend of calf rennet and bovine pepsin > unmodified M. miehei > pepsin. Monitoring milk coagulation as described may be useful during cheese making and allow setting optimal conditions for milk-clotting enzyme preparations.     

Probiotic in lamb rennet paste enhances rennet lipolytic activity, and conjugated linoleic acid and linoleic acid content in Pecorino cheese

Cheeses manufactured using traditional lamb rennet paste, lamb rennet paste containing Lactobacillus acidophilus, and lamb rennet paste containing a mix of Bifidobacterium lactis and Bifidobacterium longum were characterized for the lipolytic pattern during ripening. Lipase activity of lamb rennet paste, lamb rennet containing Lb. acidophilus, and lamb rennet containing a mix of bifidobacteria was measured in sheep milk cream substrate. Rennet paste containing probiotics showed a lipase activity 2-fold greater than that displayed by traditional rennet. Total free fatty acid (FFA) in sheep milk cream was lower in lamb rennet paste (981 μg/g of milk cream) than in lamb rennet containing Lb. acidophilus (1,382.4 μg/g of milk cream) and in lamb rennet containing a mix of bifidobacteria (1,227.5 μg/g of milk cream) according to lipase activity of lamb rennet paste. The major increase of FFA in all cheeses occurred during the first 30 d of ripening with the greatest values being observed for C16:0, C18:0 C18:1. At 60 d of ripening all cheeses showed a reduction in the amount of free fatty acids; in particular, total free fatty acids underwent a decrease of more than 30% from 30 to 60 d in cheeses manufactured using traditional lamb rennet paste, whereas the same parameter decreased 10% in cheeses manufactured using lamb rennet paste containing Lb. acidophilus and cheeses manufactured using lamb rennet paste containing a mix of B. lactis and B. longum. Cheese containing Lb. acidophilus was characterized by the greatest levels of total conjugated linoleic acids (CLA) 9-cis, 11-trans CLA and 9-trans, 11-trans CLA, whereas cheese containing bifidobacteria displayed the greatest levels of free linoleic acid. Rennet pastes containing viable cells of Lb. acidophilus and a mix of B. lactis and B. longum were able to influence the amount of FFA and CLA in Pecorino cheese during ripening.     

Permeate Flux During Ultrafiltration of Whey: Influence of Milk Coagulant Used for Cheese Manufacture

A pilot-scale plate and frame UF system was used to fractionate Cheddar cheese whey and study the effects of different commercial milk coagulants on permeate flux. Coagulants used in this study were calf rennet, Mucor pusillus protease, and Mucor miebei protease. Whey UF performance studies were conducted at a commercial Cheddar cheese plant and at Cornell under controlled conditions. Ultrafiltration was done in a continuous mode and initial concentration factor was set at 2× to simulate the first stage of a multistage whey UF system.Permeate flux decline was rapid in the first 30 min of UF for all wheys studied. More important, the type of milk coagulant used in cheese making had a profound effect on permeate flux during whey UF. No differences in the gross composition of the various wheys were correlated with differences in permeate flux. The highest permeate flux was measured for UF of whey produced during manufacture of Cheddar cheese using coagulant derived from Mucor pusillus. Lowest permeate flux was measured for UF of whey produced during manufacture of Cheddar cheese using calf rennet. Whey from cheese manufactured using Mucor miebei coagulant had flux performance intermediate to Mucor pusillus and calf rennet. The impact of milk coagulants on whey UF process efficiency should be considered by cheese makers.     

Characterization and Cheese-Making Properties of Rennet-Like Enzyme Produced by a Local Algerian Isolate of Aspergillus niger

An ochratoxin free extracellular acid protease was produced by solid state cultivation of Aspergillus niger FFB1. The purified enzyme (48.7 kDa) showed an optimal milk clotting activity at pH 5.5 and 45°C in the presence of 0.01 M CaCl₂. The enzyme was stable at least 24 h at 35°C in the pH range of 5.5–7.0. Thermal denaturation started above 45°C. Fresh cheese manufactured with reconstituted cow milk and the purified enzyme showed similar basic characteristics (pH 4.5, acid taste, white color) as marketed cheeses obtained with calf rennet. This emphasizes the value of exploiting local biological resources for value added food processing in developing countries.     

解淀粉芽孢杆菌GSBa-1凝乳酶在马苏里拉干酪中的应用

对分离自酒曲的1 株解淀粉芽孢杆菌GSBa-1发酵所产凝乳酶进行研究,该酶凝乳活力高而蛋白水解活力低,纯酶凝乳活力可达1.46×106 SU/g;使用该凝乳酶和商品凝乳酶制作马苏里拉干酪,并对干酪理化成分、成熟过程中pH值和微生物指标及干酪成熟前后质构特性、游离脂肪酸、可溶性蛋白、风味和干酪性能等指标进行对比分析。结果显示,理化成分上菌株凝乳酶与商品凝乳酶制作的干酪相接近（P＜0.05）。干酪在成熟过程中,发酵剂存活数先增加后减少,但其差异不大;菌株凝乳酶制作的干酪pH 4.6可溶性蛋白含量较多,干酪的游离氨基酸总量（76 mg/100 g）也高于商品凝乳酶制作的干酪游离氨基酸总量（55.3 mg/100 g）;菌株凝乳酶制作的干酪质构特性优于商品凝乳酶制作的干酪;电镜结果显示,菌株凝乳酶制作的干酪内部网状结构更充实;菌株凝乳酶具有稍强的蛋白水解活力,导致其制作的干酪风味物质种类多于商品凝乳酶制作的干酪,风味物质更加丰富。干酪样品的保形性和拉丝性实验测定结果显示,2 种凝乳酶制作的干酪性能差异不大（P＞0.05）;对2 种凝乳酶制作的干酪进行感官评定,其总评分相接近。以上结果表明,解淀粉芽孢杆菌GSBa-1凝乳酶在一定程度上可代替小牛凝乳酶应用于马苏里拉干酪的生产。     

Effect of temperature and pH on the properties of skim milk gels made from a tamarillo (Cyphomandra betacea) coagulant and rennet

Reconstituted skim milk was gelled with a crude protease extract from tamarillo [Cyphomandra betacea or Solanum betacea (syn.)] fruit and compared with gels prepared with calf rennet. The effects of temperature and pH on the gelation of skim milk were investigated by small deformation oscillatory rheology. The tamarillo extract-induced gels had a faster rate of increase in the elastic modulus (G′) at the early stage of gelation than rennet-induced milk gels. This was probably due to the broader proteolytic activity of tamarillo protease extracts as shown by sodium dodecyl sulfate–PAGE analysis. Confocal microscopy also showed that the milk gels resulting from the addition of tamarillo extracts had larger voids than rennet-induced milk gels. The proteolytic activity of tamarillo extracts was found to be optimal at pH 11. For both rennet and tamarillo extracts, the aggregation time was similar between pH 6.7 and 6.5, but the aggregation time of rennet-induced milk gels was lower than that of milk gels obtained by the addition of tamarillo extracts at pH lower than 6.5. An increase in temperature was found to have a significant effect on aggregation time, particularly at 20°C, where rennet did not coagulate milk in 3 h but the tamarillo extracts coagulated milk within 2 h. The results of this study suggest that extracts from tamarillo fruit could be used for milk gelation, particularly under lower temperature or high pH conditions.     

Novel antibacterial lactoferrin peptides generated by rennet digestion and autofocusing technique

Bovine lactoferrin was hydrolysed with a range of proteolytic enzymes including calf rennet, fungal rennin, and porcine pepsin. Lactoferrin hydrolysates were assessed for their antibacterial activities against Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis. At pH 3, calf rennet lactoferrin hydrolysate before (LFH) showed the highest antimicrobial activity, then pepsin LFH, while fungal rennin LFH was the least active. The calf rennet and pepsin LFH were fractionated using autofocusing and chromatographic techniques. The activity-guided fractionation of calf rennet LFH identified a potent antimicrobial peptide of 11-residues, lactoferricin B (Lf-cin B), and three other novel antibacterial peptides. The 11-residues Lf-cin B was the most potent antibacterial peptide and was isolated from both rennet and pepsin LFH. Pepsin LFH had a main antimicrobial peptide of 25-residues, which was not detected in calf rennet LFH. It could be concluded that calf rennet LFH had stronger antibacterial properties than porcine pepsin LFH. Besides, autofocusing could be used for scaling up the isolation of the potent rennet LFH peptides that would have a widespread commercial use as a natural food preservative substituting porcine pepsin digest, especially in Islamic communities.     

Biochemical patterns in ovine cheese: Influence of probiotic strains

This study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of lamb rennet paste containing probiotic strains on proteolysis, lipolysis, and glycolysis of ovine cheese manufactured with starter cultures. Cheeses included control cheese made with rennet paste, cheese made with rennet paste containing Lactobacillus acidophilus culture (LA-5), and cheese made with rennet paste containing a mix of Bifidobacterium lactis (BB-12) and Bifidobacterium longum (BB-46). Cheeses were sampled at 1, 7, 15, and 30 d of ripening. Starter cultures coupled with probiotics strains contained in rennet paste affected the acidification and coagulation phases leading to the lowest pH in curd and cheese containing probiotics during ripening. As consequence, maturing cheese profiles were different among cheese treatments. Cheeses produced using rennet paste containing probiotics displayed higher percentages of α_S1-I-casein fraction than traditional cheese up to 15 d of ripening. This result could be an outcome of the greater hydrolysis of α-casein fraction, attributed to higher activity of the residual chymosin. Further evidence for this trend is available in chromatograms of water-soluble nitrogen fractions, which indicated a more complex profile in cheeses made using lamb paste containing probiotics versus traditional cheese. Differences can be observed for the peaks eluted in the highly hydrophobic zone being higher in cheeses containing probiotics. The proteolytic activity of probiotic bacteria led to increased accumulation of free amino acids. Their concentrations in cheese made with rennet paste containing Lb. acidophilus culture and cheese made with rennet paste containing a mix of B. lactis and B. longum were approximately 2.5 and 3.0 times higher, respectively, than in traditional cheese. Principal component analysis showed a more intense lipolysis in terms of both free fatty acids and conjugated linoleic acid content in probiotic cheeses; in particular, the lipolytic pattern of cheeses containing Lb. acidophilus is distinguished from the other cheeses on the basis of highest content of health-promoting molecules. The metabolic activity of the cheese microflora was also monitored by measuring acetic, lactic, and citric acids during cheese ripening. Cheese acceptability was expressed for color, smell, taste, and texture perceived during cheese consumption. Use of probiotics in trial cheeses did not adversely affect preference or acceptability; in fact, panelists scored probiotic cheeses higher in preference over traditional cheese, albeit not significantly.     

Microstructure and Texture of Milk Coagulum of Streblus asper Leaf Extract

Microstructure, texture, and syneresis of Streblus asper leaf extract, calf rennet, and Fromase made milk coagula were investigated. Microstructure of the milk coagulum was assessed by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Milk coagulum produced with Streblus asper showed a sponge-like structural network and a denser casein network compared with calf rennet and Fromase produced coagula. Streblus asper made coagulum displayed low porosity, low strength, and low syneresis than those of calf rennet and Fromase made coagula. The spong-like structure, low porosity, and low syneresis were attributed to the high proteolytic nature of Streblus asper leaf extact and to interactions of its phenolic compounds.