Identification and characterization of potential autochthonous starter cultures from a Croatian "brand" product "Slavonski kulen"

The microbial population of a traditional Croatian fermented sausage "Slavonski kulen" was isolated, identified and subjected to technological and functional characterization in order to select potential autochthonous functional starter cultures. Dominant microflora were lactic acid bacteria (LAB), followed by staphylococci. Identification of isolated lactobacilli showed domination of Leuconostoc mesenteroides and Lactobacillus acidophilus while Staphylococcus xylosus and Staphylococcus warneri outnumbered the staphylococcal microbiota. Most of the isolated LAB and Staphylococcus species displayed good growth in the presence of 5% of NaCl and at 12, 18 and 22°C. All LAB and most of the staphylococci possess proteolytic activity and only Staphylococcus xylosus had lipolytic activity. All lactobacilli and staphylococci isolates produced significant concentrations of lactic acid (as determined by HPLC) and showed antimicrobial activity against pathogenic test microorganisms. Dominant LAB and Staphylococcus species displayed growth in the presence of 1% bile. Most of the staphylococci and all of lactobacilli showed sensitivity to all antibiotics tested.     

Characterization of lactic acid bacteria isolated from a Greek dry-fermented sausage in respect of their technological and probiotic properties

A total of 147 lactic acid bacteria was isolated from two types of naturally fermented dry sausages at four different stages of the ripening process studied in order to select the most suitable strains according to their technological characteristics including probiotic properties and antimicrobial activity against food-borne pathogens. Identification of the isolates revealed that 90% were lactobacilli, 4% enterococci, 3% Pediococcus sp. and sporadic isolates of Weissella viridescens, Leuconostoc pseudomesenteroides, and Leuconostoc sp. The isolated strains of Lactobacillus sakei (49 isolates), Lactobacillus curvatus (24 isolates) and Lactobacillus plantarum (7 isolates) were further characterized. All strains could grow at 15?°C, whereas the majority of the strains was able to grow in the presence of 6.5% NaCl and on acetate agar. The enzymatic potential of the strains was evaluated using the API ZYM system. During in vitro investigations all strains exhibited high leucine and valine aminopeptidase activities and moderate acid phosphatase and phosphohydrolase activities. Some strains showed very weak lipolytic activity. The enzyme profiling is an important factor for selection of strains as starter cultures. A large majority of the strains tolerated 0.1% bile salts whereas 58% of Lactobacillus curvatus strains and all Lactobacillus plantarum strains were resistant to 0.3% bile salts. All Lactobacillus sakei strains and the majority of Lactobacillus curvatus and Lactobacillus plantarum strains exhibited an anti-listerial activity against three Listeria monocytogenes strains. A percentage of 75, 50 and 29% of Lactobacillus sakei, L. curvatus and L. plantarum strains, respectively, could inhibit two Staphylococcus aureus strains. The contribution of the selected strains to a possible inhibition of Listeria monocytogenes and S. aureus in situ on fermented meats would be of considerable interest to enhance the hygienic quality of these products.     

Comparative study of spontaneously fermented sourdoughs originating from two regions of Greece: Peloponnesus and Thessaly

A total of 167 yeast and 136 lactic acid bacteria strains were isolated from spontaneously fermented wheat sourdoughs from two regions of Greece, namely Thessaly and Peloponnesus. Identification of the isolates exhibited dominance of Torulaspora delbrueckii with sporadic presence of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and, regarding the lactic acid bacteria, dominance of Lactobacillus sanfranciscensis in the sourdoughs from Thessaly and Lb. plantarum subsp. plantarum in the sourdoughs from Peloponnesus. The latter was accompanied by Pediococcus pentosaceus as secondary microbiota. None of the above mentioned strains exhibited amylolytic, lipolytic or proteolytic activities, and none of the lactic acid bacteria strains produced antimicrobial compounds.     

Microbial ecosystems of traditional fermented meat products: The importance of indigenous starters

This paper reviews the diversity of microbiota, both in the environment and in traditional fermented European sausages. The environments of processing units were colonised at variable levels by resident spoilage and technological microbiota, with sporadic contamination by pathogenic microbiota. Several critical points were identified such as the machines, the tables and the knives - knowledge crucial for the improvement of cleaning and disinfecting practices. Traditionally fermented sausages generally did not present a sanitary risk. The great diversity of lactic acid bacteria and staphylococci was linked to manufacturing practices. Development of indigenous starters is very promising because it enables sausages to be produced with both high sanitary and sensory qualities. Our increasing knowledge of the genomes of technological bacteria will allow a better understanding of their physiology in sausages.     

Characterization and selection of autochthonous lactic acid bacteria isolated from traditional Iberian dry-fermented salchichón and chorizo sausages

ABSTRACT:  A total of 192 lactic acid bacteria were isolated from 2 types of naturally fermented dry sausages at 3 different stages of the ripening process in order to select the most suitable strains as starter cultures in dry-cured sausage manufacture according to their technological characteristics such as glucose fermentation, lactic and acetic acid production, and proteolytic, lipolytic, and antimicrobial activities. Identification of the isolates revealed that 31.2% were Pediococcus pentosaceus , 26.9% Lactococcus lactis , 18.6% Pediococcus acidilactici , 17% Lactobacillus brevis , and sporadic isolates of Leuconostoc mesenteroides , Lactobacillus plantarum , and Lactobacillus curvatus . Most of the strains did not produce gas from glucose and showed the capacity to produce lactic acid rapidly. Some 25% of the strains were able to degrade tributyrin (esterase activity), but none showed lipolytic activity against olive oil and pork fat. Only 3 strains of P. acidilactici showed weak proteolytic activity against myofibrillar or sarcoplasmic proteins. Also, the same strains showed antimicrobial activity against Listeria monocytogenes . Nine strains with the best properties were preselected and tested for biogenic amine production. The results showed that two of the strains, identified as P. acidilactici by polymerase chain reaction, had the potential to be further tested as starter cultures in pilot processing of Iberian sausages.     

Quantifying nonthermal inactivation of Listeria monocytogenes in European fermented sausages using bacteriocinogenic lactic acid bacteria or their bacteriocins: a case study for risk assessment

Listeria monocytogenes NCTC10527 was examined with respect to its nonthermal inactivation kinetics in fermented sausages from four European countries: Serbia-Montenegro, Hungary, Croatia, and Bosnia-Herzegovina. The goal was to quantify the effect of fermentation and ripening conditions on L. monocytogenes with the simultaneous presence or absence of bacteriocin-producing lactic acid bacteria (i.e., Lactobacillus sakei). Different models were used to fit the experimental data and to calculate the kinetic parameters. The best model was chosen based on statistical comparisons. The Baranyi model was selected because it fitted the data better in most (73%) of the cases. The results from the challenge experiments and the subsequent statistical analysis indicated that relative to the control condition the addition of L. sakei strains reduced the time required for a 4-log reduction of L. monocytogenes (t(4D)). In contrast, the addition of the bacteriocins mesenterocin Y and sakacin P decreased the t(4D) values for only the Serbian product. A case study for risk assessment also was conducted. The data of initial population and t(4D) collected from all countries were described by a single distribution function. Storage temperature, packaging method, pH, and water activity of the final products were used to calculate the inactivation of L. monocytogenes that might occur during storage of the final product (U.S. Department of Agriculture Pathogen Modeling Program version 7.0). Simulation results indicated that the addition of L. sakei strains significantly decreased the simulated L. monocytogenes concentration of ready-to-eat fermented sausages at the time of consumption.     

低盐发酵香肠用优良菌株的分离筛选及鉴定

从10 种我国自然发酵制品中分离纯化得到52 株乳酸菌及56 株过氧化氢酶阳性球菌,首先通过菌株耐受性、发酵特性等指标对菌株进行初步筛选,然后利用抑菌特性和风味特性对菌株进行复筛,选择可能改善低盐发酵香肠安全性和风味的优良菌株,最终筛选得到3 株葡萄球菌Z9、L2和R2,以及4 株乳酸菌P6、P12、X和SN1-3。经由形态学特征、生理生化特征及16S rDNA序列分析对筛选得到的菌株进行鉴定,结果表明,葡萄球菌菌株Z9、L2为腐生葡萄球菌,R2为肉葡萄球菌;乳酸菌菌株P6、P12均为植物乳杆菌,X为干酪乳杆菌,SN1-3为戊糖片球菌。最后测定菌株的生长特性及产酸能力,研究菌株间的拮抗特性,最终筛选得到戊糖片球菌SN1-3与肉葡萄球菌R2作为制作发酵香肠的复配菌株。     

Amino acid-decarboxylase activity of bacteria isolated from fermented pork sausages.

The occurrence of amino acid-decarboxylase activity in 92 strains of lactic acid bacteria, coagulase-negative staphylococci, and Enterobacteriaceae isolated from Spanish fermented pork sausages was investigated. The presence of biogenic amines in a decarboxylase synthetic broth was determined by ion-pair high performance liquid chromatography with o-phtalaldehyde post-column derivatization. Among the 66 lactic acid bacteria strains tested, 21 lactobacilli (in particular, Lactobacillus curvatus) and all 16 enterococci were amine producers. Tyramine was the main amine produced by these bacteria, although they also produced phenylethylamine, tryptamine, and/or the diamines putrescine and cadaverine. None of the lactic acid bacteria produced histamine. Coagulase-negative staphylococci were found to be negative amine-producers. Aromatic monoamines, apart from histamine, were not formed by Enterobacteriaceae. This family was responsible for cadaverine and putrescine production. The results obtained for biogenic amine production by bacteria in a synthetic medium suggest that amino acid-decarboxylase activity is strain dependent rather than being related to specific species.     

辽宁传统发酵豆酱中乳酸菌及酵母菌分离鉴定

以采自辽宁省不同地区农家38 份传统发酵豆酱样品为试材,通过选择性培养分离出豆酱中的优势乳酸菌及酵母菌疑似菌株,再利用16S rDNA和26S rDNA D1/D2序列分析方法,对其进行初步鉴定并保藏。结果表明,14 个地区38 份样品中共分离到乳酸菌62 株,初步鉴定结果为L. plantarum 19 株、E. faecium 14 株、T. halophilus12 株、L. sakei 11 株、L. fermentum 4 株、P. pentosaceus 2 株。分离到酵母菌56 株,初步鉴定结果为Zygosaccharomyces 18 株、Candida 13 株、C. parapsilosis 14 株、D. hansenii 7 株、Debaryomyces 4 株。丹东市、沈阳市、阜新市等地区的样品中乳酸菌和酵母菌的多样性较好。     

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.     

Identification of potential probiotic starter cultures for Scandinavian-type fermented sausages

Potential probiotic cultures suitable as starter cultures for the Scandinavian-type fermented sausages were identified among strains well-adapted to fermented meats as well as strains originating from a culture collection. From 15 different fermented meat products, 22 strains were isolated as dominant non-starter lactic acid bacteria (NSLAB). The isolates were identified by RAPD, API and sequence analysis of 16S rRNA and showed to be five strains of Lactobacillus sakei, five strains of Lactobacillus farciminis, five strains belonging to the group of Lactobacillus plantarum/pentosus, four strains of Lactobacillus alimentarius, two strains of Lactobacillus brevis and one strain of Lactobacillus versmoldensis. Heterofermentative strains as well as strains not growing at 37 degrees C and not lowering pH below 5.1 in a meat model were excluded leaving 9 strains for further studies. These strains together with 19 strains from a culture collection were evaluated by in vitro methods including survival upon exposure to pH 2.5 or 0.3% oxgall and adhesion to the human colon adenocarcinoma cell line Caco-2 as well as antimicrobial activity against potential pathogens. Strains that fulfilled all the probiotic criteria and showed to be fast acid producers in a meat model included three strains belonging to the group of Lb. plantarum/pentosus (MF1291, MF1298, MF1300) which originated from the dominant NSLAB of fermented meat products. MF1291 and MF 1298 were further identified as Lb. plantarum and MF1300 as Lb. pentosus. The three strains were all successfully applied as starter cultures for the production of fermented sausage. The viable count at the end of the processing period reached high cell numbers (4.7x10(7)-2.9x10(8) cfu/g) and pH of the sausages decreased to pH 4.8-4.9 without any flavour deviation compared to sausage fermented by a commercial meat starter culture.     

Species diversity and metabolic impact of the microbiota are low in spontaneously acidified Belgian sausages with an added starter culture of Staphylococcus carnosus

Quality of fermented sausages is affected by acidifying lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and colour- and flavour-promoting coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS), whether or not used as starter culture. Artisan fermented sausages are often perceived as superior to industrial variants, partially because of the specific microbiota due to spontaneous acidification, which may be considered as an artisan characteristic. Therefore, two kinds of spontaneously acidified Belgian sausages were prepared (Belgian-type salami and Boulogne sausage), but with addition of a Staphylococcus carnosus culture. The Belgian-type salami was made from pork and beef, whereas the Boulogne sausage contained pork and horse meat. In all cases, Lactobacillus sakei was the dominant LAB species present on the raw materials and during fermentation, whereas enterococci remained present in the background. Enterobacteriaceae vanished after fermentation. The CNS species diversity on the raw materials was large and differed between the pork, beef, and horse meat. Nevertheless, this species diversity was annihilated during fermentation by the added S. carnosus culture. The volatiles fraction was mainly composed of aldehydes that originated from lipid oxidation and spices-derived compounds. Aromatic compounds that are typically associated to CNS activity, such as end-products from the metabolism of branched-chain amino acids, were not present in the Belgian-type salami and only marginally present in the Boulogne sausage. In conclusion, spontaneous acidification of Belgian-type fermented sausages leads to dominance of L. sakei and is no guarantee for bacterial contribution to the aroma profile when S. carnosus is added as a starter culture.     

Characterisation of naturally fermented sausages produced in the North East of Italy

In the Friuli Venezia Giulia region, in the North East of Italy, a traditional fermented sausage is produced without the use of microbial starters. It is characterized at the end of the ripening period by accentuated acidity, slight sourness and elastic, semi-hard consistency. In this study, three fermentations, carried out in different seasons (winter, spring and summer) were followed analyzing the microbiological, physicochemical and sensory aspects of this product. The sausages were characterized by an important microbial activity of lactic acid bacteria and micro/staphylococci that resulted in a product with a final pH of about 5.6-5.7. An interesting aspect was the high number of fecal enterococci that can play an important role in the definition of the organoleptic profile of the final product. No Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella spp. and Staphylococcus aureus were ever isolated from the raw materials or the fermented sausages during the maturation, underlining the safety of this product. The final water activity of the product was 0.91-0.92. One hundred and fifty lactic acid bacteria were isolated and identified by molecular methods to understand which species were more predominant in the product. Lactobacillus curvatus and Lactobacillus sakei were the most numerous (54 and 64 strains isolated, respectively) and they were the only species common to all three fermentations. A cluster analysis of the profiles obtained from these strains after RAPD-PCR highlighted a population distribution that was fermentation-specific.     

Technological and safety characterization of coagulase-negative staphylococci from traditionally fermented sausages of Basilicata region (Southern Italy)

Thirty-seven strains of coagulase-negative staphylococci, isolated from traditional fermented sausages of Basilicata region, were screened on the basis of their technological properties (nitrate reductase, proteolytic, lipolytic, amino acid-decarboxylase and antimicrobial activities) and for their ability to grow in the presence of different salt concentrations, temperatures and pH values, to elucidate their possible role during meat fermentation process.     

传统发酵泡菜中乳酸菌种群组成及优良菌株产酸耐酸特性分析

采用传统分离纯化方法从中国北方4 个不同地区的20 份传统自然发酵泡菜样品中,分离得到435 株疑似乳酸菌,通过16SrDNA序列分析对株菌进行种属鉴定,结果显示分离到的所有菌株均为乳酸菌,其中乳杆菌属6 个种共394 株,分别为莫氏乳杆菌(Lactobacillus modestisalitolerans)、清酒乳杆...     

Method for reliable isolation of Lactobacillus sakei strains originating from Tunisian seafood and meat products

In Tunisia, several food products derived from meat or seafood are naturally processed, without any addition of bacterial starters. Such fermented, dried-cured, salted, or marinated products, as well as the raw meat or fish may thus provide a source to isolate the natural microflora colonizing such environments. We isolated lactic acid bacteria from a representative range of flesh-foods sold or manufactured in different parts of Tunisia, and selectively searched for Lactobacillus sakei, a lactic acid bacterium potentially useful as starter or protective culture. Eighty six (86) strains were isolated from various seafood (anchovy, sardine, sole, mullet, and octopus), or meat (pork, veal, beef, sheep, chicken, and turkey) products that were either fresh, or transformed by different traditional processes. Several methods were used in order to develop a rapid and reliable protocol for the direct identification of L. sakei. Amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis (ARDRA) classified the various isolates into 9 distinct groups. Search for the presence of the L. sakei specific katA gene indicated that all positive isolates were grouped in the same ARDRA group. Sequencing of 16S rDNA confirmed those isolates as L. sakei. Those 22 different L. sakei strains represent 25.6% of the total isolates, while other isolates found in the different ARDRA groups were tentatively ascribed to Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactococcus lactis/garviae, Enterococcus avium, Streptococcus parauberis, Hafnia alvei, Pediococcus pentosaceus, and Lactobacillus curvatus through 16S rDNA sequencing. A fast and reliable method to isolate and discriminate L. sakei from complex food environments is proposed.     

清酒乳杆菌对发酵风干肠品质的影响

该研究采用清酒乳杆菌（Lactobacillus sakei，L. sakei）作为发酵菌株制备发酵风干肠，研究其对发酵风干肠品质的影响，以自然发酵产品作为对照组，在发酵成熟过程中的第0、3、6、9天测定产品的菌落总数、乳酸菌数、pH值、水分含量、水分分布、嫩度、色差、过氧化物值（Peroxide Value，POV）、硫代巴比妥酸值（Thiobarbituric Acid Value，TBARS）、脂肪酸含量和感官评分等指标，研究发酵菌株对风干肠品质的影响。试验表明，L. sakei接种组的乳酸菌数和菌落总数显著高于对照组（P<0.05），L*值、a*和b*显著低于对照组（P<0.05）；L. sakei接种组在发酵终点时，水分含量降至32.15%，pH值降至4.41，保证了发酵风干肠的安全性；POV值和TBARS值显著低于对照组（P<0.05），表明L. sakei具有较好的抑制脂肪氧化作用；L. sakei接种组的总体可接受性更高，发酵后期酯类物质种类和含量均高于对照组。综上，L. sakei的添加改善了产品的品质和风味。     

Population dynamics of the constitutive biota of French dry sausages in a pilot-scale ripening chamber

The population dynamic of constitutive biota on 84 samples belonging to two different types of French fermented dry sausages during the ripening process in a pilot-scale ripening chamber was investigated. Samples were analyzed in three steps of their production: fresh product, first drying stage, and finished product. In addition, 180 strains of lactic acid bacteria were identified using a miniaturized biochemical procedure of characterization. In general, the number of lactic acid bacteria that evolved during the ripening process of French dry sausages increased during the first days of the process after which the number of these organisms remained constant at approximately 8 log CFU/g. Lactobacillus sakei and Pediococcus pentosaceus, bacteria added as starter, were the dominant species. Pediococcus urinaeequi, Pediococcus acidilactici, and particularly Lactobacillus curvatus were also present. Finally, we have to take into account that the controlled conditions of the pilot plant generally contribute to the homogenization of the behavior of the starter biota.     

Technological and safety properties of Lactobacillus plantarum strains isolated from a Tunisian traditional salted meat

A total of 17 strains of Lactobacillus plantarum, isolated from a Tunisian traditional salted meat and identified by biochemical and molecular methods, were characterized according to their technological properties including acidifying, antimicrobial and enzymatic activities as well as antibiotic resistance in order to select the most suitable for use as starter cultures for the production of fermented sausages. All the strains studied showed good acidifying activity and were able to reduce the pH to less than 4.3 in 72, 48 and 24h at 15, 25 and 37°C respectively. The majority of strains displayed antimicrobial activities against Salmonella arizonae, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeuroginosa and Escherichia coli, however characterization of the antimicrobial substances showed that none of the strains could produce bacteriocins. All the L. plantarum strains were able to hydrolyze casein, whereas none of them was found to possess lipolytic activity. The majority of strains of L. plantarum were resistant to tetracycline, erythromycin, rifampicin, ampicillin and penicillin G.