Characterization of melanoidins from a glucose-glycine model system

The properties of melanoidins prepared from glucose and glycine (GG) were investigated by a three step purification protocol consisting of dialysis, gel filtration at high ionic strength and ion metal affinity chromatography. The high molecular weight fraction obtained in the GG system is responsible for 80% of the total brown colour and its antioxidative ability was about 1/4 of that of Trolox measured by the inhibition of linoleic acid oxidation. GG melanoidins have good affinity towards Cu (II) (32% bound to the resin) while it is much lower towards Pb (II) (10%) and Fe (II) (5%). Capillary zone electrophoresis analysis suggests that GG melanoidins are positively charged, although no signal was observed analysing melanoidins by matrix-assisted laser desorption-ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF/MS).     

Evaluation of the spiral plating method for the enumeration of microorganisms throughout the manufacturing and ripening of a raw goat's milk cheese

A statistical comparison of the spiral plate count (SPLPC) and the standard plate count (SPC) methods for enumeration of microorganisms in raw goat's milk cheese throughout its manufacturing and ripening was carried out. Enumeration of mesophiles, lactic acid bacteria (presumptive lactococci, presumptive leuconostocs, and presumptive lactobacilli), Micrococcaceae, Enterobacteriaceae, and molds and yeasts was carried out for milk, curd, and 2-, 5-, 10-, 17-, and 27-day-old cheeses. Average counts for the SPLPC and SPC methods differed by less than half of a log cycle for all microbial groups studied (range of difference, -0.1386 [mesophiles] to +0.4397 [presumptive lactobacilli]). The results of the SPLPC method compared favorably with the results of the SPC procedure for mesophiles, presumptive lactococci, presumptive leuconostocs, Enterobacteriaceae, and molds and yeasts (the variance between replicate platings was close to 0.005, and correlation coefficients were >0.9). Correlation coefficients were lower for Micrococcaceae (r = 0.824) and presumptive lactobacilli (r = 0.670). Analysis of variance showed that the plating method was a significant factor (P < 0.05) for presumptive lactobacilli counts. In general, results from the SPLPC method compared favorably with results from SPC procedure in the enumeration of microorganisms in goat cheese throughout its manufacturingand ripening processes. However, the suitability of the SPLPC method depends mainly on the microbial group studied.