Drying of Probiotics: Optimization of Formulation and Process to Enhance Storage Survival

This work describes how probiotic bacteria can be dried at low temperature in two steps, combining spray drying and vacuum drying, in order to enhance their survival during storage. A sufficient number of dried probiotics survived storage for more than 3 months at 30°C, if an appropriate combination of protein and carbohydrate was selected as carrier and storage conditions were maintained optimal. The use of soy protein and maltodextrin or skim milk and arabic gum resulted in the best survival rates of probiotics during storage. No evident difference was found between different spray dryer configurations, although a cocurrent flow was preferred.     

Hydrogenases, accessory genes and the regulation of [NiFe] hydrogenase biosynthesis in Thiocapsa roseopersicina

The purple (Sulphur) phototrophic bacterium, Thiocapsa roseopersicina BBS contains several [NiFe] hydrogenases, of which two are membrane bound. Mutant T. roseopersicina cells, carrying deletions in both gene clusters showed hydrogenase activity. This activity was located in the cytoplasm. The structural gene cluster hoxEFUYH was identified and sequenced. In addition, genes homologous to hupUV/hoxBC, the hydrogen sensing hydrogenase have been identified and sequenced.Regulation of hydrogenase biosynthesis was studied in detail for HydSL (renamed HynSL). A random mutagenesis system was optimised for T. roseopersicina. One of the mutations was in a gene similar to that coding for the HypF proteins in other organisms. Inactivation of the hypF gene resulted in a 60-fold increase in hydrogen evolution under nitrogen fixing conditions. In addition to hypF, the following accessory genes were identified: hydD, hupK, hypC1, hypC2, hypDE. Characterisation of the corresponding gene products and search for additional accessory genes are in progress.     

Quantification of Factors Which Influence Nisin's Inhibition of CIostridium botulinum 56A in a Model Food System

We modeled nisin's anticlostridial activity and assessed the antagonistic or potentiating influences of food ingredients. The model systems contained yeast extract, proteose peptone, and glucose; were supplemented with protein (0.075, 0.75, 7.5% w/v), phospholipid (0.075, 0.75, 7.5% w/v), or soluble starch (5, 17.5, 30% w/v); and were adjusted to pH 5.5, 6.0, or 6.5. Samples inoculated with 10⁴/mL spores were incubated at 15, 25, or 35°C. Statistical analysis developed an equation (r²= 0.76) that modeled the response and identified temperature as the most significant (α 0.001) variable. Nisin lost effectiveness with increasing temperature. Nisin concentration had significant positive and phospholipid negative, linear effects. Many interactive effects were significant (α 0.20). Nisin inhibited C. botulinum until its residual level dropped below a threshold, which decreased from 154 IU/mL at 35°C to 12 IU/mL at 15°C.     

Inhibition of Undesirable Gas Production in Tofu

Of 100 gas-producing bacterial isolates, 65% were Gram-negative. Bacterial growth and gas production in commercial tofu was accompanied by acidification, and pH decreases as low as 5.2. Coliform bacteria constituted 15% of the total bacterial flora. Sporeformers and yeast counts remained < 10³ CFU/mL. Pasteurization was effective in lowering the bacterial counts, and retarded gas production. The addition of lactic acid (reducing pH to 5.5) or lactic acid bacteria (2 × 10⁷ CFU/g) to tofu helped reduce gas production by about 50%. Addition of both lactic acid and Lactobacillus plantarum stopped gas production in contaminated tofu.     

Mannitol and oligosaccharides as new criteria for determining cold tolerance in sugarcane varieties

Sugarcane can be very susceptible to damage by freezes. Freeze-deteriorated cane can cause problems in processing and sometimes leads to a factory shut-down. This study was undertaken during the 2000/2001 harvest season to assess the cold tolerance performance of six commercial sugarcane varieties and to establish new and more sensitive criteria to measure cold tolerance. Two varieties CP 70-321 and CP 79-318, with known cold tolerance, were planted in the study as controls. The other varieties included LHo 83-153, LCP 85-384, HoCP 85-845 and HoCP 91-555. Freezing temperatures occurred on 20 December 2000 when the min. field temperature was −4.4 °C, and again on 21 December, 30 December through 5 January 2001, 9–10 January and 20–21 January. The lowest field temperature recorded was −5.6 °C on 4 January. Freezing conditions prevailed for 8–15 h during each freeze incident. Stalks of all varieties were frozen to the ground following the initial freeze, with freeze cracks evident only after the 4 January freeze. For this study, samples were taken on the date of the first freeze, 20 December, and subsequently again at 7, 14, 22 and 30 days after the first freeze. Criteria used to measure overall stalk cold-tolerance included changes in pH, Brix, dextran (ASI-II method), sucrose, glucose, and fructose concentrations. Mannitol, ethanol and the oligosaccharides, palatinose, leucrose, iso-maltotriose and 1-kestose, were simultaneuously measured using IC-IPAD. Marked differences were observed in most criteria for all varieties, particularly 22 and 30 days after the first freeze. Mannitol was strongly correlated (r²=0.84) with dextran, confirming its use as an indicator for cane dextran deterioration. In comparison, ethanol was only weakly correlated (r²=0.55) with dextran and did not always predict cane dextran deterioration. Iso maltotriose was the most sensitive oligosaccharide indicator of freeze deterioration, although both leucrose and palatinose could be used to confirm whether severe dextran formation (>1500 ppm/Brix) has occurred in cane. Isomaltotriose was strongly correlated (r²=0.89) with dextran and pH (r²=−0.83); pH was also a strong indicator of both dextran (r²=−0.85) and mannitol (r²=−0.92) formation. Four of the varieties, CP 79-318, LCP 85-384, HoCP 85-845 and HoCP 91-555, were shown to be susceptible to other sources of microbial and enzymic deterioration as well as dextran deterioration from Leuconostoc bacteria, especially 30 days after the first freeze. This was indicated by increased glucose/fructose ratios, ethanol formation, changes in 1-kestose concentration, and further sucrose losses.     

Causes of Decay of Fresh-cut Celery

A decay of fresh-cut celery (Apium graveolens) segments stored at < 5°C in sealed film bags began with a water soaking of the cut surfaces. Slimy moisture accumulated inside the bags. The segments water soaked completely, softened, discolored and sometimes disintegrated. Total aerobic bacterial populations isolated from decayed segments ranged from log₁₀ 7.0–7.7 CFU/g tissue weight. The predominant bacteria, identified by fatty acid analysis as Pseudomonas fluorescens and P. marginalis, caused water soaking, soft rot, and discoloration in freshly inoculated celery tissues stored at 5 or 25°C. Leuconostoc mesenteroides was also isolated and may have been responsible for slime production.     

Monitoring non-carbonated (‘still’) mineral waters for aerobic colonization

Fifty samples each of two leading brands of French, non-carbonated (‘still’) mineral waters, packed in plastic bottles, were stored in the dark for one month at approximately 20°C to allow marked proliferation of their autotrophic microbial flora. Upon completion of this challenge test 1250 ml per bottle were filtered through five membranes, which were subsequently cultured on 1/10 strength nutrient agar for 48 h at a temperature favouring the growth of thermotrophic organisms only, i.e. 42 ± 0.5°C. The numbers of colonies per one litre were below 10³ in all samples and did not exceed 200 in 56–80%, depending on the brand. Identification of the isolates demonstrated strong inhibition of the psychrotrophic. Gram-negative types, predominating in the association flora of stored still waters and preponderance of Gram-positive, catalase-positive, facultatively anaerobic cocci. Consequently, a Reference Value for the thermotrophic autotrophic colony count per 1 ml in still, commercial mineral waters of the order m = 1 and M = 5 seems justified. It is emphasized that, besides examining for these trivial organism, the usual tests for marker bacteria (Escherichia coli and Lancefield group D streptococci) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa should always be carried out.     

基于细菌觅食机理改进粒子群算法的研究

粒子群算法与细菌觅食算法在优化问题中均体现了较好的性能,但由于各自特定的进化机制,也都存在缺点。粒子群优化（PSO）算法在优化过程中过快陷入局部极值,为了避免这个缺陷,提出了一种新的混合算法。通过PSO算法完成整个空间的全局搜索,通过细菌觅食算法（BFOA）中的趋向性运动算子完成局部搜索的功能,再通过典型函数进行测试,结果表明新算法可以有效弥补细菌觅食算法速度不快和粒子群算法精度不高的缺陷,同时部分地避免了局部收敛的问题,从而适用于解决复杂函数的优化问题。     

硫酸盐还原菌腐蚀的微生物防治研究进展

综述了硫酸盐还原菌腐蚀领域的微生物防治措施的研 究进展，并对微生物菌种的选择、防治机理以及应用等方面进行了探讨.     

一株秸秆纤维素降解菌株的筛选及其降解特性

纤维素是自然界一种最重要的可再生资源,本文从玉米地土壤中分离出 1 株产纤维素酶能力较强的菌株J-N3。以羧甲基纤维素为唯一碳源的分离培养基和刚果红染色法进行初筛,再将筛选到的菌株进行液体发酵培养并测定酶活。结合形态学特征与分子生物学鉴定结果得知,菌株J-N3为芽孢杆菌属( Bacillus)。并对其酶学性质进行初步研究,得到酶最适pH为6.0时,最适反应温度为50 ℃。玉米秸秆经菌株 J-N3处理20 d 时,秸秆失重率及纤维素分解率分别达到26.22%、31.01%。