Contribution of Lactobacillus plantarum and Leuconostoc mesenteroides subsp. mesenteroides to Atypical Odors of Beef Strip Loins

Sterile beef strip loin tissue was inoculated with Lactobacillus plantarum or Leuconostoc mesenteroides subsp. mesenteroides, placed in sterile sample bottles which were purged with CO₂, and stored up to 28 days at 3°C. Volatile compounds detected in the headspace of these samples included acetone, toluene, acetic acid, ethyl acetate, a C₇ hydrocarbon, and trichloromethane. The profile of volatiles in packaged sterile loin tissue stored for up to 28 days was similar. However, the inoculated samples spoiled (soured) at a faster rate.     

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.     

Improved sauerkraut production with probiotic strain Lactobacillus plantarum L4 and Leuconostoc mesenteroides LMG 7954

Probiotic strain Lactobacillus plantarum L4 and strain Leuconostoc mesenteroides LMG 7954 were applied for the controlled fermentation of cabbage heads. The parameters of the controlled and spontaneous fermentations, including antimicrobial effect of cabbage brines obtained at the end of both fermentations, were monitored. To check out the influence of starter culture strains, 10 randomly chosen lactic acid bacteria, isolated at the end of controlled cabbage heads fermentation were identified by API 50 CHL test, and the presence of the probiotic culture was confirmed by Pulsed Field Gel Electrophoresis. The starter cultures applied for cabbage heads fermentation allowed lowering of NaCl concentrations from 4.0% to 2.5% (w/v), considerably accelerated fermentation process by 14 d, and improved the product quality. The produced sauerkraut heads are considered probiotic product as viable probiotic cells count in final product was higher than 10(6) colony-forming units (CFU) per gram of product. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: The results of this research could be applied in the production of fermented cabbage heads with added functional (probiotic) value and with lower NaCl concentration with expected shortened fermentation time. This could not only be of economic but also of ecological importance.     

合成右旋糖酐菌体固定化研究

为了将微生物固定化技术用于合成右旋糖酐,对肠膜明串珠菌20074固定化载体和固定化条件进行了研究。活性炭固定肠膜明串珠菌20074的效果较好,以活性炭为载体,获得肠膜明串珠菌20074的固定化条件为:培养基初始pH值为7.10,接种量10%,固定化时间10~13 h,摇床转速150 r/min,温度25℃,右旋糖酐产率为81.6%。用高效凝胶渗透色谱法测定合成的右旋糖酐相对分子质量大于40万,红外光谱表征产品结构中的特征基团与标准品相符。     

宫廷奶酪中优良乳酸菌菌株的分离与鉴定

利用梯度稀释法和划线纯化法对4种宫廷奶酪中的乳酸菌进行初筛,再通过产酸实验和过氧化氢酶实验进行复筛,得到4株乳酸菌。通过形态学特征观察和16SrDNA序列分子鉴定,确定2株为屎肠球菌(MRSA1、MRSB1),2株为乳明串珠菌(MRSA2、MRSD3)。抑菌实验表明乳明串珠菌MRSA2对大肠杆菌、志贺氏菌、沙门氏菌具有良好的抑菌特性;4株菌均有抗氧化活性,菌悬液的DPPH自由基清除能力和羟自由基清除能力均高于无细胞提取物,其中菌株MRSA2菌悬液DPPH自由基和羟自由基清除能力分别高达60.67%和31.86%。研究筛选出的具有良好抑菌特性和抗氧化活性的乳明串珠菌MRSA2在功能性食品研发中具有潜在的应用价值。     

肠膜明串珠菌对蜜柚果醋酿造过程中品质变化影响

以梅州蜜柚为原料,实验设混菌发酵组（酒精发酵添加肠膜明串珠菌（Leuconostoc mesenteroides））和对照组,研究蜜柚果醋酿造过程中的品质变化。结果表明,酒精发酵阶段（0～48 h）混菌发酵组乳酸含量迅速升高至4.32 g/L,柠檬酸含量快速下降至0.24 g/L;醋酸发酵结束,混菌发酵组总滴定酸、醋酸、柠檬酸含量显著低于对照组（P＜0.05）。混菌发酵组蜜柚果醋中总黄酮含量为0.59 g/L,DPPH自由基清除率为43.94%,氧化自由基吸收能力（ORAC）值为24.49 μmol TE/g,均高于对照组。蜜柚果醋发酵过程中对羟基苯甲酸、芥子酸、咖啡酸、间苯三酚、野漆树苷、芦丁和橙皮素含量均上升,其中混菌发酵组对羟基苯甲酸和橙皮素分别达到5.07 mg/L和4.00 mg/L,显著高于对照组（P＜0.05）,而柚皮苷和柠檬苦素则分别降解了26.82%和46.69%。综上所述,在发酵初期添加肠膜明串珠菌对蜜柚果醋品质有明显提升。     

Modeling of growth and bacteriocin production by Leuconostoc mesenteroides E131

Leuconostoc mesenteroides E131, isolated from dry fermented sausages, produces an antimicrobial agent, characterized as bacteriocin. The effect of pH and temperature on growth and bacteriocin production, using MRS broth as growth medium, was studied in a fermentor. The pH value at which the best cell growth was observed (6.5) did not coincided with the value at which the maximum bacteriocin activity was attained (5.5). In contrast, the maximum bacteriocin activity was attained at temperature (25 °C) close to the optimum temperature for cell growth (25–30 °C). Notably, the range of pH and temperature for good bacteriocin production was within the range used for sausage fermentation. An empirical model was developed to describe the growth and bacteriocin production in different pH and temperature conditions. The model was able to describe growth and bacteriocin production and it could be used to predict the kinetic parameters of growth and bacteriocin production within the pH and temperature range examined.     

Effects of Leuconostoc mesenteroides starter cultures on microbial communities and metabolites during kimchi fermentation

Kimchi fermentation usually relies upon the growth of naturally-occurring various heterofermentative lactic acid bacteria (LAB). This sometimes makes it difficult to produce kimchi with uniform quality. The use of Leuconostoc mesenteroides as a starter has been considered to produce commercial fermented kimchi with uniform and good quality in Korea. In this study, a combination of a barcoded pyrosequencing strategy and a ¹H NMR technique was used to investigate the effects of Leu. mesenteroides strain B1 as a starter culture for kimchi fermentation. Baechu (Chinese cabbage) and Chonggak (radish) kimchi with and without Leu. mesenteroides inoculation were prepared, respectively and their characteristics that included pH, cell number, bacterial community, and metabolites were monitored periodically for 40 days. Barcoded pyrosequencing analysis showed that the numbers of bacterial operational taxonomic units (OTU) in starter kimchi decreased more quickly than that in non-starter kimchi. Members of the genera Leuconostoc, Lactobacillus, and Weissella were dominant LAB regardless of the kimchi type or starter inoculation. Among the three genera, Leuconostoc was the most abundant, followed by Lactobacillus and Weissella. The use of Leu. mesenteroides as a starter increased the Leuconostoc proportions and decreased the Lactobacillus proportions in both type of kimchi during kimchi fermentation. However, interestingly, the use of the kimchi starter more highly maintained the Weissella proportions of starter kimchi compared to that in the non-starter kimchi until fermentation was complete. Metabolite analysis using the ¹H NMR technique showed that both Baechu and Chonggak kimchi with the starter culture began to consume free sugars earlier and produced a little greater amounts of lactic and acetic acids and mannitol. Metabolite analysis demonstrated that kimchi fermentation using Leu. mesenteroides as a starter was completed earlier with more production of kimchi metabolites compared to that not using a starter, which coincided with the decreases in pH and the increases in bacterial cell number. The PCA strategy using all kimchi components including carbohydrates, amino acids, organic acids, and others also showed that starter kimchi fermented faster with more organic acid and mannitol production. In conclusion, the combination of the barcoded pyrosequencing strategy and the ¹H NMR technique was used to effectively monitor microbial succession and metabolite production and allowed for a greater understanding of the relationships between the microbial community and metabolite production in kimchi fermentation.