Selection of nitrite-degrading and biogenic amine-degrading strains and its involved genes

Abstract

Abstract Objectives Accumulation of nitrite and biogenic amines (BAs) in fermented meat products is a matter of public health concern. The study aimed to screen nitrite-degrading and BA-degrading strains from sour porridges and sausages and bacon products in China. Materials and Methods After screening out 12 strains, the degradation of nitrite, the degradation of BAs, the activities of nitrite-reducing enzymes, and the detection of genes involved in the BAs were assessed by spectrophotometry method with hydrochloric acid naphthalene ethylenediamine, high-performance liquid chromatography, GENMED kit, and polymerase chain reaction, respectively. Results Pediococcus pentosaceus labelled M SZ1 2 and M GC 2, Lactobacillus plantarum labelled M SZ2 2, and Staphylococcus xylosus labelled Y CC 3 were selected. The activity of nitrite-reducing enzyme in M SZ2 2 was 2.663 units/mg. The degradation rate of total BAs of M SZ2 2 was 93.24%. The degradation rates of nitrite and BAs of M SZ1 2 were 86.49% and 37.87%, respectively. The activity of nitrite-reducing enzyme in M SZ1 2 was up to 1.962 units/mg. M GC 2 showed higher degradation rates of nitrite (89.19%) and Y CC 3 showed higher degradation rates of BAs (36.16%). The genes encoding the multicopper oxidases (suf I/D2EK17) were detected in the four strains, which also did not contain BAs (histidine decarboxylase (hdc), tyrosine decarboxylase (tdc), ornithine decarboxylase (odc), lysine decarboxylase (ldc)) formation encoding genes. Conclusion These four strains (M SZ1 2, M GC 2, M SZ2 2, and Y CC 3) are promising candidates to use as starter cultures for nitrite and BAs in fermented sausages.