Commercial Starter Cultures Research Articles

Isolation and characterization of acid-sensitive Lactobacillus plantarum with application as starter culture for Nham production

The aim of this study was to derive new starter culture variants that are unable to grow below pH 4.6, the desirable pH of the Thai fermented pork sausage, Nham, specified by Thailand Food Standard, and apply them in Nham fermentation. Several acid-sensitive mutants of one of the commercial Nham starter cultures, Lactobacillus plantarum BCC 9546, were isolated as spontaneous neomycin-resistant mutants. The growth of three representative mutants was characterized in MRS broth, which revealed that their cell numbers and acid production were lower than that of the wild-type. The H +-ATPase activities of the three mutants were found significantly lower than that of the wild-type under either neutral or acidic conditions. Consequently, internal pH values of the mutants appeared to be lower, especially in acidic environment (pH 5). The most acid-sensitive mutant was applied in experimental Nham production and the pH of Nham fermented with the mutant had significantly higher pH at the end of fermentation (3 days) and after an additional 4 days of storage at 30 °C. These results indicate that the use of acid-sensitive L. plantarum as starter culture can reduce the severity of post-acidification and increase the shelf life of Nham at ambient temperature.

Primary metabolism in Lactobacillus sakei food isolates by proteomic analysis.

BackgroundLactobacillus sakei is an important food-associated lactic acid bacterium commonly used as starter culture for industrial meat fermentation, and with great potential as a biopreservative in meat and fish products. Understanding the metabolic mechanisms underlying the growth performance of a strain to be used for food fermentations is important for obtaining high-quality and safe products. Proteomic analysis was used to study the primary metabolism in ten food isolates after growth on glucose and ribose, the main sugars available for L. sakei in meat and fish.ResultsProteins, the expression of which varied depending on the carbon source were identified, such as a ribokinase and a D-ribose pyranase directly involved in ribose catabolism, and enzymes involved in the phosphoketolase and glycolytic pathways. Expression of enzymes involved in pyruvate and glycerol/glycerolipid metabolism were also affected by the change of carbon source. Interestingly, a commercial starter culture and a protective culture strain down-regulated the glycolytic pathway more efficiently than the rest of the strains when grown on ribose. The overall two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) protein expression pattern was similar for the different strains, though distinct differences were seen between the two subspecies (sakei and carnosus), and a variation of about 20% in the number of spots in the 2-DE gels was observed between strains. A strain isolated from fermented fish showed a higher expression of stress related proteins growing on both carbon sources.ConclusionsIt is obvious from the data obtained in this study that the proteomic approach efficiently identifies differentially expressed proteins caused by the change of carbon source. Despite the basic similarity in the strains metabolic routes when they ferment glucose and ribose, there were also interesting differences. From the application point of view, an understanding of regulatory mechanisms, actions of catabolic enzymes and proteins, and preference of carbon source is of great importance.

CHANGES IN BIOCHEMICAL AND MICROBIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF TURKEY SUCUKS AS AFFECTED BY PROCESSING AND STARTER CULTURE UTILIZATION

ABSTRACT The effects of starter culture and processing on the microbiological and biochemical characteristics of turkey sucuk were studied during production and storage. No differences (P > 0.05) in proximate composition and salt contents were found in sucuks produced either by traditional or heated methodologies. Both traditional (P < 0.05) and heat‐processed (P > 0.05) sucuks that incorporated S1 had the lowest pH value, and thus the highest titratable acidity. Heating process resulted in about 1 log unit reduction in yeast counts and 1.5 log unit reduction in lactic acid bacteria, total mesophilic aerobic bacteria and micrococci–staphylococci counts of all sucuks. Within the heat‐processed sucuks, heating stage did not result in a significant change in nonprotein nitrogen contents (P > 0.05). Changes in myofibrillar and sarcoplasmic protein were observed because of proteolytic changes during ripening, but, in general, no major difference was observed between sodium dodecyl sulfate‐polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis patterns as a result of starter culture treatments.PRACTICAL APPLICATIONSResults of this study can be applied to improve some biochemical and microbiological characteristics of fermented turkey sausages. The findings showed that utilizing commercial starter culture mix, containing Lactobacillus sake, Staphylococcus carnosus and Staphylococcus xylosus II resulted in lower pH value with a higher titratable acidity than traditional style‐fermented turkey sausages. These parameters are responsible for texture development and characteristic taste of fermented sausages.

Genotypic identification of some lactic acid bacteria by amplified fragment length polymorphism analysis and investigation of their potential usage as starter culture combinations in Beyaz cheese manufacture

In this study, 2 different starter culture combinations were prepared for cheesemaking. Starter culture combinations were formed from 8 strains of lactic acid bacteria. They were identified as Lactococcus lactis ssp. lactis (2 strains), Lactobacillus plantarum (5 strains), and Lactobacillus paraplantarum (1 strain) by amplified fragment length polymorphism analysis. The effects of these combinations on the physicochemical and microbiological properties of Beyaz cheeses were investigated. These cheeses were compared with Beyaz cheeses that were produced with a commercial starter culture containing Lc. lactis ssp. lactis and Lc. lactis ssp. cremoris as control. All cheeses were ripened in brine at 4°C for 90 d. Dry matter, fat in dry matter, titratable acidity, pH, salt in dry matter, total N, water-soluble N, and ripening index were determined. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-PAGE patterns of cheeses showed that αS-casein and β-casein degraded slightly during the ripening period. Lactic acid bacteria, total mesophilic aerobic bacteria, yeast, molds, and coliforms were also counted. All analyses were repeated twice during d 7, 30, 60, and 90. The starter culture combinations were found to be significantly different from the control group in pH, salt content, and lactobacilli, lactococci, and total mesophilic aerobic bacteria counts, whereas the cheeses were similar in fat, dry matter content, and coliform, yeast, and mold counts. The sensory analysis of cheeses indicated that textural properties of control cheeses presented somewhat lower scores than those of the test groups. The panelists preferred the tastes of treatment cheeses, whereas cheeses with starter culture combinations and control cheeses had similar scores for appearance and flavor. These results indicated that both starter culture combinations are suitable for Beyaz cheese production.

Characterization of Streptococcus thermophilus lytic bacteriophages from mozzarella cheese plants

Phage infection still represents the main cause of fermentation failure during the mozzarella cheese manufacturing, where Streptococcus thermophilus is widely employed as starter culture. Thereby, the success of commercial lactic starter cultures is closely related to the use of strains with low susceptibility to phage attack. The characterization of lytic S. thermophilus bacteriophages is an important step for the selection and use of starter cultures. The aim of this study was to characterize 26 bacteriophages isolated from mozzarella cheese plants in terms of their host range, DNA restriction profile, DNA packaging mechanism, and the variable region VR2 of the antireceptor gene. The DNA restriction analysis was carried out by using the restriction enzymes EcoRV, PstI, and HindIII. The bacteriophages were distinguished into two main groups of S. thermophilus phages ( cos- and pac-type) using a multiplex PCR method based on the amplification of conserved regions in the genes coding for the major structural proteins. All the phages belonged to the cos-type group except one, phage 1042, which gave a PCR fragment distinctive of pac-type group. Furthermore, DNA sequencing of the variable region VR2 of the antireceptor gene allowed to classify the phages and examine the correlation between typing profile and host range. Finally, bacterial strains used in this study were investigated for the presence of temperate phages by induction with mitomycin C and only S. thermophilus CHCC2070 was shown to be lysogenic.

The effect of Debina grapevine indigenous yeast strains of Metschnikowia and Saccharomyces on wine flavour

The spontaneous alcoholic fermentation of grape must is a complex microbiological process involving a large number of various yeast species, to which the flavour of every traditional wine is largely attributed. Whilst Saccharomyces cerevisiae is primarily responsible for the conversion of sugar to alcohol, the activities of various non-Saccharomyces species enhance wine flavour. In this study, indigenous yeast strains belonging to Metschnikowia pulcherrima var. zitsae as well as Saccharomyces cerevisiae were isolated and characterized from Debina must (Zitsa, Epirus, Greece). In addition, these strains were examined for their effect on the outcome of the wine fermentation process when used sequentially as starter cultures. The resulting wine, as analyzed over three consecutive years, was observed to possess a richer, more aromatic bouquet than wine from a commercial starter culture. These results emphasize the potential of employing indigenous yeast strains for the production of traditional wines with improved flavour.

Application of infrared microspectroscopy and multivariate analysis for monitoring the effect of adjunct cultures during Swiss cheese ripening

Improved cheese flavor has been attributed to the addition of adjunct cultures, which provide certain key enzymes for proteolysis and affect the dynamics of starter and nonstarter cultures. Infrared microspectroscopy provides unique fingerprint-like spectra for cheese samples and allows for rapid monitoring of cheese composition during ripening. The objective was to use infrared microspectroscopy and multivariate analysis to evaluate the effect of adjunct cultures on Swiss cheeses during ripening. Swiss cheeses, manufactured using a commercial starter culture combination and 1 of 3 adjunct Lactobacillus spp., were evaluated at d 1, 6, 30, 60, and 90 of ripening. Cheese samples (approximately 20g) were powdered with liquid nitrogen and homogenized using water and organic solvents, and the water-soluble components were separated. A 3-μL aliquot of the extract was applied onto a reflective microscope slide, vacuum-dried, and analyzed by infrared microspectroscopy. The infrared spectra (900 to 1,800cm−1) produced specific absorption profiles that allowed for discrimination among different cheese samples. Cheeses manufactured with adjunct cultures showed more uniform and consistent spectral profiles, leading to the formation of tight clusters by pattern-recognition analysis (soft independent modeling of class analogy) as compared with cheeses with no adjuncts, which exhibited more spectral variability among replicated samples. In addition, the soft independent modeling of class analogy discriminating power indicated that cheeses were differentiated predominantly based on the band at 1,122cm−1, which was associated with S–O vibrations. The greatest changes in the chemical profile of each cheese occurred between d 6 and 30 of warm-room ripening. The band at 1,412cm−1, which was associated with acidic AA, had the greatest contribution to differentiation, indicating substantial changes in levels of proteolysis during warm-room ripening in addition to propionic acid, acetic acid, and eye formation. A high-throughput infrared microspectroscopy technique was developed that can further the understanding of biochemical changes occurring during the ripening process and provide insight into the role of adjunct nonstarter lactic acid bacteria on the complex process of flavor development in cheeses.

Effects of starter culture combinations using isolates from traditional cheese on the quality of Turkish white cheese

Four types of Turkish white cheese with good curd and acid formation properties were produced, one by using commercial starter culture and the other three by using different combinations of isolates from traditional cheese with no starters added. The effects of using these combinations on quality were determined. Starter culture combinations did not influence the chemical properties of cheese significantly. However, one cheese type produced from combinations of isolates of rural cheese was found to be comparable to the samples produced from commercial starter cultures in terms of sensory and microbial quality. This combination could have promise for white cheese production.

The effect of starter cultures on proteolytic changes and amino acid content in fermented sausages

The main objective of this work was to examine the effects of using five types of commercial starter cultures in fermented sausages. During the fermentation stage, changes in proteolytic characteristics were observed in fermented sausages. Proteolytic activity was high in Lsb + Sc:(Lactobacillus sakei + Staphylococcus carnosus) and Pp + Sx:(Pediococcus pentosaceus + Staphylococcus xylosus) starter-inoculated sausages during processing. Moreover, a slight increase in proteolytic activity was detected during storage in both these sausages. Sarcoplasmic and myofibrillar proteins were also affected by this starter culture addition, during the fermentation, ripening and intense proteolysis were observed in both the fermented sausages. The content of free amino acids was similar at the beginning of the fermentation stage for all the studied batches. However, the high differences in the content of free amino acids at the end of the process could be attributed to the starter culture activity.

Validation of ground-and-formed beef jerky processes using commercial lactic acid bacteria starter cultures as pathogen surrogates.

Beef jerky has been linked to multiple outbreaks of salmonellosis and Escherichia coli O157:H7 infection over the past 40 years. With increasing government scrutiny of jerky-making process lethality, a simple method by which processors can easily validate the lethality of their ground-and-formed beef jerky process against Salmonella' and E. coli O157:H7 is greatly needed. Previous research with whole-muscle beef jerky indicated that commercial lactic acid bacteria (LAB) may be more heat resistant than Salmonella and E. coli O157:H7, suggesting the potential use of LAB as pathogen surrogates. Of six commercial LAB-containing cultures evaluated for heat resistance in ground-and-formed beef jerky, Saga 200 (Pediococcus spp.) and Biosource (Pediococcus acidilactici) were identified as consistently more heat resistant than Salmonella and E. coli O157:H7. Six representative ground-and-formed beef jerky commercial processes, differing widely in lethality, were used to identify an appropriate level of LAB reduction that would consistently indicate a process sufficiently lethal (> or = 5.0-log reduction) for Salmonella and E. coli O157:H7. Both Saga 200 and Biosource consistently predicted adequate process lethality with a criterion of > or = 5.0-1og reduction of LAB. When either LAB decreased by > or = 5.0 log CFU, processes were sufficiently lethal against Salmonella and E. coli O157:H7 in 100% of samples (n=39 and 40, respectively). Use of LAB as pathogen surrogates for ground-and-formed beef jerky process validation was fieldtested by three small meat processors, who found this technique easy to use for process validation.

Behaviour of volatile compounds during the shelf life of yoghurt

The production of acetaldehyde, diacetyl and ethanol was evaluated in whole plain yoghurts manufactured with commercial starter cultures, yoghurt acquired in a local market, and milk fermented by a single culture of either Streptococcus thermophilus or Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus. The headspace technique was used for sample preparation, following identification and quantification by gas chromatography. During an 8‐h incubation period, mixed cultures were the most efficient in lowering the pH (from 6.30 to 4.8), followed by S. thermophilus (from 6.30 to 5.18) and L. bulgaricus (from 6.30 to 5.8). During the storage period, however, a single culture of L. bulgaricus decreased the pH more than S. thermophilus, but still less than the mixed commercial cultures. Plain yoghurts acquired in the market, those made with commercial starter cultures, and fermented milks obtained with single cultures showed, after 21 days of storage, concentrations of acetaldehyde from 11 to 35 mg/L, and of diacetyl from 0 to 0.85 mg/L. An increasing concentration of ethanol was observed during the storage period, and its production was observed even in the incubation stage of all products. It was also observed that the acetaldehyde concentration was inversely correlated to ethanol production in some products. The combination of headspace, identification and quantification techniques by gas chromatography in this work was efficient in the identification and quantification of the major aromatic compounds and ethanol content of yoghurt.

Fate of Listeria monocytogenes on fully ripened Greek Graviera cheese stored at 4, 12, or 25 degrees C in air or vacuum packages: in situ PCR detection of a cocktail of bacteriocins potentially contributing to pathogen inhibition.

The behavior of Listeria monocytogenes on fully ripened Greek Graviera cheese was evaluated. Three batches (A, B, and C) were tested. Batches A and C were prepared with a commercial starter culture, while in batch B the starter culture was combined with an enterocin-producing Enterococcus faecium Graviera isolate. Cheese pieces were surface inoculated with a five-strain cocktail of L. monocytogenes at ca. 3 log CFU/cm2, packed under air or vacuum conditions, stored at 4, 12, or 25 degrees C, and analyzed after 0, 3, 7, 15, 30, 60, and 90 days. L. monocytogenes did not grow on the cheese surface, regardless of storage conditions. However, long-term survival of the pathogen was noted in all treatments, being the highest (P < 0.05) at 4 degrees C under vacuum conditions. Overall, the lower the storage temperature, the higher and longer the survival of L. monocytogenes was. Although enterocin A-specific PCR products were detected in situ in cheese batch B, inhibition of L. monocytogenes by the enterocin-producing strain was not enhanced compared with batches A and C, which also contained enterocin A, but in lower amounts. Additionally enterocins B, P, L50A, and L50B; lactococcin G; and plantaricin A genes were detected in all batches, suggesting that indigenous bacteriocin-producing lactic acid bacteria might contribute to Listeria inhibition in cheese. In conclusion, Graviera cheeses that may be accidentally contaminated in retail at the European Union maximal allowable level of 100 CFU/cm2 or g are at low risk regarding a potential outgrowth of L. monocytogenes, which, however, may survive for a long period during cheese storage.

Determinação da compatibilidade de desenvolvimento de culturas bacteriocinogênicas e fermento láctico

Além da utilização como bioconservantes de alimentos, algumas culturas bacteriocinogênicas estão sendo empregadas para acelerar a maturação de queijos. Porém a compatibilidade de desenvolvimento destas culturas com o fermento láctico é essencial para a obtenção de produtos característicos. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a compatibilidade de desenvolvimento de Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis ATCC 11454, Lactobacillus plantarum ALC 01 e Enterococcus faecium FAIR-E 198 com duas marcas comerciais de fermentos lácticos. Inicialmente, foi determinada a sensibilidade in vitro dos fermentos às culturas bacteriocinogênicas, somente Lc. lactis subsp. lactis ATCC 11454 foi capaz de promover a inibição de ambos os fermentos. Durante desenvolvimento associativo em leite a 35 ºC, as culturas bacteriocinogênicas não afetaram significativamente a produção de ácido láctico pelos fermentos. Estes, por sua vez proporcionaram aumento significativo da atividade de pediocina AcH e enterocina FAIR-E 198 e supressão da atividade da nisina. Dentre todas as culturas lácticas, Lb. plantarum ALC 01 apresentou a maior atividade de aminopeptidases (0,226 a 0,390). Portanto, baseado nos resultados em questão, Lb. plantarum ALC 01 e E. faecium FAIR-E 198 apresentam características de compatibilidade de desenvolvimento com o fermento mesofílico tipo O para serem empregadas como adjuntas no processamento de queijos.

Identification of yeast population dynamics of spontaneous fermentation in Beijing wine region, China

The aim of this study was (i) to investigate changes occurring in the yeast population profile during spontaneous fermentation of grape juice; (ii) to assess the proliferation of commercial yeast starter culture strains in vineyards; and (iii) to identify indigenous wine strains for future development of starter strains that better reflect the yeast biodiversity of China’s grape-growing regions. To achieve this, yeasts were isolated at four different stages during fermentation of both hand-pressed and winery-sourced must samples ofVitis vinifera L. cv. Roussanne and Merlot. A total of 1600 yeast colonies were isolated and then grouped according to macroscopic and microscopic characteristics. A selection of 291 colonies from the different groups was subjected to species identification using the internal transcribed spacer regions of the 5.8S rRNA gene (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 region) and the inter-delta (δ) sequence of the 26S rRNA D1/D2 region. In addition, 104Saccharomyces cerevisiae colonies were subjected to strain identification. Twelve species belonging to nine different genera were found amongst the isolates. During the early stages of fermentation, it was found thatHanseniaspora uvarum andCandida stellata numerically dominated the four to six yeast species present, including a region-specific yeast,Sporobolomyces beijingensis. TwoS. cerevisiae strains were isolated from the final stage of fermentation. These two indigenous strains, which were found to be different from the nine commercial yeast strains previously used as starter cultures in this particular Beijing-based winery, might possess potentially important region-specific oenological characteristics. This study provides the first essential step towards the preservation and exploitation of the hidden oenological potential of the untapped wealth of yeast biodiversity in China’s wine-producing regions.

Manufacture of Turkish Beyaz cheese added with probiotic strains

Abstract The survival of the probiotic strains Lactobacillus fermentum (AB5-18 and AK4-120) and Lactobacillus plantarum (AB16-65 and AC18-82), all derived from human faces, was investigated in Turkish Beyaz cheese production. Three batches of Turkish Beyaz cheese were produced: one with the test probiotic culture mix (P), another with a commercial starter culture mix including Lactoccocus lactis subsp. cremoris, Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis (C) and the third with equal parts of the commercial starter culture mix and test probiotic culture mix (CP). The cheeses were ripened at 4 °C for 120 days and the viability of cultures was determined monthly. Cheese samples were analyzed for total solids, fat in solids, titratable acidity, pH, salt in total solids, proteolysis, sensory evaluation, aroma compounds and biogenic amines. While initial lactic acid bacteria load in P cheese was 2.7 × 109 at the beginning, it was 7.42 × 107 cfu/g at the end of 120 days of ripening. The results showed that test probiotic culture mix was successfully used in cheese production without adversely affecting the cheese quality during ripening. The chemical composition and sensory quality of P cheeses were also comparable with C cheeses. The present study indicates that probiotic cultures of human origin are feasible for Turkish Beyaz cheese production.

Inhibition of Clostridium tyrobutyricum by Streptococcus macedonicus ACA-DC 198 under conditions mimicking Kasseri cheese production and ripening

Three fermentations in skim milk were used to study the effectiveness of the bacteriocin-producing Streptococcus macedonicus ACA-DC 198 strain to inhibit Clostridium tyrobutyricum LMG 1285T spore outgrowth under conditions prevailing during Kasseri cheese production and ripening. In fermentation A, Clostridium spores were used solely; in fermentation B, S. macedonicus ACA-DC 198 and Clostridium spores were used; in fermentation C, a commercial starter culture and Clostridium spores were used. The temperature program applied was similar to that of Kasseri cheese production and ripening. The presence of macedocin, the bacteriocin produced by S. macedonicus ACA-DC 198, was confirmed in fermentation B. The results showed that macedocin was able to inhibit the outgrowth of Clostridium spores, since significantly higher inhibition in spore outgrowth was detected in fermentation B than in fermentation C.

α-Ketoglutarate biosynthesis in wild and industrial strains ofLactococcus lactis

This study was carried out to explore the ability of wild and industrial strains of Lactococcus lactis to produce alpha-ketoglutarate (alpha-KG), which is essential during the conversion of amino acids to flavour compounds. Two pathways in alpha-KG biosynthesis were explored in strains of L. lactis isolated from dairy products, vegetables and commercial dairy starter cultures. Half of the strains efficiently converted glutamine to glutamate (Glu) and grew in Glu-free medium. Strains did not present isocitrate dehydrogenase and aconitase activities. However, half of the strains presented glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) activity. The ability of L. lactis to synthesize either alpha-KG or Glu via GDH was confirmed. However, L. lactis strains were not able to biosynthesize alpha-KG by the citrate-isocitrate pathway. NADP-GDH activity was mainly found in strains isolated from vegetables, whereas NAD-GDH activity was mainly found in strains isolated from dairy products. The origin of isolation highly influenced NAD or NADP-GDH activities. These enzymatic activities may be correlated to the flavour production capacity of the different strains.

Diversity of Lactobacillus sakei strains investigated by phenotypic and genotypic methods

The diversity of 10 strains of Lactobacillus sakei, a commercially important species of lactobacilli, was characterized by studying food isolates. Growth characteristics varied among the strains when examined after growth in a complex medium and a defined medium with either glucose or ribose. A commercial starter culture strain showed the fastest growth rates and high biomass formation on all media, while two of the strains hardly grew on ribose. Based on acidification properties in a meat model, some of the strains had the ability to compete with the indigenous microbiota of the meat batter in addition to being fast acid producers. Carbohydrate-fermentation abilities revealed a relatively wide variation, clustering the strains into two phenotypic groups. The isolates were analyzed using different genetic fingerprinting techniques, demonstrating a distinction between two genetic groups, a grouping consistent with previous studies dealing with L. sakei strains. Comparative genome hybridization (CGH) was introduced for clustering the strains and the same division into two genetic groups was observed. Chromosomal sizes of the strains were estimated by pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and were found to vary from 1884 to 2175 kb. The genetic groups did not correlate with the clustering obtained with carbohydrate-fermenting abilities or with chromosomal sizes.

Microbiological, Chemical, and Sensory Characteristics of Swiss Cheese Manufactured with Adjunct Lactobacillus Strains Using a Low Cooking Temperature

The effect of nonstarter Lactobacillus adjunct cultures on the microbial, chemical, and sensory characteristics of Swiss cheese manufactured using the “kosher make procedure” was investigated. The kosher make procedure, which uses a lower cooking temperature than traditional Swiss cheese making, is used by many American cheese manufacturers to allow for kosher-certified whey. Cheeses were manufactured using a commercial starter culture combination and 1 of 3 non-starter Lactobacillus strains previously isolated from Swiss cheeses, Lactobacillus casei A26, L. casei B21, and Lactobacillus rhamnosus H2, as an adjunct. Control cheeses lacked the adjunct culture. Cheeses were analyzed during ripening for microbial and chemical composition. Adjunct strain L. casei A26, which utilized citrate most readily in laboratory medium, dominated the Lactobacillus population within 30 d, faster than the other adjunct cultures. There were no significant differences in Propionibacterium counts, Streptococcus thermophilus counts, protein, fat, moisture, salt, and pH among the cheeses. Free amino acid concentration ranged from 5 to 7mmol/100g of cheese at 90 d of ripening and was adjunct strain dependent. Lactic, acetic, and propionic acid concentrations were not significantly different among the cheeses after a 90-d ripening period; however differences in propionic acid concentrations were apparent at 60 d, with the cheeses made with L. casei adjuncts containing less propionic acid. Citric acid was depleted by the end of warm room ripening in cheeses manufactured with adjunct L. casei strains, but not with adjunct L. rhamnosus. Cheeses made with L. casei A26 were most similar to the control cheeses in diacetyl and butyric/isobutyric acid abundance as evaluated by electronic nose during the first 3 mo of ripening. The 4 cheese types differed in their descriptive sensory profiles at 8 mo of age, indicating an adjunct strain-dependent effect on particular flavor attributes. Adjunct Lactobacillus spp. affected the flavor profile and concentration of some flavor compounds in Swiss cheeses produced with the kosher make procedure. Use of adjunct Lactobacillus cultures provides Swiss cheese makers using a low cooking temperature with a means to control the dominant Lactobacillus strain during ripening, reduce citrate concentration, and modify cheese flavor.

Influence of culture pH on freeze-drying viability of Oenococcus oeni and its relationship with fatty acid composition

To achieve successful malolactic fermentation in wine making, expanding interest in ready-to-use concentrated Oenococcus oeni starter culture has placed greater emphasis on developing starter production and preservation methods. The effect of growth factors on the survival of the O. oeni cells after lyophilization and its relationship with the membrane fatty acid composition were investigated. O. oeni cells in the early stationary phase survived better after freeze-drying than those in the mid-exponential phase, and those early stationary phase O. oeni cells cultured in designed ATB, FMATB and MATB growth media with different pH buffering capabilities exhibited different freeze-drying viabilities. Results concerning both membrane fatty acid composition and freeze-drying viability of O. oeni cells grown in those three media at initial culture pH 4.8, 4.0, 3.5, 3.2 were subjected to correlation analysis, indicating a decrease of the growth pH improved the freeze-drying survival of O. oeni cells, which was correlated with the enrichment of C19cyc11 and the decrease of C16:0 in the membrane lipids. A better understanding of the mechanisms of O. oeni resistance to lyophilization could rationalize their exploitation to prepare commercial starter cultures.