Bacteriocin production by strain Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus BB18 during continuous prefermentation of yogurt starter culture and subsequent batch coagulation of milk.

By screening for bacteriocin-producing lactic acid bacteria of 1,428 strains isolated from authentic Bulgarian dairy products, Lb. bulgaricus BB18 strain obtained from kefir grain was selected. Out of 11 yogurt starters containing Lb. bulgaricus BB18 and S. thermophilus strains resistant to bacteriocin secreted by Lb. bulgaricus BB18 a yogurt culture (S. thermophilus 11A+Lb. bulgaricus BB18) with high growth and bacteriocinogenic activity in milk was selected. Continuous (pH-stat 5.7) prefermentation processes were carried out in milk at 37 degrees C in a 2l MBR bioreactor (MBR AG, Zurich, Switzerland) with an IMCS controller for agitation speed, temperature, dissolved oxygen, CO2 and pH. Prefermented milk with pH 5.7 coagulated in a thermostat at 37 degrees C until pH 4.8-4.9. S. thermophilus 11A and Lb. bulgaricus BB18 grew independently in a continuous mode at similar and sufficiently high-dilution rates (D=1.83 h(-1)-S. thermophilus 11A; D=1.80 h(-1)-Lb. bulgaricus BB18). The yogurt cultures developed in a stream at a high-dilution rate (D=2.03-2.28 h(-1)). The progress of both processes (growth and bacteriocin production) depended on the initial ratio between the two microorganisms. The continuous prefermentation process promoted conditions for efficient fermentation and bacteriocinogenesis of the starter culture during the batch process: strong reduction of the times for bacteriocin production and coagulation of milk (to 4.5-5.0 h); high cell productivity (lactobacilli-4x10(12) CFU ml(-1), streptococci-6x10(12) CFU ml(-1)); high productivity of bacteriocins (4,500 BU ml(-1))-1.7 times higher than the bacteriocinogenic activity of the batch starter culture.

Exopolysaccharides produced by mixed culture of yeast Rhodotorula rubra GED10 and yogurt bacteria (Streptococcus thermophilus 13a + Lactobacillus bulgaricus 2-11).

AIMS: The studies of the production of exopolysaccharides by lactose-negative yeast and a yogurt starter co-cultivated in a natural substrate containing lactose may be considered of interest because they reveal the possibilities for high-efficiency synthesis of biopolymers by mixed cultivation. METHODS AND RESULTS: The mixed culture Rhodotorula rubra GED10 + (Streptococcus thermophilus 13a + Lactobacillus bulgaricus 2-11) was cultivated in cheese whey ultrafiltrate (WU) (44.0 g lactose l(-1)) at initial pH 6.0, 28 degrees C, under intensive aeration (air-flow rate 1.0 l l(-1) min(-1), agitation 220 rev min(-1)) in a MBR AG fermentor. The mixed culture manifested the highest activity for synthesis of exopolysaccharides (19.3 g l(-1)) and cell mass (21.0 g l(-1)) at the 84th hour. The yogurt starter synthesized neutral exopolysaccharides, while the mixed culture yeast + yogurt starter produced acidic exopolysaccharides containing uronic acid (6%). The neutral sugar composition was identified as mannose, glucose, galactose, xylose and arabinose. Mannose dominated in the polymer composition (83%) that was produced only by the yeast (97%). CONCLUSIONS: Lactose in the WU can be effectively utilized by a co-culture of lactose-negative yeast-yogurt starter for synthesis of exopolysaccharides. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The present findings propose an alternative use of WU as a cost-effective carbohydrate substrate, and suggest that the lactose-negative yeast Rhodotorula rubra can have industrial application as producers of exopolysaccharides.

Synthesis of carotenoids by Rhodotorula rubra GED8 co-cultured with yogurt starter cultures in whey ultrafiltrate.

Two cultures, a yeast ( Rhodorula rubra GED8) and a yogurt starter ( Lactobacillus bulgaricus 2-11+ Streptococcus thermophilus 15HA), were selected for associated growth in whey ultrafiltrate (WU) and active synthesis of carotenoids. In associated cultivation with the yogurt culture L bulgaricus 2-11+S. thermophilus 15HA under intensive aeration (1.3 l(-1)min(-1) air-flow rate) in WU (45 g lactose l(-1)), initial pH 5.5, 30 degrees C, the lactose-negative strain R. rubra GED8 synthesized large amounts of carotenoids (13.09 mg l(-1 )culture fluid). The carotenoid yield was approximately two-fold higher in association with a mixed yogurt culture than in association with pure yogurt bacteria. The major carotenoid pigments comprising the total carotenoids were beta-carotene (50%), torulene (12.3%) and torularhodin (35.2%). Carotenoids with a high beta-carotene content were produced by the microbial association 36 h earlier than by Rhodotorula yeast species. No significant differences were notd in the ratio between the pigments synthesized by R. rubra GED8+ L. bulgaricus 2-11, R. rubra GED8+ S. thermophilus 15HA, and R.rubra GED8+yogurt culture, despite the fact that the total carotenoid concentrations were lower in the mixed cultures with pure yogurt bacteria.

Production and monomer composition of exopolysaccharides by yogurt starter cultures.

As components of starter cultures for Bulgarian yogurt, Streptococcus salivarius subsp. thermophilus and Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus revealed extensive exopolysaccharide (EPS) production activity when cultivated in whole cow's milk. The polymer-forming activity of thermophilic streptococci was lower (230-270 mg EPS/L) than that of the lactobacilli (400-540 mg EPS/L). Mixed cultures stimulated EPS production in yogurt manufacture, and a maximum concentration of 720-860 mg EPS/L was recorded after full coagulation of milk. The monomer structure of the exopolysaccharides formed by the yogurt starter cultures principally consists of galactose and glucose (1:1), with small amounts of xylose, arabinose, and/or mannose.

Production of amino acids by yogurt bacteria.

The dynamics of free amino acid production by the selected strains Streptococcus thermophilus 13a and Lactobacillus bulgaricus 2-11 were studied in pure and mixed cultivations during yogurt starter culture manufacture. L. bulgaricus 2-11 showed the highest activity for producing free amino acids with high individual concentrations over the first hour of growth (50% of the total amount). By the end of milk's full coagulation (4.5 h), 70% of the total amount of amino acids was released. S. thermophilus 13a showed poor proteolytic properties and consumed up to 70% of the free amino acids produced by L. bulgaricus 2-11 in the process of coagulation of milk with the mixed culture.

[Coordination immobilization of fungal proteinases]. / Koordinatsionnaia immobilizatsiia gribnykh proteinaz.

The possibility of coordination immobilization of fungal enzymes from Aspergillus niger MB and Aspergillus flavipes on the styrene copolymer with maleic acid has been explored. Optimal conditions for preparing insoluble chromium-containing enzyme polymeric complexes have been studied. The synergistic effect of salts of different metals on stability of chromium-containing immobilized preparations has been demonstrated. Properties of the resultant immobilized preparations have been examined.