Variability in Survival of Pectinatus cerevisiiphilus, strictly Anaerobic Bacteria, under Different Oxygen Conditions

Carbohydrate Metabolism Differentiates Pectinatus and Megasphaera Species Growing in Beer

Obligate anaerobic beer spoilage bacteria have been a menace to the brewing industry for several decades. Technological advances in the brewing process aimed at suppressing aerobic spoilers gave rise to problems with obligate anaerobes. In previous studies, the metabolic spectrum of Pectinatus and Megasphaera species has been described, but their metabolism in the beer environment remains largely unknown. We used high-performance anion exchange chromatography with pulsed amperometric detection (HPAEC-PAD) and headspace solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GCMS) to further characterize beer spoiled by 30 different strains from six beer-spoiling species of Pectinatus and Megasphaera (P. cerevisiiphilus, P. frisingensis, P. haikarae, M. cerevisiae, M. paucivorans, and M. sueciensis). We detected differences in carbohydrate utilization and the volatile organic compounds (volatilome) produced during beer spoilage by all six species. We were able to show that glycerol, one of the basic components of beer, is the common carbon source used by all strains. It appears that this carbon source allows for anaerobic beer spoilage by Pectinatus and Megasphaera despite the spoilage-preventing intrinsic barriers of beer (iso-α-acids, ethanol, low pH, scarce nutrients); thus, extrinsic countermeasures are key for prevention.

Pectinatus spp. - Unpleasant and recurrent brewing spoilage bacteria

Traditionally, beer has been recognised as a beverage with high microbiological stability because of the hostile growth environment posed by beer and increasing attention being paid to brewery hygiene. However, the microbiological risk has increased in recent years because of technological advances toward reducing oxygen in beers, besides the increase in novel beer styles production, such as non-pasteurised, flash pasteurised, cold sterilised, mid-strength, and alcoholic-free beer, that are more prone to spoilage bacteria. Moreover, using innovative beer ingredients like fruits and vegetables is an added cause of microbial spoilage. To maintain quality and good brand image, beer spoilage microorganisms are a critical concern for breweries worldwide. Pectinatus and Megasphaera are Gram-negative bacteria mostly found in improper brewing environments, leading to consumer complaints and financial losses. Because of the lack of compiled scientific knowledge on Pectinatus spoilage ability, this review provides a comprehensive overview of the occurrence, survival mechanisms, and the factors affecting beer spoilage Pectinatus species in the brewing process.

Impact of thermal variations on biochemical and physiological traits in Pectinatus sp

The influence of temperature on cellular fatty acid composition and on heat stress tolerance was studied in the two species of Pectinatus, an anaerobic gram-negative bacterium. Cellular fatty acid (FA) patterns were determined for Pectinatus species cultivated in MRS medium at various defined conditions of temperature and pH. Our study shows that fluctuations of growth temperature and pH induced important changes in the ratio of unsaturated FAs (UFAs) to saturated FAs (SFAs). The major differences in the FA composition as a function of growth temperature concerned C15:0 and C17:0 for the SFAs and C15:1 and C17:1 for the UFAs. The most significant adaptation of lipid composition to lower growth temperatures was the strong increase of UFAs, particularly for C15:1 and C17:1 concomitantly with a decrease of SFAs (C15:0 and C17:0). When the pH of the culture medium was lowered from 6.2 to 4.0, a notable drop in the synthesis of the UFAs C15:1 and C17:1 was observed together with an important increase of C18-cyclopropane (C18-cyc) and high carbon number SFAs. Thermal modifications also provoked changes in Pectinatus behaviour. We observed that P. cerevisiiphilus was more heat sensitive than P. frisingensis. Mild exponential phase cells were treated for 1 h, at 40 degrees C for P. cerevisiiphilus or at 41 degrees C for P. frisingensis. This thermal adaptation induced tolerance against heat challenge (49 and 50 degrees C for P. cerevisiiphilus and P. frisingensis, respectively). Survival of P. cerevisiiphilus and P. frisingensis adapted cells was, respectively, 3400- and 790-fold higher than control. Interestingly, adapted cells of P. cerevisiiphilus were more thermotolerant than P. frisingensis pretreated cells.

Nisin, temperature and pH effects on growth and viability of pectinatus frisingensis, a gram-negative, strictly anaerobic beer-spoilage bacterium

Pectinatus frisingensis, a Gram-negative and strictly anaerobic beer spoilage bacterium is sensitive to nisin. An increase in nisin concentration (0 to 1100 IU ml-1) added to the culture medium prolonged the lag phase, and decreased the growth rate of the bacterium. In addition, late exponential cells of P. frisingensis exposed to low concentrations of nisin lost immediately a part of their intracellular K+. Presence of Mg2+ up to 15 mmol l-1 did not protect P. frisingensis from nisin-induced loss of viability and K+ efflux. Potassium leaks were also measured in P. frisingensis late exponential phase cells exposed to combined effects of nisin addition (100-500 IU ml-1), 10 min mild heat-treatment (50 degrees C) or rapid cooling (2 degrees C), and pH (4.0 and 6.2). Net K+ efflux from both starving and glucose-metabolizing cells, was more important at pH 6.2, whatever the temperature treatment and nisin addition. Reincubation at 30 degrees C of P. frisingensis glucose-metabolizing cells exposed to a preliminary combination of nisin addition and mild heat or cooling down treatment, showed that cells exposed to rapid cooling reaccumulated more K+ than heat-treated cells, whatever the pH conditions. A combination of nisin and mild heat-treatment could thus be of interest to prevent P. frisingensis growth in beers.

Physiological response ofPectinatus frisingensis,a beer spoilage bacterium,to mild heat treatments

Genus Pectinatus is strictly anaerobic bacteria described as a new beer spoilage flora. The physiological response of Pectinatus frisingensis to increasing heat treatments has been studied. Cell death occurred at temperatures higher than 50°C and increased with time. During heat treatment at 50°C, a potassium efflux of more than 50% of the internal potassium was measured at pH 6.2 in starving bacteria, whereas a small transient potassium efflux was measured with a similar 50°C treatment in energized cell suspensions. At beer pH values (pH 4.0), potassium content of P. frisingensis cells was not changed by a moderate heat treatment. Internal pH values of cells were only slightly (0.1 pH unit) decreased upon heat treatments. In contrast, membrane potential value was lowered by a heat treatment at pH 6.2 in deenergized cells, while only a transient decrease of delta was measured with glucose in the medium. A moderate heat treatment at 50°C had no effect on the membrane potential value at pH 4.0, even after 1 h of treatment. In addition, compared with a high level of adenylate energy charge (AEC) measured in energized cell suspensions, an AEC of 0.7 was routinely measured in starving cell suspensions. Moderate heat treatments at pH 4.0 lowered the AEC of cells to 0.6. The physiological response of P. frisingensis to mild heat treatments demonstrated a significant ability of the cell to maintain internal homeostasis at pH conditions encountered in beer.Key words: Pectinatus, thermal death, beer spoilage, homeostasis.

Effect of rapid cooling and acidic pH on cellular homeostasis of Pectinatus frisingensis, a strictly anaerobic beer-spoilage bacterium

Pectinatus frisingensis is a strictly anaerobic mesophilic bacterium involved in bottled beer spoilage. Cellular volume, adenylate energy charge, intracellular pH and intracellular potassium concentration measurements were performed in late exponential-phase cell suspensions placed in different physiological conditions, to evaluate the capability of this bacterium to maintain cellular homeostasis. The intracellular pH was calculated from the intracellular accumulation of a [carboxyl-14C]benzoic acid. Optimum physiological conditions were the presence of a carbon source and pH of 6.2, hostile conditions were a pH 4.5, absence of a carbon source, and rapid cooling treatment. The cell was able to maintain a higher intracellular pH than the external pH under all conditions. Intracellular volume was lower at pH 4.5 than at pH 6.2. A low net potassium efflux rate was routinely measured in starving cells, while glucose addition promoted immediate net potassium uptake from the medium. Cooling treatment resulted in sudden net potassium efflux from the cell, a decrease of the intracellular pH, and low modifications of the adenylate energy charge in metabolizing-glucose cell suspensions. Thus, cold treatment perturbs the P. frisingensis homeostasis but the bacteria were able to restore their homeostasis in the presence of a carbon source, and under warm conditions.