Simplified identification of aerobic spore-formers in the investigation of foods

Diverse thermophilic Bacillus species with multiple biotechnological activities are associated within the Egyptian soil and compost samples

Thermophilic strains of Bacillus can express enzymes of higher thermal stability, which allows carrying out industrial fermentations under higher temperatures. This lowers the contamination potential, accelerates mixing rates and facilitates the recovery of fermentation end products. The present study was thus designed to isolate and characterize thermophilic Bacillus cultures from soil and compost samples. Forty-two thermophilic Bacillus isolates could be identified employing morphological, physiological and the 16S rRNA gene sequencing analyses. The isolates showed a high degree of biological diversity involving 13 Bacillus species and 1 subspecies but were dominated by Bacillus licheniformis. Phylogenetic analysis of B. licheniformis isolates based on the DNA sequencing of gyrA and rpoB genes presented them in two main genetic groups. Isolates of five thermophilic species including B. licheniformis, Bacillus altitudinis, Bacillus paralicheniformis, Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus thermoamylovorans showed multiple activities to degrade all of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. Those multifunctional thermophilic Bacillus isolates can be harnessed in the degradation of plant wastes for the production of biofuels and compost.

Probiotic Frozen Yoghurt Supplemented with Coconut Flour Green Nanoparticles

Background:

Frozen yoghurt is a suitable vehicle to deliver bioactive compounds and beneficial microorganisms, and to develop new functional dairy products.

Methods:

Bifidobacterium bifidum was used in the manufacture of frozen yoghurt, whereas skim milk powder was substituted by Nanoparticles Coconut Flour (NCF) and Coconut Flour (CF). The physicochemical, microbiological and sensory properties were assessed for frozen yoghurt from different treatments.

Results:

The prepared NCF by ball-milling had sizes that range between 81.96nm to 83.53nm. The addition of NCF affected variably the pH values, moisture content, the overrun, fiber content, freezing points and viscosity of the prepared frozen yoghurt depending on the ratio of substituted skim milk.

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Also, the addition of NCF improved the viability of Bifidobacterium bifidum, Bifidobacterium breve, Streptococci, and Lactobacilli and total bacterial count of frozen yoghurt during frozen storage. The addition of NCF improved the sensory properties of frozen yoghurt.

Conclusion:

The use of Nanoparticles Coconut Flour (NCF) and Bifidobacterium sp., in the preparation of frozen yoghurt improved its physicochemical, microbiological and sensory properties.

Incidence, diversity and characteristics of spores of psychrotolerant spore formers in various REPFEDS produced in Belgium

The major objectives of this study were to determine the incidence of psychrotolerant spore formers from REPFEDS marketed in Belgium, and their diversity and characteristics. Spore formers in general were found as spores on 38.3% of the food samples and in 85% food products types evaluated. 76% of the food samples containing spore formers had spores before enrichment. A total of 86 spore formers were isolated from the samples. 28 of 86 bacterial spore formers (32.6%) were capable of vegetative growth at 7 °C. 96% (27/28) of these psychrotolerant spore formers were determined to belong to Bacillus or related genera. According to a (GTG)5-PCR analysis, 24 of these 28 isolates were genetically distinct from each other. 10.7% (3/28) of the bacilli were determined to belong to the Bacillus cereus group, namely B. cereus (chicken curry and Edam cheese) and Bacillus mycoides (Emmental cheese). Almost half of the bacilli (12/27) were putatively identified as Bacillus pumilus, which occurs ubiquitously in nature and has been associated with outbreaks of foodborne disease. Only one psychrotolerant clostridium, Clostridium tyrobutyricum, was isolated in the study. The results of this study show the highly diverse ecology and spoilage potential of psychrotolerant spore formers in REPFEDs marketed in Belgium.

A RAPD-based survey of thermophilic bacilli in milk powders from different countries

Twenty-eight milk powders from 18 different countries were examined for the number and type of contaminating thermophilic bacilli. Of 742 isolates examined, 96.8% were assigned to the same strains of bacilli as previously found in New Zealand powders. The dominant isolate was Anoxybacillus flavithermus strain C followed by Bacillus licheniformis strain F. The former was also prevalent in New Zealand powders and the results demonstrate that A. flavithermus represents a widespread contaminant, seemingly ubiquitous in factories producing milk powder. The presence of thermophilic strains of Geobacillus stearothermophilus and to a lesser extent of Bacillus subtilis in milk powders was reconfirmed.

A RAPD-based comparison of thermophilic bacilli from milk powders

The similarity of strains of thermophilic Geobacillus stearothermophilus (formerly Bacillus stearothermophilus), Anoxybacillus flavithermus (formerly Bacillus flavothermus), Bacillus licheniformis and Bacillus subtilis isolated from separate milk powder production runs from multiple factories was examined using a random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) protocol. As a result of the analysis of the RAPD fingerprints and data relating to general growth and biochemical tests, over 98% of the 1470 isolates examined (grown at 55 degrees C) were assigned to the species G. stearothermophilus, A. flavithermus, B. licheniformis and B. subtilis. The G. stearothermophilus isolates were identified as being nearly identical to G. stearothermophilus (DSMZ 22; equivalent to ATCC 12980), or G. stearothermophilus var. calidolactis (DSMZ 1550). Three groups of isolates were found to be related to A. flavithermus (DSMZ 2641) by partial small ribosomal subunit (16S) sequence comparisons and shown to be interrelated by RAPD analyses with multiple primer sets. The thermophilic isolates of B. licheniformis were positively identified by comparison with type strains of B. licheniformis DSMZ 13 and DSMZ 8785. All of the B. subtilis strains shared bands in their RAPD profiles and were similar to a common B. subtilis type strain (DSMZ 10 and DSMZ 347). Overall, the most common and prevalent group of strains (group A) was demonstrated to be closely related to G. stearothermophilus (DSMZ 22).

Diversity and functionality of Bacillus and related genera isolated from spontaneously fermented soybeans (Indian Kinema) and locust beans (African Soumbala)

A total of 126 isolates of Bacillus and related genera from indigenous, spontaneously fermented soybeans (Kinema) and locust beans (Soumbala) were characterized with the purpose of defining interspecific, as well as intraspecific relationships among the components of their microflora. B. subtilis was the dominant species, and species diversity was more pronounced in Soumbala than in Kinema. While from Kinema, six species were isolated (B. subtilis, B. licheniformis, B. cereus, B. circulans, B. thuringiensis and B. sphaericus), in Soumbala, the species found were B. subtilis, B. thuringiensis, B. licheniformis, B. cereu, B. badius, Paenibacillus alvei, B. firmus, P. larvae, Brevibacillus laterosporus, B. megaterium, B. mycoides and B. sphaericus. Genomic diversity in the isolates of B. subtilis was investigated by random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The RAPD-PCR fingerprint analysis showed a high level of diversity. With more than 90% similarity, all 52 RAPD subdivisions were source and continent-wise homogeneous. Profiles of carbon source fermentation also showed a wide but corresponding phenotypic diversity, largely corresponding with RAPD subdivisions. The various strains were tested for several criteria for functionality in soybean fermentation, viz. protein degradation, pH increase, and development of desirable stickiness caused by viscous exopolymers. Profiles of functionality, based upon estimations of pH, free amino nitrogen and stickiness were associated with genotypic and phenotypic profiles. Notwithstanding the heterogenous fermentation results for some genotypic profiles, a ranking of RAPD groups is possible and can be useful in the further selection and study of B. subtilis strains.

Rapid detection of Bacillus stearothermophilus using impedance-splitting

An impedance splitting method was used to detect Bacillus stearothermophilus in suspension and attached to stainless steel surfaces. The effects of bacterial metabolism on the impedance of the culture medium and the ionic layers of the measuring electrodes were recorded using the BacTrac 4000 microorganism growth analyser. Impedance changes were measured at 55 degrees C. Seven of the eight media produced changes in the electrode impedance (E-value) and all media produced negligible changes in the impedance of the culture medium (M-value). Good correlations were obtained between cell numbers and the E-value measured over 18 h (r > 0.9) for the two strains of B. stearothermophilus tested in trypticase soy broth. The E-value correlations were used to estimate the numbers of both vegetative and spore forms of B. stearothermophilus as either planktonic or adhered cells. For the detection of B. stearothermophilus using impedance, only methods where the E-value impedance is recorded, can be used.

Identification of Bacillus strains isolated from milk and cream with classical and nucleic acid hybridization methods

A total of 529 bacterial strains have been isolated from milk and cream sampled at different sites in a dairy production plant under conditions selective for aerobic sporeforming bacteria. Identification with classical methods based on morphological, physiological and biochemical criteria showed Bacillus licheniformis to be the most frequently occurring Bacillus sp. The investigation also revealed 62 unidentified strains. Classical identification methods were time consuming (3-7 d), lacked specificity and--because of their dependence on phenotypic gene expression--sometimes produced ambiguous results. Consequently, a colony hybridization method developed for the identification of B. licheniformis strains and using nonradioactive labelled 23S rRNA targeted oligonucleotide probes was also used. Identification of B. licheniformis with both classical and hybridization methods revealed diverging identification results for 70 strains.