Growth of bifidobacteria in a fermented wheat germ medium

An animal protein-free culture medium was developed for the cultivation of bifidobacteria. The medium is based on fermented wheat germ (wheat germ medium; WGM), which serves as a good source of amino acids for bacteria. The number of colonies, changes in pH and optical density were compared with commercial Wilkins-Chalgren (WCB) broth and a nonmilk-based general edible medium (GEM). All bifidobacterial strains (n=9) displayed good growth on WGM. Strains of Bifidobacterium animalis, B. longum and B. breve grew on all three media tested. On the contrary, B. bifidum did not grow on GEM. WGM seems to be suitable medium for the propagation of bifidobacteria and for the production of animal protein-free probiotic food

Growth of bifidobacteria in a fermented wheat germ medium

An animal protein-free culture medium was developed for the cultivation of bifidobacteria. The medium is based on fermented wheat germ (wheat germ medium; WGM), which serves as a good source of amino acids for bacteria. The number of colonies, changes in pH and optical density were compared with commercial Wilkins-Chalgren (WCB) broth and a nonmilk-based general edible medium (GEM). All bifidobacterial strains (n=9) displayed good growth on WGM. Strains of Bifidobacterium animalis, B. longum and B. breve grew on all three media tested. On the contrary, B. bifidum did not grow on GEM. WGM seems to be suitable medium for the propagation of bifidobacteria and for the production of animal protein-free probiotic food

Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment of Human Illness from Exposure to Marine Beach Sand

Currently no U.S. federal guideline is available for assessing risk of illness from sand at recreational sites. The objectives of this study were to compute a reference level guideline for pathogens in beach sand and to compare these reference levels with measurements from a beach impacted by non-point sources of contamination. Reference levels were computed using quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) coupled with Monte Carlo simulations. In order to reach an equivalent level of risk of illness as set by the U.S. EPA for marine water exposure (1.9×10(−2)), levels would need to be at least about 10 oocysts/g (about 1 oocyst/g for a pica child) for Cryptosporidium, about 5 MPN/g (about 1 MPN/g for pica) for enterovirus, and less than 10(6) CFU/g for S. aureus. Pathogen levels measured in sand at a non-point source recreational beach were lower than the reference levels. More research is needed in evaluating risk from yeast and helminth exposures as well as in identifying acceptable levels of risk for skin infections associated with sand exposures