New insights into the impact of Lactobacillus population on host-bacteria metabolic interplay

We aimed at evaluating the association between intestinal Lactobacillus sp. composition and their metabolic activity with the host metabolism in adult and elderly individuals. Faecal and plasma metabolites were measured and correlated to the Lactobacillus species distribution in healthy Estonian cohorts of adult (n=16; 65 y). Total cholesterol, LDL, C-reactive protein and glycated hemoglobin were statistically higher in elderly, while platelets, white blood cells and urinary creatinine were higher in adults. Aging was associated with the presence of L. paracasei and L. plantarum and the absence of L. salivarius and L. helveticus. High levels of intestinal Lactobacillus sp. were positively associated with increased concentrations of faecal short chain fatty acids, lactate and essential amino acids. In adults, high red blood cell distribution width was positively associated with presence of L. helveticus and absence of L. ruminis. L. helveticus was correlated to lactate and butyrate in faecal waters. This indicates a strong relationship between the composition of the gut Lactobacillus sp. and host metabolism. Our results confirm that aging is associated with modulations of blood biomarkers and intestinal Lactobacillus species composition. We identified specific Lactobacillus contributions to gut metabolic environment and related those to blood biomarkers. Such associations may prove useful to decipher the biological mechanisms underlying host-gut microbial metabolic interactions in an ageing population

Review: Biofilm as a major factor in contamination of milk and dairy products with thermoduric bacteria

The primary source of thermoduric bacteria for contamination of milk and dairy products is raw milk. Contamination sources of raw milk are the surface of udder, milking-, cooling- and storage equipments. Inadequate cleaning and storage of milking equipment may cause formation of biofilm on the surfaces which are in contact with milk. Thermoduric bacteria are divided on the basis of their physiological characteristics from thermophilic, mesophilic and psychrophilic bacteria. Thermoduric bacteria in biofilm have favourable conditions for reproduction. Bacteria in biofilm are much more resistant to temperatures and chemicals used on cleaning of equipment. Characteristics of bacteria cells, the cell-surface properties and the properties of fluid suspending bacteria influenced binding of bacteria in biofilm formed on the surface of the equipment. Outgrowth of thermoduric bacteria and contamination of processed milk take place from biofilm formed on the surfaces of regeneration and cooling sections of pasteurizes and from biofilms formed on the surfaces of separators and buffer tanks, which were in contact with milk. Thermoduric bacteria in raw milk undergo the necessary heat treatment and after it, reproducing in biofilms which formed on the surfaces of equipment, they can turn now to the product. Thermoduric bacteria have often negative impact quality of dairy products

Antimicrobial effects in food and prevention of contamination in food industry

Microbial Contaminants and Contamination Routes in Food Industry - 1st Open Seminar arranged by SAFOODNET; Espoo; Finland; 22 January 2007 through 23 January 2007The most commonly recognized food-borne infections are caused by Campylobacter jejuni and Salmonella spp. In the past 25 years, Listeria monocytogenes has become increasingly important as a food-associated pathogen. Though, an annual incidence of human listeriosis is between two and ten reported cases per million in EU countries. Because of its high case fatality rate, listeriosis ranks among the most frequent causes of death due to food-borne illness. L. monocytogenes and C. jejuni has been shown to adapt to different environmental stress factors, including disinfectants. Salmonella enteritidis, C. jejuni and L. monocytogenes may also form a biolfim which helps to survive in the environment. For that reason, the food industrial hygiene has become important to avoid contamination of raw food and food products with these pathogens

Application of Edible Coating Based on Liquid Acid Whey Protein Concentrate with Indigenous Lactobacillus helveticus for Acid-Curd Cheese Quality Improvement

publishedVersio

Screening for Antifungal Indigenous Lactobacilli Strains Isolated from Local Fermented Milk for Developing Bioprotective Fermentates and Coatings Based on Acid Whey Protein Concentrate for Fresh Cheese Quality Maintenance

The demand for healthy foods without artificial food additives is constantly increasing. Hence, natural food preservation methods using bioprotective cultures could be an alternative to chemical preservatives. Thus, the main purpose of this work was to screen the indigenous lactobacilli isolated from fermented cow milk for their safety and antifungal activity to select the safe strain with the strongest fungicidal properties for the development of bioprotective acid whey protein concentrate (AWPC) based fermentates and their coatings intended for fresh cheese quality maintenance. Therefore, 12 lactobacilli strains were isolated and identified from raw fermented cow milk as protective cultures. The safety of the stains was determined by applying antibiotic susceptibility, haemolytic and enzymatic evaluation. Only one strain, Lacticaseibacillus paracasei A11, met all safety requirements and demonstrated a broad spectrum of antifungal activity in vitro. The strain was cultivated in AWPC for 48 h and grew well (biomass yield 8 log10 cfu mL−1). L. paracasei A11 AWPC fermentate was used as a vehicle for protective culture in the development of pectin-AWPC-based edible coating. Both the fermentate and coating were tested for their antimicrobial properties on fresh acid-curd cheese. Coating with L. paracasei A11 strain reduced yeast and mould counts by 1.0–1.5 log10 cfu mL−1 (p ≤ 0.001) during cheese storage (14 days), simultaneously preserving its flavour and prolonging the shelf life for six days.Screening for Antifungal Indigenous Lactobacilli Strains Isolated from Local Fermented Milk for Developing Bioprotective Fermentates and Coatings Based on Acid Whey Protein Concentrate for Fresh Cheese Quality MaintenancepublishedVersio

Evaluation of the functional efficacy of an antioxidative probiotic in healthy volunteers

BACKGROUND: In persons without clinical symptom it is difficult to assess an impact of probiotics regarding its effect on health. We evaluated the functional efficacy of the probiotic Lactobacillus fermentum ME-3 in healthy volunteers by measuring the influence of two different formulations on intestinal lactoflora, fecal recovery of the probiotic strain and oxidative stress markers of blood and urine after 3 weeks consumption. METHODS: Two 3-week healthy volunteer trials were performed. Open placebo controlled (OPC) study participants (n = 21) consumed either goat milk or by L. fermentum ME-3 fermented goat milk (daily dose 11.8 log CFU (Colony Forming Units). Double blind randomised placebo controlled (DBRP) study participants (n = 24) received either capsules with L. fermentum ME-3 (daily of dose 9.2 CFU) or placebo capsules. The faecal lactoflora composition, faecal ME-3 recovery, effect of the consumption on intestinal lactoflora, and oxidative stress markers of blood (total antioxidative activity; total antioxidative status and glutathione red-ox ratio) was measured. RESULTS: ME-3 was well tolerated and a significant increase in total faecal lactobacilli yet no predominance of ME-3 was detected in all study groups. Faecal recovery of ME-3 was documented by molecular methods only in fermented milk group, however the significant improvement of blood TAA (Total Antioxidative Activity) and TAS (Total Antioxidative Status) indices was seen both in case of fermented goat milk and capsules", yet glutathione re-ox ratio values decreased only in case of fermented by ME-3 goat milk. CONCLUSION: The functional efficacy of both consumed formulations of an antioxidative probiotic L. fermentum ME-3 is proved by the increase of the intestinal lactobacilli counts providing putative defence against enteric infections and by reduction of the oxidative stress indices of blood and urine of healthy volunteers. In non-diseased host the probiotic health claims can be assessed by improvement of some measurable laboratory indices of well-established physiological functions of host, e.g. markers of antioxidative defence system

Antimicrobial effects in food and prevention of contamination in food industry

Microbial Contaminants and Contamination Routes in Food Industry - 1st Open Seminar arranged by SAFOODNET; Espoo; Finland; 22 January 2007 through 23 January 2007The most commonly recognized food-borne infections are caused by Campylobacter jejuni and Salmonella spp. In the past 25 years, Listeria monocytogenes has become increasingly important as a food-associated pathogen. Though, an annual incidence of human listeriosis is between two and ten reported cases per million in EU countries. Because of its high case fatality rate, listeriosis ranks among the most frequent causes of death due to food-borne illness. L. monocytogenes and C. jejuni has been shown to adapt to different environmental stress factors, including disinfectants. Salmonella enteritidis, C. jejuni and L. monocytogenes may also form a biolfim which helps to survive in the environment. For that reason, the food industrial hygiene has become important to avoid contamination of raw food and food products with these pathogens