Genotypic and technological characterization of Leuconostoc isolates to be used as adjunct starters in Manchego cheese manufacture

Sequence and comparative analysis of Leuconostoc dairy bacteriophages

Bacteriophages attacking Leuconostoc species may significantly influence the quality of the final product. There is however limited knowledge of this group of phages in the literature. We have determined the complete genome sequences of nine Leuconostoc bacteriophages virulent to either Leuconostoc mesenteroides or Leuconostoc pseudomesenteroides strains. The phages have dsDNA genomes with sizes ranging from 25.7 to 28.4 kb. Comparative genomics analysis helped classify the 9 phages into two classes, which correlates with the host species. High percentage of similarity within the classes on both nucleotide and protein levels was observed. Genome comparison also revealed very high conservation of the overall genomic organization between the classes. The genes were organized in functional modules responsible for replication, packaging, head and tail morphogenesis, cell lysis and regulation and modification, respectively. No lysogeny modules were detected. To our knowledge this report provides the first comparative genomic work done on Leuconostoc dairy phages.

Current taxonomy of phages infecting lactic acid bacteria

Phages infecting lactic acid bacteria have been the focus of significant research attention over the past three decades. Through the isolation and characterization of hundreds of phage isolates, it has been possible to classify phages of the dairy starter and adjunct bacteria Lactococus lactis, Streptococcus thermophilus, Leuconostoc spp., and Lactobacillus spp. Among these, phages of L. lactis have been most thoroughly scrutinized and serve as an excellent model system to address issues that arise when attempting taxonomic classification of phages infecting other LAB species. Here, we present an overview of the current taxonomy of phages infecting LAB genera of industrial significance, the methods employed in these taxonomic efforts and how these may be employed for the taxonomy of phages of currently underrepresented and emerging phage species.

Technological characterisation, antibiotic susceptibility and antimicrobial activity of wild-type Leuconostoc strains isolated from North Italian traditional cheeses

Genotypic and technological properties, antibiotic susceptibility and antimicrobial activity of 35 Leuconostoc strains, isolated from different Italian raw milk cheeses, were investigated. RAPD-PCR was used to study genetic variability and to distinguish closely related strains. The results showed a high degree of heterogeneity among isolates. All the strains had weak acidifying activity and showed low proteolytic and lipolytic activities. Reduction activity, was generally low. All the Leuconostoc were susceptible to ampicillin, mupirocin, erythromycin, quinupristin/dalfopristin and tetracycline. Many strains were classified as resistant to oxacillin, ciprofloxacin and nitrofurantonin, while all isolates were found resistant to vancomycin. PCR-based detection did not identify any of the common genetic determinants for vancomycin (vanA, vanB, vanC1, vanC2, vanC3, vanD, vanE, vanG) or erythromycin (ermB and ermC). Tetracycline resistance genes were detected in 25 tetracycline susceptible strains, the most frequent one being tetM. One strain, belonging to Ln. pseudomesenteroides species, was positive for the presence of the int gene of the Tn916/Tn1545 trasposon family. This is the first time the conjugative transposon Tn916 has been detected inside the Leuconostoc species. All strains showed antimicrobial activity against Enterococcus faecalis and Ent. faecium. The presence of genes encoding amino-acid decarboxylases (hdc and tdc) was not detected. Some strains are interesting in view of their use in cheese production as starter and non starter cultures.

Microbial background flora in small-scale cheese production facilities does not inhibit growth and surface attachment of Listeria monocytogenes

The background microbiota of 5 Norwegian small-scale cheese production sites was examined and the effect of the isolated strains on the growth and survival of Listeria monocytogenes was investigated. Samples were taken from the air, food contact surfaces (storage surfaces, cheese molds, and brine) and noncontact surfaces (floor, drains, and doors) and all isolates were identified by sequencing and morphology (mold). A total of 1,314 isolates were identified and found to belong to 55 bacterial genera, 1 species of yeast, and 6 species of mold. Lactococcus spp. (all of which were Lactococcus lactis), Staphylococcus spp., Microbacterium spp., and Psychrobacter sp. were isolated from all 5 sites and Rhodococcus spp. and Chryseobacterium spp. from 4 sites. Thirty-two genera were only found in 1 out of 5 facilities each. Great variations were observed in the microbial background flora both between the 5 producers, and also within the various production sites. The greatest diversity of bacteria was found in drains and on rubber seals of doors. The flora on cheese storage shelves and in salt brines was less varied. A total of 62 bacterial isolates and 1 yeast isolate were tested for antilisterial activity in an overlay assay and a spot-on-lawn assay, but none showed significant inhibitory effects. Listeria monocytogenes was also co-cultured on ceramic tiles with bacteria dominating in the cheese production plants: Lactococcus lactis, Pseudomonas putida, Staphylococcus equorum, Rhodococcus spp., or Psychrobacter spp. None of the tested isolates altered the survival of L. monocytogenes on ceramic tiles. The conclusion of the study was that no common background flora exists in cheese production environments. None of the tested isolates inhibited the growth of L. monocytogenes. Hence, this study does not support the hypothesis that the natural background flora in cheese production environments inhibits the growth or survival of L. monocytogenes.

Genome sequence of Leuconostoc pseudomesenteroides strain 4882, isolated from a dairy starter culture

The nonstarter lactic acid bacterium Leuconostoc pseudomesenteroides is a species widely found in the dairy industry and plays a key role in the formation of aromatic compounds. Here, we report the first genome sequence of a dairy strain of Leuconostoc pseudomesenteroides, which is 2 Mb.

Preservation of pears in water in the presence of Sinapis arvensis seeds: a Greek tradition

In this research, the microbiological and physicochemical changes during preservation of pears in water in the presence of Sinapis arvensis seeds (PWS FL) according to the traditional Greek home food manufacture were studied. Pears preserved in water served as control (PW FL). The growth of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) coming from the pear surface was enhanced in the presence of Sinapis seeds, while Enterobacteriaceae and Gram-negative bacteria declined coincidently with the lower (P<0.05) pH of the PWS FL. LAB predominated over the other microbial groups in the fermentation liquids (FLs) of both systems. All the 49 LAB isolates from one fermentation experiment were identified as Leuconostoc mesenteroides subsp. cremoris by the SDS-PAGE of whole-cell proteins, while RAPD-PCR fingerprinting and partial 16S rRNA sequence determination of selected isolates did not discriminate them at the subspecies level. Fruit preserved in PWS FL had higher titratable or volatile acidity, phenolic compounds or antioxidant capacity as well as lower pH and firmness than the control fruit. All physicochemical parameters of the FLs increased except of the pH which decreased. Coincidently with higher population of LAB in PWS FL the levels of citric, lactic and acetic acid were higher than in control. Oxalic acid and related unknown substances were found at higher levels in PWS FL than the control and may be the agent(s) enhancing the growth of LAB and/or contributing partially to the decline of Enterobacteriaceae. The organoleptic test showed that fruit preserved in PWS FL had better overall acceptance than the control, and that it retained most of the positive traits.