Studies on local strains of amylolytic Lactobacillus from Nigerian fermented foods

Isolation and Characterization of Potential Starter Cultures from the Nigerian Fermented Milk Product nono

Nono, an important traditional fermented dairy food produced from cow’s milk in Nigeria, was studied for microbial diversity and for starter culture development for industrial production. On the basis of a polyphasic approach, including phenotypic and genotypic methods such as 16S rRNA gene sequencing, repetitive element PCR (rep-PCR) fingerprinting metagenomics, and whole genome sequencing, we identified Lactobacillus (Lb.) helveticus, Limosilactobacillus (L.) fermentum, Lb. delbrueckii, and Streptococcus (S.) thermophilus as predominant bacterial species involved with milk fermentation during traditional nono production in Nigeria, while the predominant yeast species in nono was identified as Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Using metagenomics, Shigella and potential pathogens such as enterobacteria were detected at low levels of abundance. Strains of the predominant lactic acid bacteria (LAB) were selected for starter cultures combination on the basis of their capacities for rapid growth in milk and reduction of pH below 4.5 and their gelling characteristic, which was demonstrated noticeably only by the S. thermophilus strains. Whole genome sequence analysis of selected bacterial strains showed the largest assembled genome size to be 2,169,635 bp in Lb. helveticus 314, while the smallest genome size was 1,785,639 bp in Lb. delbrueckii 328M. Genes encoding bacteriocins were not detected in all the strains, but all the LAB possessed genes potentially involved in diacetyl production and citrate metabolism. These bacteria isolated from nono can thus be used to improve the microbial safety quality of nono in Nigeria, in addition to improving technological parameters such as gelling viscosity, palatability, and product consistency.

Metataxonomic analysis of bacterial communities and mycotoxin reduction during processing of three millet varieties into ogi, a fermented cereal beverage

Ogi is a fermented cereal beverage, made primarily from maize (Zea mays) and rarely from millets. Unlike maize-based ogi, little is known about the bacterial community and mycotoxin profile during the production of millet-based ogi. Therefore, the bacterial community dynamics and mycotoxin reduction during ogi processing from three millet varieties were investigated using next-generation sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, respectively. A total of 1163 amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) were obtained, with ASV diversity across time intervals influenced by processing stage and millet variety. ASV distribution among samples suggested that the souring stage was more influenced by millet variety than the steeping stage, and that souring may be crucial for the quality attributes of the ogi. Furthermore, bacterial community structure during steeping and souring was significantly differentiated (PERMANOVA, P < 0.05) between varieties, with close associations observed for closely-related millet varieties. Taxonomically, Firmicutes, followed by Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Cyanobacteria and Proteobacteria phyla were relatively abundant (>1%). Lactic acid bacteria, such as Burkholderia-Caballeronia-Paraburkholderia, Lactobacillus, Lactococcus and Pediococcus, dominated most fermentation stages, suggesting their roles as key fermentative and functional bacteria in relation to mycotoxin reduction. About 52-100%, 58-100% and 100% reductions in mycotoxin (aflatoxins, beauvericin, citrinin, moniliformin, sterigmatocystin and zearalenone) concentrations were recorded after processing of white fonio, brown fonio and finger millet, respectively, into ogi. This study provides new knowledge of the dominant bacterial genera vital for the improvement of millet-based ogi through starter culture development and as well, elucidates the role of processing in reducing mycotoxins in millet ogi.

Tolerance to acid and alkali by Streptococcus infantarius subsp. infantarius strain 25124 isolated from fermented nixtamal dough: Pozol. Studies in APT broth

Pozol is a beverage prepared with maize dough made after boiling the kernels in limewater. This pretreatment could act as a selective force that shapes the starter microbiota, with microorganisms able to survive the fermentation. Since Streptococcus infantarius subsp. infantarius (Sii) dominates in pozol, we evaluated the effect of acid and alkali stresses on strain Sii-25124 in commercial APT broth as a first attempt to assess its adaptation capacity. Results suggest that Sii-25124 has adaptative advantages to pH changes that possibly contribute to its persistence even after the acidification of the dough. Its cardinal pH values were 4.0 and 11.0, with an optimum between 6.6 and 8.0. It showed alkali tolerance unlike other pozol Sii strains. Adaptation at pH 4.0, 10.0 and 11.0, compared with non-adapted cells, induced acid tolerance enhancing survival at pH 3.6 (P < 0.05); a 2 min heat shock at 62 °C induced alkali tolerance response enhancing survival at pH 10.5 (P < 0.05). The up-regulation of dnaK, groEL, ptsG and atpB was observed during 5 h of exposition at pH 3.6, 4.0 and 10.0, showing similar expression rates after induction by acid shock or alkaline stress. Changes of atpB were more evident having almost five-fold induction during long-term stress.

Significance of yeasts in the fermentation of maize for ogi production

Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Candida krusei, C. tropicalis, Geotrichum candidum, G. fermentans and Rhodotorula graminis were isolated during the fermentation of maize for ogi production. All the isolates except Geotrichum fermentans and Rhodotorula graminis were able to degrade phytate. All the yeasts strains exhibited lipase and esterase activities. Only S. cerevisiae (2.60%) and C. krusei (7.41%) exhibited amylase activities. Candida sp. produced wider zone of inhibition than the other yeasts strains tested during lipase activity while S. cerevisiae strains produced significantly wider zone of clearing as compared to the other yeasts for esterase activities. The study of inter-relationships between Lactobacillus plantarum and yeasts (C. krusei and S. cerevisiae) showed that the growth of the yeast strains were enhanced during fermentation by the presence of the lactic acid bacteria, but the growth of the L. plantarum strain was significantly enhanced especially by the C. krusei.

Flavouring composition prepared by fermentation with Bacillus spp

Fermented foodstuffs and condiments remain a key constituents of diets throughout many parts of Asia and Africa. In cases where the process of fermentation evolved for the development of taste or aroma, it often resulted in enhanced nutrition, stabilisation of the original raw materials, and detoxification of anti-nutrient factors. Several fermented products rely on the participation of various Bacillus species, including Bacillus natto and B. subtilis. Often, the finished products are of a very local character and exhibit sensory properties resulting from unique flora and processing technologies applied in small scale, home-based fermentations. Fermentation with B. natto and B. subtilis can produce very characteristic aromas in fermented products such as natto and dawadawa (also referred to as daddawa). Moreover, the hydrolytic capabilities of these microorganisms can result in a precursor-rich environment, which is useful for subsequent reactions leading to flavour production. A 1995 patented process demonstrated the ability to produce a fermented flavouring composition with the use of Bacillus spp. Hydrolysed protein obtained after fermentation with Bacillus spp. is mixed with reactive flavour precursors, which are subsequently heated to induce flavour formation and can be dried to a powder format. The product of this patented process imparts a basic meaty flavour, with a reduced yet characteristic dawadawa-like aroma. This paper briefly summarises some of the characteristics and uses of traditional dawadawa and illustrates alternatives described in the patent for the production of a process flavour base. Issues and considerations for the industrialisation of a fermentation process are briefly discussed, as well as some future opportunities for development and exploitation of traditional fermentation technology.

New efficient amylase-producing strains of Lactobacillus plantarum and L. fermentum isolated from different Nigerian traditional fermented foods

Amylolytic lactic acid bacteria (ALAB) were isolated from Nigerian traditional fermented foods (fufu, burukutu, ogi-baba and kunu-zakki) with the aim of selecting efficient amylase-producing strains. Nine isolates were characterized on the basis of their phenotypic and taxo-molecular characteristics. Three groups could be distinguished by their fermentation profiles and this was confirmed by DNA restriction analysis. Though fermentation profiles gave good identification of strain K9 (unique representative of group III) as Lactobacillus fermentum, they could not be used to ascertain the taxonomic position of strains of groups I and II. Analysis of partial 16S rRNA sequences led to the identification of these groups as L. plantarum strains and confirmed the species of strain K9 as L. fermentum. The two distinct phenotypic groups of L. plantarum differed in their use of D-xylose, L-arabinose, melibiose and were different from the previously described amylolytic L. plantarum A6 isolated from retted cassava in Congo. L. fermentum K9 was different from L. fermentum OgiE1 and Mw2 isolated from Benin maize sourdough and it is the first amylolytic L. fermentum described from Nigerian fermented products. Enzymatic profiles showed some differences between the strains of a similar fermentation group. One of the most relevant characteristics of the isolates was a higher yield of amylase production than those reported for previously described ALAB grown under the same conditions. Furthermore, all isolates were tolerant to an exposure at pH 2 and to bile salts.