Comparison of aerobic and anaerobic growth of Lactobacillus plantarum in a glucose medium

Oxygen Transfer Effect on the Growth of Limosilactobacillus reuteri ATCC 53608 and on Its Metabolic Capacity

Limosilactobacillus reuteri is a probiotic microorganism used in the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders. The effect of oxygen transfer on cultures of L. reuteri ATCC 53608 at shake flask and stirred tank bioreactor scales was studied, using MRS and molasses-based media. At shake flask scale, in MRS medium, a maximum bacterial concentration of 2.01 ± 0.02 g L-1 was obtained; the oxygen transfer coefficient was 2.01 ± 0.04 h-1. Similarly, in a 7.5 L bioreactor, in MRS, a maximum bacterial concentration of 2.46 ± 0.16 g L-1 was achieved (kLa = 2.64 ± 0.06 h-1). In contrast, using a molasses-based medium, bacterial concentration reached 3.13 ± 0.17 g L-1 in the 7.5 L bioreactor. A progressive reduction in lactic acid concentration and yield was observed as the oxygen transfer coefficient increased, at shake flask scale. Also, the oxygen transfer coefficient strongly affected the growth of L. reuteri in shake flask and bioreactor and allowed us to successfully scale up L. reuteri culture, producing similar maximum bacterial concentrations in both scales (2.01 g L-1 and 2.46 g L-1 in MRS). This is the first study on oxygen transfer coefficients in L. reuteri, and it is a valuable contribution to the field as it provides important insights about how this organism tolerates oxygen and adapts its metabolism for larger biomass production.

Fermentation of Polygonati Rhizoma aqueous extract using Lactiplantibacillus plantarum under the condition of eutrophication

In this experiment, the eutrophication system was established by adding sucrose and yeast powder, and the pH and dissolved oxygen were measured in a bioreactor in real time to study the effect of aerobic environment on the fermentation process of Polygonati Rhizoma extract by Lactiplantibacillus plantarum. To further analyze metabolic changes, UPLC-Q-Exactive MS was used for metabolomic analysis and metabolic profiling. Multivariate analysis was performed using principal component analysis and Orthogonal projections to latent structures discriminant analysis. Finally, 313 differential metabolites were selected, 196 of which were annotated through database matching. After fermentation, the content of short-chain fatty acids, lactic acid, and their derivatives increased significantly, and there were 13 kinds and 4 kinds, respectively. Both compounds and their derivatives are beneficial to the intestinal flora. Consequently, incorporating L. plantarum into the aerobic fermentation process of Polygonati Rhizoma extract within the eutrophic system is potentially advantageous in enhancing the impact of its fermentation solution on the gut microbiota and its effects on human health. Our findings for this kind of edible and medicinal material research and development offer useful insights.

Insights into the metabolic profiling of Polygonati Rhizoma fermented by Lactiplantibacillus plantarum under aerobic and anaerobic conditions using a UHPLC-QE-MS/MS system

Introduction

Polygonati Rhizoma is a multi-purpose food with medicinal uses. Fermentation of Polygonati Rhizoma by lactic acid bacteria could provide new insights into the development of Polygonati Rhizoma products.

Methods

In this study, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum was fermented with Polygonati Rhizoma extracts in a bioreactor under aerobic and anaerobic conditions with pH and DO real-time detection. Metabolic profiling was determined by UHPLC-QE-MS/MS system. Principal component analysis and orthogonal partial least-squares discriminant analysis were used to perform multivariate analysis.

Results

A total of 98 differential metabolites were identified in broth after fermentation, and 36 were identified between fermentation under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. The main metabolic pathways in the fermentation process are ABC transport and amino acid biosynthesis. Most of the compounds such as L-arginine, L-aspartic acid, leucine, L-lysine, citrate, inosine, carnitine, betaine, and thiamine were significantly increased during fermentation, playing a role in enhancing food flavor. Compared with anaerobic fermentation, aerobic conditions led to a significant rise in the levels of some compounds such as valine, isoleucine, and glutamate; this increase was mainly related to branched-chain amino acid transaminase, isocitrate dehydrogenase, and glutamate dehydrogenase.

Discussion

Aerobic fermentation is more beneficial for the fermentation of Polygonati Rhizoma by L. plantarum to produce flavor and functional substances. This study is the first report on the fermentation of Polygonati Rhizoma by L. plantarum and provides insights that would be applicable in the development of Polygonati Rhizoma fermented products.

Effect of Pulsed Electric Fields on the Growth and Acidification Kinetics of Lactobacillus delbrueckii Subsp. bulgaricus

The aim of this work was to investigate the effect of pulsed electric fields (PEF) on the growth and acidification kinetics of Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus CFL1 during fermentation. The PEF treatments were applied during the fermentation process using a recirculation pump and a PEF treatment chamber coupled with a PEF generator. The medium flow rate through the chamber was first optimized to obtain the same growth and acidification kinetics than the control fermentation without medium recirculation. Different PEF intensities (60-428 V cm-1) were then applied to the culture medium to study the impact of PEF on the cells' behavior. The growth and acidification kinetics were recorded during the fermentation and the specific growth rates µ, pH, and acidification rate (dpH/dt) were assessed. The results obtained showed a biphasic growth by applying high PEF intensities (beyond 285 V cm-1) with the presence of two maximal specific growth rates and a decrease in the acidification activities. It was demonstrated that the cells were stressed during the PEF treatment, but presented an accelerated growth after stopping it, leading thereby to similar absorbance and pH at the end of the fermentation. These results show the great potential of PEF technology to be applied to generate low acidified products by performing PEF-assisted fermentations.

Optimization of β-galactosidase Production by Batch Cultures of Lactobacillus leichmannii 313 (ATCC 7830™)

The endoenzyme β-galactosidase (β-d-galactoside galactohydrolase; EC 3.2.1.23) has been used at industrial scales for the preparation of lactose-free milk and for the conversion of lactose to galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) prebiotics. In this study, using Plackett–Burman (PB) design and the response surface methodology (RSM), the batch growth conditions for the production of β-galactosidase in DeMan-Rogosa-Sharpe (MRS) media have been studied and optimized for Lactobacillus leichmannii 313 (ATCC 7830™) for the first time. The incubation temperature (30  <  T  <  55 °C), starting pH (5.5  <  pH  <  7.5), and carbon source (glucose, lactose, galactose, fructose, and sucrose) were selected as the significant variables for optimization. The maximum crude β-galactosidase production (measured by specific activity) was 4.5 U/mg proteins and was obtained after 12 h of fermentation. The results of the PB design and further optimization by RSM showed that the initial pH of 7.0 and 15.29 g/L of lactose were the levels that gave the optimum observed and predicted β-galactosidase activities of 23.13 U/mg and 23.40 U/mg, respectively. Through RSM optimization, β-galactosidase production increased significantly (over five-fold) in optimized medium (23.13 U/mg), compared with unoptimized medium (4.5 U/mg). Moreover, the crude enzyme obtained was able to hydrolyze lactose and also produce galacto-oligosaccharides. Because its ability to produce β-galactosidase was significantly improved through optimization by RSM, L. leichmannii 313 can serve as a potential source of β-galactosidase for food applications at an industrial scale.

Distribution of reactive oxygen species defense mechanisms across domain bacteria

Bacteria are the most diverse and numerous organisms on the planet, inhabiting environments from the deep subsurface to particles in clouds. Across this range of conditions, bacteria have evolved a diverse suite of enzymes to mitigate cellular damage from reactive oxygen species (ROS). Here, we review the diversity and distribution of ROS enzymatic defense mechanisms across the domain Bacteria, using both peer-reviewed literature and publicly available genome databases. We describe the specific strategies used by well-characterized organisms in order to highlight differences in oxidative stress responses between aerobic, facultatively anaerobic, and anaerobic lifestyles. We present evidence from genome minimization experiments to suggest that ROS defenses are obligately required for life. This review clarifies the variability in ROS defenses across Bacteria, including the novel diversity found in currently uncharacterized Candidate Phyla.

Quantifying Variability in Growth and Thermal Inactivation Kinetics of Lactobacillus plantarum

The presence and growth of spoilage organisms in food might affect the shelf life. In this study, the effects of experimental, reproduction, and strain variabilities were quantified with respect to growth and thermal inactivation using 20 Lactobacillus plantarum strains. Also, the effect of growth history on thermal resistance was quantified. The strain variability in μmax was similar (P > 0.05) to reproduction variability as a function of pH, aw, and temperature, while being around half of the reproduction variability (P < 0.05) as a function of undissociated lactic acid concentration [HLa]. The cardinal growth parameters were estimated for the L. plantarum strains, and the pHmin was between 3.2 and 3.5, the aw,min was between 0.936 and 0.953, the [HLamax], at pH 4.5, was between 29 and 38 mM, and the Tmin was between 3.4 and 8.3°C. The average D values ranged from 0.80 min to 19 min at 55°C, 0.22 to 3.9 min at 58°C, 3.1 to 45 s at 60°C, and 1.8 to 19 s at 63°C. In contrast to growth, the strain variability in thermal resistance was on average six times higher than the reproduction variability and more than ten times higher than the experimental variability. The strain variability was also 1.8 times higher (P < 0.05) than the effect of growth history. The combined effects of strain variability and growth history on D value explained all of the variability as found in the literature, although with bias. Based on an illustrative milk-processing chain, strain variability caused ∼2-log10 differences in growth between the most and least robust strains and >10-log10 differences after thermal treatment.

IMPORTANCE

Accurate control and realistic prediction of shelf life is complicated by the natural diversity among microbial strains, and limited information on microbiological variability is available for spoilage microorganisms. Therefore, the objectives of the present study were to quantify strain variability, reproduction (biological) variability, and experimental variability with respect to the growth and thermal inactivation kinetics of Lactobacillus plantarum and to quantify the variability in thermal resistance attributed to growth history. The quantitative knowledge obtained on experimental, reproduction, and strain variabilities can be used to improve experimental designs and to adequately select strains for challenge growth and inactivation tests. Moreover, the integration of strain variability in prediction of microbial growth and inactivation kinetics will result in more realistic predictions of L. plantarum dynamics along the food production chain.

Uses of miscanthus press juice within a green biorefinery platform

This study assesses some uses of nutrient-rich juice mechanically extracted from freshly harvested Miscanthus x giganteus (MxG) as part of a green biorefinery system. The juice was used for culturing Saccharomyces cerevisiae and lactic acid bacteria. MxG juice was further used as substrate for fermentation to produce lactic acid using Lactobacillus brevis and Lactobacillus plantarum. The results show that MxG juice was a highly nutritious source for the cultivation of bacteria. Higher concentrations of MxG juice used as culture media, resulted in higher cell growth both aerobically and anaerobically. The highest ethanol yield of 70% theoretical and concentration of 0.75g/100ml were obtained from S. cerevisiae cultivated with 90% (v/v) MxG juice media and used for miscanthus solid fraction fermentation. 11.91g/L of lactic acid was also successfully produced from MxG juice through SSF.

Effect of the absence of the CcpA gene on growth, metabolic production, and stress tolerance in Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus

The catabolite control protein A (CcpA) is a kind of multi-effect regulatory protein. In the study, the effect of the inactivation of CcpA and aerobic conditions on the growth, metabolic production, and stress tolerance to heat, oxidative, and cold stresses in Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus was investigated. Results showed that inactivation of CcpA distinctly hindered growth. Total lactic acid concentration was significantly lower in aerobiosis for both strains and was lower for the mutant strain than L. bulgaricus. Acetic acid production from the mutant strain was higher than L. bulgaricus in aerobiosis compared with anaerobiosis. Enzyme activities, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), phosphate fructose kinase (PFK), pyruvate kinase (PK), and pyruvic dehydrogenase (PDH), were significantly lower in the mutant strain than L. bulgaricus. The diameters of inhibition zone were 13.59 ± 0.02 mm and 9.76 ± 0.02 mm for L. bulgaricus in anaerobiosis and aerobiosis, respectively; and 8.12 ± 0.02 mm and 7.38 ± 0.02 mm for the mutant in anaerobiosis and aerobiosis, respectively. For both strains, cells grown under aerobic environment possess more stress tolerance. This is the first study in which the CcpA-negative mutant of L. bulgaricus is constructed and the effect of aerobic growth on stress tolerance of L. bulgaricus is evaluated. Although aerobic cultivation does not significantly improve growth, it does improve stress tolerance.

Optimisation of batch culture conditions for cell-envelope-associated proteinase production from Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. lactis ATCC® 7830™

Using a combination of conventional sequential techniques, the batch growth conditions for the production of cell-envelope-associated proteinases have for the first time been studied and optimised in Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. lactis 313 (ATCC 7830; LDL 313). Concentrations of inoculum (0.1 < X < 10 % vol/vol), agitation speed (0 < S < 200 rpm), varying incubation temperature (30 < T < 50 °C), starting pH (4.5 < pH < 7) and carbon/nitrogen ratio of production medium (0.2 < r < 5) had an individual effect on proteinase yield (p < 0.01). Optimal conditions for proteinase production included an initial pH of 6.0, 45 °C incubation temperature, 2 % (v/v) inoculum size of OD(560) = 1, 150 rpm agitation speed, and growth medium carbon/nitrogen ratio of 1.0. Maximum proteinase activity obtained for whole cells was 0.99 U/ml after 8 h of incubation. The variables studied are very relevant due to their significance in improving the productivity of proteinase synthesis from LDL 313, under process and, likely, economic optimum conditions.

Inactivation of ccpA and aeration affect growth, metabolite production and stress tolerance in Lactobacillus plantarum WCFS1

The growth of Lactobacillus plantarum WCFS1 and of its ΔccpA ery mutant, WCFS1-2, was compared in batch fermentations in a complex medium at controlled pH (6.5) and temperature (30°C) with or without aeration, in order to evaluate the effect of ccpA inactivation and aeration on growth, metabolism and stress resistance. Inactivation of ccpA and, to a lesser extent, aeration, significantly affected growth, expression of proteins related to pyruvate metabolism and stress, and tolerance to heat, oxidative and cold/starvation stresses. The specific growth rate of the mutant was ca. 60% of that of the wild type strain. Inactivation of ccpA and aerobic growth significantly affected yield and production of lactic and acetic acid. Stationary phase cells were more stress tolerant than exponential phase cells with little or no effect of inactivation of ccpA or aeration. On the other hand, for exponential phase cells inactivation of ccpA impaired both heat stress and cold/starvation stress, but increased oxidative stress tolerance. For both strains, aerobically grown cells were more tolerant of stresses. Evidence for entry in a viable but non-culturable status upon prolonged exposure to cold and starvation was found. Preliminary results of a differential proteomic study further confirmed the role of ccpA in the regulation of carbohydrate catabolism and class I stress response genes and allow to gain further insight on the role of this pleiotropic regulator in metabolism and stress. This is the first study in which the impact of aerobic growth on stress tolerance of L. plantarum is evaluated. Although aerobic cultivation in batch fermentations does not improve growth it does improve stress tolerance, and may have significant technological relevance for the preservation of starter and probiotic cultures.

Indigenous and environmental modulation of frequencies of mutation in Lactobacillus plantarum

Reliability of microbial (starter) strains in terms of quality, functional properties, growth performance, and robustness is essential for industrial applications. In an industrial fermentation process, the bacterium should be able to successfully withstand various adverse conditions during processing, such as acid, osmotic, temperature, and oxidative stresses. Besides the evolved defense mechanisms, stress-induced mutations participate in adaptive evolution for survival under stress conditions. However, this may lead to accumulation of mutant strains, which may be accompanied by loss of desired functional properties. Defining the effects of specific fermentation or processing conditions on the mutation frequency is an important step toward preventing loss of genome integrity and maintaining the productivity of industrial strains. Therefore, a set of Lactobacillus plantarum mutator reporter strains suitable for qualitative and quantitative analysis of low-frequency mutation events was developed. The mutation reporter system constructed was validated by using chemical mutagenesis (N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine) and by controlled expression of endogenous candidate mutator genes (e.g., a truncated derivative of the L. plantarum hexA gene). Growth at different temperatures, under low-pH conditions, at high salt concentrations, or under starvation conditions did not have a significant effect on the mutation frequency. However, incubation with sublethal levels of hydrogen peroxide resulted in a 100-fold increase in the mutation frequency compared to the background mutation frequency. Importantly, when cells of L. plantarum were adapted to 42 degrees C prior to treatment with sublethal levels of hydrogen peroxide, there was a 10-fold increase in survival after peroxide treatment, and there was a concomitant 50-fold decrease in the mutation frequency. These results show that specific environmental conditions encountered by bacteria may significantly influence the genetic stability of strains, while protection against mutagenic conditions may be obtained by pretreatment of cultures with other, nonmutagenic stress conditions.

Examination of Lactobacillus plantarum lactate metabolism side effects in relation to the modulation of aeration parameters

AIMS

The characterization of global aerobic metabolism of Lactobacillus plantarum LP652 under different aeration levels, in order to optimize acetate production kinetics and to suppress H2O2 toxicity.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Cultures of L. plantarum were grown on different aeration conditions. After sugar exhaustion and in the presence of oxygen, lactate was converted to acetate, H2O2 and carbon dioxide with concomitant ATP production. Physiological assays were performed at selected intervals in order to assess enzyme activity and vitality of the strain during lactic acid conversion. The maximal aerated condition led to fast lactate-to-acetate conversion kinetics between 8 and 12 h, but H2O2 immediately accumulated, thus affecting cell metabolism. Pyruvate oxidase activity was highly enhanced by oxygen tension and was responsible for H2O2 production after 12 h of culture, whereas lactate oxidase and NADH-dependent lactate dehydrogenase activities were not correlated to metabolite production. Limited NADH oxidase (NOX) and NADH peroxidase (NPR) activities were probably responsible for toxic H2O2 levels in over-aerated cultures.

CONCLUSION

Modulating initial airflow led to the maximal specific activity of NOX and NPR observed after 24 h of culture, thus promoting H2O2 destruction and strain vitality at the end of the process.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

Optimal aeration conditions were determined to minimize H2O2 concentration level during growth on lactate.

Identification of prebiotic fructooligosaccharide metabolism in Lactobacillus plantarum WCFS1 through microarrays

Short-chain fructooligosaccharides (scFOS) and other prebiotics are used to selectively stimulate the growth and activity of lactobacilli and bifidobacteria in the colon. However, there is little information on the mechanisms whereby prebiotics exert their specific effects upon such microorganisms. To study the genomic basis of scFOS metabolism in Lactobacillus plantarum WCFS1, two-color microarrays were used to screen for differentially expressed genes when grown on scFOS compared to glucose (control). A significant up-regulation (8- to 60-fold) was observed with a set of only five genes located in a single locus and predicted to encode a sucrose phosphoenolpyruvate transport system (PTS), a beta-fructofuranosidase, a fructokinase, an alpha-glucosidase, and a sucrose operon repressor. Several other genes were slightly overexpressed, including pyruvate dehydrogenase. For the latter, no detectable activity in L. plantarum under various growth conditions has been previously reported. A mannose-PTS likely to encode glucose uptake was 50-fold down-regulated as well as, to a lower extent, other PTSs. Chemical analysis of the different moieties of scFOS that were depleted in the growth medium revealed that the trisaccharide 1-kestose present in scFOS was preferentially utilized, in comparison with the tetrasaccharide nystose and the pentasaccharide fructofuranosylnystose. The main end products of scFOS fermentation were lactate and acetate. This is the first example in lactobacilli of the association of a sucrose PTS and a beta-fructofuranosidase that could be used for scFOS degradation.

Involvement of pyruvate oxidase activity and acetate production in the survival of Lactobacillus plantarum during the stationary phase of aerobic growth

In addition to the previously characterized pyruvate oxidase PoxB, the Lactobacillus plantarum genome encodes four predicted pyruvate oxidases (PoxC, PoxD, PoxE, and PoxF). Each pyruvate oxidase gene was individually inactivated, and only the knockout of poxF resulted in a decrease in pyruvate oxidase activity under the tested conditions. We show here that L. plantarum has two major pyruvate oxidases: PoxB and PoxF. Both are involved in lactate-to-acetate conversion in the early stationary phase of aerobic growth and are regulated by carbon catabolite repression. A strain devoid of pyruvate oxidase activity was constructed by knocking out the poxB and poxF genes. In this mutant, acetate production was strongly affected, with lactate remaining the major end product of either glucose or maltose fermentation. Notably, survival during the stationary phase appeared to be dramatically improved in the poxB poxF double mutant.

Growth studies of potentially probiotic lactic acid bacteria in cereal-based substrates

AIMS

The overall growth kinetics of four potentially probiotic strains (Lactobacillus fermentum, Lact. reuteri, Lact. acidophilus and Lact. plantarum) cultured in malt, barley and wheat media were investigated. The objectives were to identify the main factors influencing the growth and metabolic activity of each strain in association with the cereal substrate.

METHODS AND RESULTS

All fermentations were performed without pH control. A logistic-type equation, which included a growth inhibition term, was used to describe the experimental data. In the malt medium, all strains attained high maximum cell populations (8.10-10.11 log10 cfu ml(-1), depending on the strain), probably due to the availability of maltose, sucrose, glucose, fructose (approx. 15 g l(-1) total fermentable sugars) and free amino nitrogen (approx. 80 mg l(-1)). The consumption of sugars during the exponential phase (10-12 h) resulted in the accumulation of lactic acid (1.06-1.99 g l(-1)) and acetic acid (0.29-0.59 g l(-1)), which progressively decreased the pH of the medium. Each strain demonstrated a specific preference for one or more sugars. Since small amounts of sugars were consumed by the end of the exponential phase (17-43%), the decisive growth-limiting factor was probably the pH, which at that time ranged between 3.40 and 3.77 for all of the strains. Analysis of the metabolic products confirmed the heterofermentative or homofermentative nature of the strains used, except in the case of Lact. acidophilus which demonstrated a shift towards the heterofermentative pathway. All strains produced acetic acid during the exponential phase, which could be attributed to the presence of oxygen. Lactobacillus plantarum, Lact. reuteri and Lact. fermentum continued to consume the remaining sugars and accumulate metabolic products in the medium, probably due to energy requirements for cell viability, while Lact. acidophilus entered directly into the decline phase. In the barley and wheat media all strains, especially Lact. acidophilus and Lact. reuteri, attained lower maximum cell populations (7.20-9.43 log10 cfu ml(-1)) than in the malt medium. This could be attributed to the low sugar content (3-4 g l(-1) total fermentable sugar for each medium) and the low free amino nitrogen concentration (15.3-26.6 mg l(-1)). In all fermentations, the microbial growth ceased at pH values (3.73-4.88, depending on the strain) lower than those observed for malt fermentations, which suggests that substrate deficiency in sugars and free amino nitrogen contributed to growth limitation.

CONCLUSIONS

The malt medium supported the growth of all strains more than barley and wheat media due to its chemical composition, while Lact. plantarum and Lact. fermentum appeared to be less fastidious and more resistant to acidic conditions than Lact. acidophilus and Lact. reuteri.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

Cereals are suitable substrates for the growth of potentially probiotic lactic acid bacteria.

Contribution of NADH oxidase to aerobic metabolism of Streptococcus pyogenes

An understanding of how the heme-deficient gram-positive bacterium Streptococcus pyogenes establishes infections in O(2)-rich environments requires careful analysis of the gene products important in aerobic metabolism. NADH oxidase (NOXase) is a unique flavoprotein of S. pyogenes and other lactic acid bacteria which directly catalyzes the four-electron reduction of O(2) to H(2)O. To elucidate a putative role for this enzyme in aerobic metabolism, NOXase-deficient mutants were constructed by insertional inactivation of the gene that encodes NOXase. Characterization of the resulting mutants revealed that growth in rich medium under low-O(2) conditions was indistinguishable from that of the wild type. However, the mutants were unable to grow under high-O(2) conditions and demonstrated enhanced sensitivity to the superoxide-generating agent paraquat. Mutants cultured in liquid medium under conditions of carbohydrate limitation and high O(2) tension were characterized by an extended lag phase, a reduction in growth, and a greater accumulation of H(2)O(2) in the growth medium compared to the wild-type strain. All of these mutant phenotypes could be overcome by the addition of glucose. Either the addition of catalase to the culture medium of the mutants or the introduction of a heterologous NADH peroxidase into the mutants eliminated the accumulation of H(2)O(2) and rescued the growth defect of the mutants under high-O(2) conditions in carbohydrate-limited liquid medium. Taken together, these data show that NOXase is important for aerobic metabolism and essential in environments high in O(2) with carbohydrate limitation.

13C nuclear magnetic resonance analysis of glucose and citrate end products in an ldhL-ldhD double-knockout strain of Lactobacillus plantarum

We have examined the metabolic consequences of knocking out the two ldh genes in Lactobacillus plantarum using 13C nuclear magnetic resonance. Unlike its wild-type isogenic progenitor, which produced lactate as the major metabolite under all conditions tested, ldh null strain TF103 mainly produced acetoin. A variety of secondary end products were also found, including organic acids (acetate, succinate, pyruvate, and lactate), ethanol, 2,3-butanediol, and mannitol.

Storage of poultry meat under modified atmospheres or vacuum packs: possible role of microbial metabolites as indicator of spoilage

The effect of carbon dioxide (100%), nitrogen (100%), carbon dioxide/oxygen (20%:80%) or vacuum pack at 3 and 10 degrees C was studied on the microbial flora, in skinless poultry breast fillets or thigh meat. Lactic acid bacteria and Brochothrix thermosphacta were the predominant organisms in samples stored in vacuum packs, carbon dioxide and nitrogen. Pseudomonads grew only in oxygen/carbon dioxide packaging systems. The concentration of lactate diminished in both thigh and breast meat during storage at 3 and 10 degrees C. This decrease was more pronounced in thigh meat stored under 20%:80% carbon dioxide/oxygen. Acetate increased to varying degrees in all samples regardless of the storage conditions.

Pathway and regulation of erythritol formation in Leuconostoc oenos

It was recently observed that Leuconostoc oenos GM, a wine lactic acid bacterium, produced erythritol anaerobically from glucose but not from fructose or ribose and that this production was almost absent in the presence of O2. In this study, the pathway of formation of erythritol from glucose in L. oenos was shown to involve the isomerization of glucose 6-phosphate to fructose 6-phosphate by a phosphoglucose isomerase, the cleavage of fructose 6-phosphate by a phosphoketolase, the reduction of erythrose 4-phosphate by an erythritol 4-phosphate dehydrogenase and, finally, the hydrolysis of erythritol 4-phosphate to erythritol by a phosphatase. Fructose 6-phosphate phosphoketolase was copurified with xylulose 5-phosphate phosphoketolase, and the activity of the latter was competitively inhibited by fructose 6-phosphate, with a Ki of 26 mM, corresponding to the Km of fructose 6-phosphate phosphoketolase (22 mM). These results suggest that the two phosphoketolase activities are borne by a single enzyme. Extracts of L. oenos were also found to contain NAD(P)H oxidase, which must be largely responsible for the reoxidation of NADPH and NADH in cells incubated in the presence of O2. In cells incubated with glucose, the concentrations of glucose 6-phosphate and of fructose 6-phosphate were higher in the absence of O2 than in its presence, explaining the stimulation by anaerobiosis of erythritol production. The increase in the hexose 6-phosphate concentration is presumably the result of a functional inhibition of glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase because of a reduction in the availability of NADP.

Sugar-glycerol cofermentations in lactobacilli: the fate of lactate

The simultaneous fermentation of glycerol and sugar by lactobacillus brevis B22 and Lactobacillus buchneri B190 increases both the growth rate and total growth. The reduction of glycerol to 1,3-propanediol by the lactobacilli was found to influence the metabolism of the sugar cofermented by channelling some of the intermediate metabolites (e.g., pyruvate) towards NADH-producing (rather than NADH-consuming) reactions. Ultimately, the absolute requirement for NADH to prevent the accumulation of 3-hydroxypropionaldehyde leads to a novel lactate-glycerol cofermentation. As a result, additional ATP can be made not only by (i) converting pyruvate to acetate via acetyl phosphate rather than to the ethanol usually found and (ii) oxidizing part of the intermediate pyruvate to acetate instead of the usual reduction to lactate but also by (iii) reoxidation of accumulated lactate to acetate via pyruvate. The conversion of lactate to pyruvate is probably catalyzed by NAD-independent lactate dehydrogenases that are found only in the cultures oxidizing lactate and producing 1,3-propanediol, suggesting a correlation between the expression of these enzymes and a raised intracellular NAD/NADH ratio. The enzymes metabolizing glycerol (glycerol dehydratase and 1,3-propanediol dehydrogenase) were expressed in concert without necessary induction by added glycerol, although their expression may also be influenced by the intracellular NAD/NADH ratio set by the different carbohydrates fermented.

High-Efficiency Conversion of Pyruvate to Acetoin by Lactobacillus plantarum during pH-Controlled and Fed-Batch Fermentations

The influence of pH on the type and concentration of metabolites produced from pyruvate by Lactobacillus plantarum ATCC 8014 was examined in pH-controlled fermentors at pH values of 4.5 to 6.5. Specific growth rates, cell dry weights, and diacetyl concentrations were highest at pH 5.5, with values of 0.78 h −1 , 190 mg/liter, and 1.2 mM, respectively. While the conversion efficiency (millimoles of acetoin formed per millimoles of pyruvate utilized) was highest (94.6%) at pH 4.5, acetoin levels were similar (20 mM) between pH 4.5 and 5.5. Feeding stationary-phase cells exogenous pyruvate increased acetoin levels to 78 mM.

Oxygen dependent lactate utilization by Lactobacillus plantarum

Lactobacillus plantarum P5 grew aerobically in rich media at the expense of lactate; no growth was observed in the absence of aeration. The oxygen-dependent growth was accompanied by the conversion of lactate to acetate which accumulated in the growth medium. Utilization of oxygen with lactate as substrate was observed in buffered suspensions of washed whole cells and in cell-free extracts. A pathway which accounts for the generation of adenosine triphosphate during aerobic metabolism of lactate to acetate via pyruvate and acetyl phosphate is proposed. Each of the enzyme activities involved, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide independent lactic dehydrogenase, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide dependent lactic dehydrogenase, pyruvate oxidase, acetate kinase and NADH oxidase were demonstrated in cell-free extracts. The production of pyruvate, acetyl phosphate and acetate was demonstrated using cell-free extracts and cofactors for the enzymes of the proposed pathway.

Correlation of oxygen utilization and hydrogen peroxide accumulation with oxygen induced enzymes in Lactobacillus plantarum cultures

Two strains of Lactobacillus plantarum accumulated H2O2 when grown aerobically in a complex glucose based medium. The H2O2 accumulation did not occur immediately on exposure of the culture to O2 but was delayed for a time which, in the case of one strain, was dependent on the amount of inoculum used to seed the culture. The accumulation was always preceded by an increase in the rate of O2 utilization by the cultures. The latter coincided approximately with an increase in specific activity of NADH oxidase, pyruvate oxidase and NADH peroxidase. H2O2 was not a product of NADH oxidase in vitro but was formed in substantial quantities from O2 during oxidation of pyruvate. The three enzymes were induced by O2 and H2O2; the induction of NADH oxidase responded to lower levels of O2 (but not of H2O2) than the pyruvate oxidase or the NADH peroxidase.