In situ production and analysis of Weissella confusa dextran in wheat sourdough

Slowly hydrolyzable property of microbial dextrans at the small intestinal α-glucosidase levels leads to the modulated glycemic responses in the mouse model

Dextran-type α-glucans have been known as non-digestible ingredients that can be considered prebiotics to promote colon health. However, recent studies have revealed that various α-linked glucosyl units are hydrolyzed to glucose by small intestinal α-glucosidases. This study analyzed the structural characteristics of exopolysaccharides (EPSs) from Weissella species, and the hydrolysis properties at both in vitro/in vivo levels were investigated. Compared with a previous in vitro digestion model using fungal α-hydrolytic enzymes, dextrans, which mainly consist of α-1,6 linkages with small amounts of α-1,3 linked glucose units, were slowly hydrolyzed to glucose by mammalian mucosal α-glucosidases, resulting in attenuation of the initial glycemic response following administration of EPS samples to mice via oral gavage. The results of this study demonstrate the concept of dextran-type α-glucans as glycemic carbohydrates rather than dietary fibers or prebiotics. Slowly digestible dextrans can be applied as a functional ingredient to regulate postprandial glucose delivery throughout the gastrointestinal tract.

Effects of dextran molecular weight on starch retrogradation and technological properties of Chinese steamed bread: Based on the rubber/glass transition

From the perspective of rubber/glass transition, this study clarified that the impact of dextran on retarding hardening behavior and slowing starch retrogradation of Chinese Steamed Bread (CSB) depended on its molecular weight and concentration level. Guggenheim-Anderson-de Boer (GAB) model was fitted to explore critical behavior changes in rubber/glass transition of CSB. Incorporation of high molecular weight dextran enhanced the elasticity of dough and porosity of CSB, reduced the aging and hardening degree of CSB at appropriate addition levels. CSB hardness showed a growing tendency during storage, while macromolecular dextran reduced the hardness and retrogradation degree by 22.87 % and 67.53 %. Dextran with high molecular weights lowered the glass transition temperature (Tg) and improved the moisture sorption and molecular mobility of CSB under various relative humidity (RHs) conditions by providing hydrophilic sites or intermolecular space to bind water molecules. Meanwhile, it reinforced the binding between denatured gluten and gelatinized starch. Both of them devoted to starch retrogradation inhibition and stable quality maintenance of CSB. CSB is suggested to maintain stable quality at room temperature with RHs ≤33 % to prevent rubber/glass transition. This work provided theoretical guidance for fractionation application of dextran to regulate the quality and extend the shelf-life of flour products.

Improvement on wheat bread quality by in situ produced dextran-A comprehensive review from the viewpoint of starch and gluten

Deterioration of bread quality, characterized by the staling of bread crumb, the softening of bread crust and the loss of aroma, has caused a huge food waste and economic loss, which is a bottleneck restriction to the development of the breadmaking industry. Various bread improvers have been widely used to alleviate the issue. However, it is noteworthy that the sourdough technology has emerged as a pivotal factor in this regard. In sourdough, the metabolic breakdown of carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids leads to the production of exopolysaccharides, organic acids, aroma compounds, or prebiotics, which contributes to the preeminent ability of sourdough to enhance bread attributes. Moreover, sourdough exhibits a "green-label" feature, which satisfies the consumers' increasing demand for additive-free food products. In the past two decades, there has been a significant focus on sourdough with in situ produced dextran due to its exceptional performance. In this review, the behaviors of bread crucial compositions (i.e., starch and gluten) during dough mixing, proofing, baking and bread storing, as well as alterations induced by the acidic environment and the presence of dextran are systemically summarized. From the viewpoint of starch and gluten, results obtained confirm the synergistic amelioration on bread quality by the coadministration of acidity and dextran, and also highlight the central role of acidification. This review contributes to establishing a theoretical foundation for more effectively enhancing the quality of wheat breads through the application of in situ produced dextran.

Physicochemical and structural characterisation of a branched dextran type exopolysaccharide (EPS) from Weissella confusa S6 isolated from fermented sausage (Sucuk)

Exopolysaccharide (EPS) producing Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) species can be presented in distinct environments. In this study, Turkish fermented sausage (sucuk) was tested for the presence of EPS producer LAB strains and slimy-mucoid colonies were selected for further tests. Among the isolates, Weissella confusa strain S6 was identified and tested for the physicochemical characterisation of its EPS. This strain was found to produce 0.74 g L-1 of EPS in modified BHI medium conditions. Structural characterisation of EPS S6 by 1H and 13C NMR demonstrated that EPS S6 was a highly branched dextran type glucan formed by mainly (1 → 2)-linked α-d-glucose units together with low levels of (1 → 3)-linked α-d-glucose units as branching points. This structure was further confirmed by methylation analysis detected by GC-MS. An average molecular weight of 8 × 106 Da was detected for dextran S6. The FTIR analysis supported the dextran structure and revealed the presence of distinct functional groups within dextran S6 structure. A strong thermal profile was observed for dextran S6 detected by DSC and TGA analysis and dextran S6 revealed a degradation temperature of 289 °C. In terms of physical status, dextran S6 showed amorphous nature detected by XRD analysis. SEM analysis of dextran S6 demonstrated its rough, compact and porous morphology whereas AFM analysis of dextran S6 detected in its water solution showed the irregularity with no clear cross-link within the dextran chains. These technological features of dextran S6 suggests its potential to be used for in situ or ex situ application during meat fermentations.

Isolation, characterization of Weissella confusa and Lactococcus lactis from different milk sources and determination of probiotic features

This study aimed to investigate the probiotic properties of Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) isolates derived from various milk sources. These isolates identified based on their morphological characteristics and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Four strains of Lactococcus lactis and two strains of Weissella confusa were identified with over 96% 16S rRNA gene similarity according to the NCBI-BLAST results. The survival of the isolates was determined in low pH, pepsin, bile salts, and pancreatin, and their adhesion ability was assessed by in vitro cell adhesion assay, hydrophobicity, auto- and co-aggregation, and safety criteria were determined by hemolytic, gelatinase activities, and DNAse production ability tests. The results showed that the LAB isolates had different levels of resistance to various stress factors. L. lactis subsp. cremoris MH31 showed the highest resistance to bile salt, while the highest pH resistance was observed in L. lactis MH31 at pH 3.0. All the isolates survived in pepsin exposure at pH 3.0 for 3 h. The auto-aggregation test results showed that all strains exhibited auto-aggregation ranging from 84.9 to 91.4%. Co-aggregation percentage ranged from 19 - 54% and 17 - 57% against Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213, respectively. The hydrophobicity capacity of the LAB isolated ranged from 35-61%. These isolates showed different adhesion abilities to Caco-2 cells (81.5% to 92.6%). None of the isolates exhibited DNase, gelatinase and hemolytic activity (γ-hemolysis). All results indicate that these LAB strains have the potential to be used as probiotics.

The quest for the perfect loaf of sourdough bread continues: Novel developments for selection of sourdough starter cultures

Sourdough fermentation, one of the oldest unit operations in food production, is currently experiencing a revival in bread production at the household, artisanal, and the industrial level. The expanding use of sourdough fermentation in bread production and the adaptation of fermentation to large scale industrial bread production also necessitate the development of novel starter cultures. Developments in the last years also have expanded the tools that are used to assess the metabolic potential of specific strains, species or genera of the Lactobacillaceae and have identified multiple ecological and metabolic traits as clade-specific. This review aims to provide an overview on the clade-specific metabolic potential of members of the Lactobacillaceae for use in sourdough baking, and the impact of these clade-specific traits on bread quality. Emphasis is placed on carbohydrate metabolism, including the conversion of sucrose and starch to soluble polysaccharides, conversion of amino acids, and the metabolism of organic acids. The current state of knowledge to compose multi-strain starter cultures (synthetic microbial communities) that are suitable for back-slopping will also be discussed. Taken together, the communication outlines the current tools for selection of microbes for use in sourdough baking.

A chestnut-hemp type-II sourdough to improve technological, nutritional, and sensory properties of gluten-free bread

The nutritional quality of gluten-free (GF) products is usually improved by using flours derived from alternative grains (e.g., pseudocereals and legumes), additives and hydrolysates, leading to long ingredient lists in the labels, that conflict with current customer expectations. In this work, chestnut, carob, and hemp flours were used as mixed ingredients for making a gluten-free type-II sourdough. Three exopolysaccharides-producer lactic acid bacteria, belonging to Leuconostoc mesenteroides, Weissella cibaria, and Leuconostoc pseudomesenteroides, were used, and the fermentation processes (6 log10 cfu/g, 25 °C, 16 h) optimize to maximize the EPS synthesis (15.70 ± 2.1 mg/kg). The chestnut-hemp (70:30) type-II sourdough was included in a rice/corn gluten-free bread recipe also containing psyllium flour as structuring agent. Although the fortification with unfermented flours already led the achievement of 6 g/100 g of fiber (high fiber, Regulation EC n. 1924/2006) and content of magnesium higher than the daily reference intakes, the use of type-II sourdoughs led to a further structural, sensory, and nutritional improvements (e.g., decreasing the main anti-nutritional factor phytic acid). This work demonstrated that the use of ad-hoc selected ingredients and optimized protocol can be used to produce a GF and "clean label" bread with optimal nutritional features and appreciable sensory and structural properties.

Effect of sourdough on the quality of whole wheat fresh noodles fermented with exopolysaccharide lactic acid bacteria

In this study, the impact of exopolysaccharides (EPS)-positive strain Weissella cibaria (W. cibaria) fermented sourdough on the quality of whole wheat fresh noodles (WWNs) and its improvement mechanisms were studied. The optimal fermentation conditions were found to be 30% sucrose content, fermented at 25 °C for 12 h, which yielded the highest EPS, 28.06 g/kg, in the W. cibaria fermented sourdough with sucrose (DW+). During storage, the sourdough reduced polyphenol oxidase activities and delayed the browning rate of noodles. The DW+ increased the hardness by 11.98% from 2184.99 to 2446.83 g, and the adhesiveness increased by 19.60%, i.e., from 72.01 to 86.13 g∙s of the noodles. The EPS mitigated acidification of sourdough, prevented the disaggregation of glutenin macropolymers (GMP), and increased sourdough elastic modulus. In addition, scanning electron microscope and confocal laser scanning microscopy of noodles containing EPS sourdough also demonstrated the uniform distribution of gluten proteins. The starch granules were also closely embedded in the gluten network. Thus, the present work indicated that the EPS produced sourdough delayed browning and improved the WWNs texture, indicating its potential to enhance the quality of whole grain noodles.

Production and sensory evaluation of composite breads based on wheat and whole millet or sorghum in the presence of Weissella confusa A16 exopolysaccharides

The aim of the study was to evaluate the acceptability of composite breads based on local cereal (millet and sorghum) formulations. Bread preparations based on 50% wheat flour and 50% local cereal flour were made in the presence of exopolysaccharide (Eps) production stimulated by a strain of Weissella confusa A16 in the fermented dough. Seven formulations were done in two baking sets and were submitted to sensory evaluations which consisted of tests on sensory profile, hedonic analysis and ranking. Results showed that the presence of Eps improved the acceptability of breads made with local cereal flours. The white color of the crumb of breads made with 100% wheat flour was the most appreciated by consumers. The less local flour is used in the bread preparation, the better the bread is appreciated. Nevertheless, formulations containing whole grains were the least appreciated, partly because of the hardness of the breads. Interestingly, more than 50% of consumers found the taste pleasant for breads made with 50% millet flour.

Role of the in-situ-produced dextran by lactic acid bacteria in the texture modification of pea flour pastes

The application of pea flour (PF) was restricted by the resulting non-satisfying texture of food with a high addition level of PF. Four lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains with the ability to synthesize dextran (DX) were used to ferment PF in order to modify the texture of PF pastes, screen out promising DX producers, and evaluate the role of the in-situ-produced DX in texture modification. The microbial growth, acidity, and DX contents of PF pastes were first analyzed. Then, the rheological and textural properties of PF pastes after fermentation were assessed. After this, the in-situ-produced DXs in PF pastes were further hydrolyzed, and the corresponding changes were studied. Finally, the protein and starch in PF pastes were hydrolyzed separately to evaluate the role of macromolecular interactions between DX and protein/starch in the texture modification of PF pastes. The four LAB strains were all dominant in PF pastes, and the in-situ-produced DXs by these four strains played a critical role in the texture modification of PF pastes. Among the four DX-positive strains, Ln. pseudomesenteroides DSM 20193 and W. cibaria DSM 15878 were promising DX producers in PF-based media due to their high capacity in synthesizing DX and texture modification. The in-situ-produced DX promoted the formation of a porous network structure that was important for water-holding and texture-retaining. The DX-protein interaction contributed more to the texture modification of PF pastes than did the DX-starch interaction. This study clearly showed the role of the in-situ-produced DX and the DX-protein/starch interactions in the texture modification of PF pastes, which could further guide the utilization of in-situ-produced DXs in legume-based food and promote the exploitation of plant proteins.

The in-situ dextran produced in rice protein yogurt: Effect on viscosity and structural characteristics

Phase separation is one of the primary quality control issues for plant-based beverages during storage. This study applied the in-situ-produced dextran (DX) from Leuconostoc citreum DSM 5577 to solve this problem. Rice flour milled from broken rice was used as the raw material and Ln. citreum DSM 5577 as the starter to prepare rice-protein yogurt (RPY) under different processing conditions. The microbial growth, acidification, viscosity change, and DX content were first analyzed. Then, the proteolysis of rice protein was evaluated, and the role of the in-situ-synthesized DX in viscosity improvement was explored. Finally, the in-situ-synthesized DXs in RPYs under different processing conditions were purified and characterized. The in-situ-produced DX caused a viscosity increase up to 1.84 Pa s in RPY and played a major role in this improvement by forming a new network with high water-binding capacity. The processing conditions affected the content and the molecular features of DXs, with a DX content up to 9.45 mg/100 mg. A low-branched DX (5.79 %) with a high aggregating ability possessed a stronger thickening ability in RPY. This study may guide the application of the in-situ-synthesized DX in plant protein foods and may promote the utilization of broken rice in the food industry.

Proteomic and in silico analyses of dextran synthesis influence on Leuconostoc lactis AV1n adaptation to temperature change

Leuconostoc lactis is found in vegetables, fruits, and meat and is used by the food industry in the preparation of dairy products, wines, and sugars. We have previously demonstrated that the dextransucrase of Lc. lactis (DsrLL) AV1n produces a high-molecular-weight dextran from sucrose, indicating its potential use as a dextran-forming starter culture. We have also shown that this bacterium was able to produce 10-fold higher levels of dextran at 20°C than at 37°C, at the former temperature accompanied by an increase in dsrLL gene expression. However, the general physiological response of Lc. lactis AV1n to cold temperature in the presence of sucrose, leading to increased production of dextran, has not been yet investigated. Therefore, we have used a quantitative proteomics approach to investigate the cold temperature-induced changes in the proteomic profile of this strain in comparison to its proteomic response at 37°C. In total, 337 proteins were found to be differentially expressed at the applied significance criteria (adjusted p-value ≤ 0.05, FDR 5%, and with a fold-change ≥ 1.5 or ≤ 0.67) with 204 proteins overexpressed, among which 13% were involved in protein as well as cell wall, and envelope component biosynthesis including DsrLL. Proteins implicated in cold stress were expressed at a high level at 20°C and possibly play a role in the upregulation of DsrLL, allowing the efficient synthesis of the protein essential for its adaptation to cold. Post-transcriptional regulation of DsrLL expression also seems to take place through the interplay of exonucleases and endonucleases overexpressed at 20°C, which would influence the half-life of the dsrLL transcript. Furthermore, the mechanism of cold resistance of Lc. lactis AV1n seems to be also based on energy saving through a decrease in growth rate mediated by a decrease in carbohydrate metabolism and its orientation toward the production pathways for storage molecules. Thus, this better understanding of the responses to low temperature and mechanisms for environmental adaptation of Lc. lactis could be exploited for industrial use of strains belonging to this species.

Exploiting the Native Microorganisms from Different Food Matrices to Formulate Starter Cultures for Sourdough Bread Production

The use of sourdough for bread production involves fermentation, which is dominated by lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and yeast. Sourdough can be inoculated with a starter culture or through a food matrix containing microorganisms to initiate sourdough fermentation. Sourdough is used as leavening agent for bread making, and metabolites produced by LAB and yeast confer a specific aroma and flavor profile to bread, thus improving its sensory attributes. However, few publications report the effect of microorganisms from different food products and by-products on sourdough fermentation. This review focuses on using different starter cultures from various food sources, from wheat flour to starter cultures. Additionally, included are the types of sourdough, the sourdough fermentation process, and the biochemical transformations that take place during the sourdough fermentation process.

Fermentation Conditions Affect the Synthesis of Volatile Compounds, Dextran, and Organic Acids by Weissella confusa A16 in Faba Bean Protein Concentrate

Fermentation with Weissella confusa A16 could improve the flavor of various plant-based sources. However, less is known about the influence of fermentation conditions on the profile of volatile compounds, dextran synthesis and acidity. The present work investigates the synthesis of potential flavor-active volatile compounds, dextran, acetic acid, and lactic acid, as well as the changes in viscosity, pH, and total titratable acidity, during fermentation of faba bean protein concentrate with W. confusa A16. A Response Surface Methodology was applied to study the effect of time, temperature, dough yield, and inoculum ratio on the aforementioned responses. Twenty-nine fermentations were carried out using a Central Composite Face design. A total of 39 volatile organic compounds were identified: 2 organic acids, 7 alcohols, 8 aldehydes, 2 alkanes, 12 esters, 3 ketones, 2 aromatic compounds, and 3 terpenes. Long fermentation time and high temperature caused the formation of ethanol and ethyl acetate and the reduction of hexanal, among other compounds linked to the beany flavor. Levels of dextran, acetic acid, and lactic acid increased with increasing temperature, time, and dough yield. Optimal points set for increased dextran and reduced acidity were found at low temperatures and high dough yield. Such conditions would result in hexanal, ethyl acetate and ethanol having a relative peak area of 35.9%, 7.4%, and 4.9%, respectively.

Weissella cibaria riboflavin-overproducing and dextran-producing strains useful for the development of functional bread

This work describes a method for deriving riboflavin overproducing strains of Weissella cibaria by exposing three strains (BAL3C-5, BAL3C-7, and BAL3C-22) isolated from dough to increasing concentrations of roseoflavin. By this procedure, we selected one mutant overproducing strain from each parental strain (BAL3C-5 B2, BAL3C-7 B2, and BAL3C-22 B2, respectively). Quantification of dextran and riboflavin produced by the parental and mutant strains in a defined medium lacking riboflavin and polysaccharides confirmed that riboflavin was only overproduced by the mutant strains, whereas dextran production was similar in both mutant and parental strains. The molecular basis of the riboflavin overproduction by the mutants was determined by nucleotide sequencing of their rib operons, which encode the enzymes of the riboflavin biosynthetic pathway. We detected a unique mutation in each of the overproducing strains. These mutations, which map in the sensor domain (aptamer) of a regulatory element (the so-called FMN riboswitch) present in the 5' untranslated region of the rib operon mRNA, appear to be responsible for the riboflavin-overproducing phenotype of the BAL3C-5 B2, BAL3C-7 B2, and BAL3C-22 B2 mutant strains. Furthermore, the molecular basis of dextran production by the six W. cibaria strains has been characterized by (i) the sequencing of their dsr genes encoding dextransucrases, which synthesize dextran using sucrose as substrate, and (ii) the detection of active Dsr proteins by zymograms. Finally, the parental and mutant strains were analyzed for in situ production of riboflavin and dextran during experimental bread making. The results indicate that the mutant strains were able to produce experimental wheat breads biofortified with both riboflavin and dextran and, therefore, may be useful for the manufacture of functional commercial breads.

Fermented Brewers’ Spent Grain Containing Dextran and Oligosaccharides as Ingredient for Composite Wheat Bread and Its Impact on Gut Metabolome In Vitro

Brewers’ spent grain or BSG is a fiber and protein rich food-grade side stream that has remained underutilized due to its poor technological and sensory characteristics. In this study, BSG was fermented with Weissella confusa A16 in presence of sucrose to induce the synthesis of dextran and maltosyl-isomaltooligosaccharides. Fermented BSG with or without the above polysaccharides was used as ingredient in wheat bread. Digestion of BSG breads was simulated in vitro with Simulator of Human Intestinal Microbial Ecosystem, and levels of fecal metabolites were analyzed. Enrichment of BSG breads with in situ dextran and maltosyl-isomaltooligosaccharides improved the baking quality compared to native BSG. Metabolism of free amino acids and synthesis of short chain fatty acids varied at different stages and parts of colon. The increase in butyric acid was similar in both the proximal and distal colon. In situ dextran and maltosyl-isomaltooligosaccharides, and higher content of proteins and fiber in BSG breads had a positive influence towards gut microbiota functionality. Along with several essential amino acids, an increase in amount of γ-aminobutyric acid was also observed after simulated digestion. BSG breads had a significant effect on the gut metabolome during in vitro digestion, showing increased production of microbial metabolites with potential health benefits.

Candidate Acetic Acid Bacteria Strains for Levan Production

In this study, twelve strains of acetic acid bacteria (AAB) belonging to five different genera were tested for their ability to produce levan, at 70 and 250 g/L of sucrose concentration, respectively. The fructan produced by the bacterial strains was characterized as levan by NMR spectroscopy. Most of the strains produced levan, highlighting intra- and inter-species variability. High yield was observed for Neoasaia chiangmaiensis NBRC 101099 ^T, Kozakia baliensis DSM 14400 ^T and Gluconobacter cerinus DSM 9533 ^T at 70 g/L of sucrose. A 12-fold increase was observed for N. chiangmaiensis NBRC 101099 ^T at 250 g/L of sucrose concentration. Levan production was found to be affected by glucose accumulation and pH reduction, especially in Ko. baliensis DSM 14400 ^T. All the Gluconobacter strains showed a negative correlation with the increase in sucrose concentration. Among strains of Komagataeibacter genus, no clear effect of sucrose on levan yield was found. Results obtained in this study highlighted the differences in levan yield among AAB strains and showed interdependence between culture conditions, carbon source utilization, and time of incubation. On the contrary, the levan yield was not always related to the sucrose concentration.

Biological Functions of Exopolysaccharides from Lactic Acid Bacteria and Their Potential Benefits for Humans and Farmed Animals

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) synthesize exopolysaccharides (EPS), which are structurally diverse biopolymers with a broad range of technological properties and bioactivities. There is scientific evidence that these polymers have health-promoting properties. Most commercialized probiotic microorganisms for consumption by humans and farmed animals are LAB and some of them are EPS-producers indicating that some of their beneficial properties could be due to these polymers. Probiotic LAB are currently used to improve human health and for the prevention and treatment of specific pathologic conditions. They are also used in food-producing animal husbandry, mainly due to their abilities to promote growth and inhibit pathogens via different mechanisms, among which the production of EPS could be involved. Thus, the aim of this review is to discuss the current knowledge of the characteristics, usage and biological role of EPS from LAB, as well as their postbiotic action in humans and animals, and to predict the future contribution that they could have on the diet of food animals to improve productivity, animal health status and impact on public health.

Variability of Bacterial Homopolysaccharide Production and Properties during Food Processing

Various homopolysaccharides (HoPSs) can be produced by bacteria: α- and β-glucans, β-fructans and α-galactans, which are polymers of glucose, fructose and galactose, respectively. The synthesis of these compounds is catalyzed by glycosyltransferases (glycansucrases), which are able to transfer the monosaccharides in a specific substrate to the medium, which results in the growth of polysaccharide chains. The range of HoPS sizes is very large, from 104 to 109 Da, and mostly depends on the carbon source in the medium and the catalyzing enzyme. However, factors such as nitrogen nutrients, pH, water activity, temperature and duration of bacterial culture also impact the size and yield of production. The sequence of the enzyme influences the structure of the HoPS, by modulating the type of linkage between monomers, both for the linear chain and for the ramifications. HoPSs' size and structure have an effect on rheological properties of some foods by their influence on viscosity index. As a consequence, the control of structural and environmental factors opens ways to guide the production of specific HoPS in foods by bacteria, either by in situ or ex situ production, but requires a better knowledge of HoPS production conditions.

Sourdough production: fermentation strategies, microbial ecology, and use of non-flour ingredients

Sourdough production is an ancient method to ferment flour from cereals for the manufacturing of baked goods. This review deals with the state-of-the-art of current fermentation strategies for sourdough production and the microbial ecology of mature sourdoughs, with a particular focus on the use of non-flour ingredients. Flour fermentation processes for sourdough production are typically carried out by heterogeneous communities of lactic acid bacteria and yeasts. Acetic acid bacteria may also occur, although their presence and role in sourdough production can be criticized. Based on the inoculum used, sourdough productions can be distinguished in fermentation processes using backslopping procedures, originating from a spontaneously fermented flour-water mixture (Type 1), starter culture-initiated fermentation processes (Type 2), and starter culture-initiated fermentation processes that are followed by backslopping (Type 3). In traditional recipes for the initiation and/or propagation of Type 1 sourdough productions, non-flour ingredients are often added to the flour-water mixture. These ingredients may be the source of an additional microbial inoculum and/or serve as (co-)substrates for fermentation. An example of the former is the addition of yoghurt; an example of the latter is the use of fruit juices. The survival of microorganisms transferred from the ingredients to the fermenting flour-water mixture depends on the competitiveness toward particular strains of the microbial species present under the harsh conditions of the sourdough ecosystem. Their survival and growth is also determined by the presence of the appropriate substrates, whether or not carried over by the ingredients added.

Lactic Acid Bacteria Isolated from Fermented Doughs in Spain Produce Dextrans and Riboflavin

Many lactic acid bacteria (LAB) produce metabolites with applications in the food industry, such as dextran-type exopolysaccharides (EPS) and riboflavin (vitamin B₂). Here, 72 bacteria were isolated from sourdoughs made by Spanish bread-makers. In the presence of sucrose, colonies of 22 isolates showed a ropy phenotype, and NMR analysis of their EPS supported that 21 of them were dextran producers. These isolates were identified by their random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) patterns and their rrs and pheS gene sequences as LAB belonging to four species (Weissella cibaria, Leuconostoc citreum, Leuconostoc falkenbergense and Leuconostoc mesenteroides). Six selected strains from the Leuconostoc (3) and Weissella (3) genera grew in the absence of riboflavin and synthesized vitamin B₂. The EPS produced by these strains were characterized as dextrans by physicochemical analysis, and the L. citreum polymer showed an unusually high degree of branching. Quantification of the riboflavin and the EPS productions showed that the W. cibaria strains produce the highest levels (585–685 μg/and 6.5–7.4 g/L, respectively). Therefore, these new LAB strains would be good candidates for the development of fermented foods bio-fortified with both dextrans and riboflavin. Moreover, this is the first report of riboflavin and dextran production by L. falkenbergense.

Lactic Acid Bacteria Exopolysaccharides Producers: A Sustainable Tool for Functional Foods

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) used in the food industry, mainly for the production of dairy products, are able to synthetize exopolysaccharides (EPS). EPS play a central role in the assessment of rheological and sensory characteristics of dairy products since they positively influence texture and organoleptic properties. Besides these, EPS have gained relevant interest for pharmacological and nutraceutical applications due to their biocompatibility, non-toxicity and biodegradability. These bioactive compounds may act as antioxidant, cholesterol-lowering, antimicrobial and prebiotic agents. This review provides an overview of exopolysaccharide-producing LAB, with an insight on the factors affecting EPS production, their dairy industrial applications and health benefits.

Bioprocessing of Barley and Lentil Grains to Obtain In Situ Synthesis of Exopolysaccharides and Composite Wheat Bread with Improved Texture and Health Properties

A comprehensive study into the potential of bioprocessing techniques (sprouting and sourdough fermentation) for improving the technological and nutritional properties of wheat breads produced using barley and lentil grains was undertaken. Dextran biosynthesis in situ during fermentation of native or sprouted barley flour (B or SB) alone or by mixing SB flour with native or sprouted lentil flour (SB-L or SB-SL) by Weissella paramesenteroides SLA5, Weissella confusa SLA4, Leuconostoc pseudomesenteroides DSM 20193 or Weissella confusa DSM 20194 was assessed. The acidification and the viscosity increase during 24 h of fermentation with and without 16% sucrose (on flour weight), to promote the dextran synthesis, were followed. After the selection of the fermentation parameters, the bioprocessing was carried out by using Leuconostoc pseudomesenteroides DSM 20193 (the best LAB dextran producer, up to 2.7% of flour weight) and a mixture of SB-SL (30:70% w/w) grains, enabling also the decrease in the raffinose family oligosaccharides. Then, the SB-SL sourdoughs containing dextran or control were mixed with the wheat flour (30% of the final dough) and leavened with baker’s yeast before baking. The use of dextran-containing sourdough allowed the production of bread with structural improvements, compared to the control sourdough bread. Compared to a baker’s yeast bread, it also markedly reduced the predicted glycemic index, increased the soluble (1.26% of dry matter) and total fibers (3.76% of dry matter) content, giving peculiar and appreciable sensory attributes.

Extraction, purification and characterisation of exopolysaccharides produced by newly isolated lactic acid bacteria strains and the examination of their influence on resistant starch formation

Exopolysaccharides (EPS) were produced by four newly isolated lactic acid bacteria strains, then further extracted, separated and characterised under standardised conditions. Using a sucrose carbon source, these LAB strains belonging to Weissella confusa/cibaria produced EPS with a dextran high molecular weight fraction. The obtained yields of EPS ranged from 3.2 g/L to 47.1 g/L and outstandingly high yields were obtained using Weissella confusa/cibaria 3MI3 isolated from spontaneous spelt sourdough. After purification the influence of EPS-dextran of molar mass 3,244,000 g/mol on resistant starch formation in wheat starch pastes and pasted samples after temperature-cycled storage was examined. Size exclusion chromatography with post-column derivatisation revealed that a 1.5% share of EPS dextran limited formation of high molar mass resistant starch in starch pastes during storage. This work provides new insight on hindering resistant starch formation by using EPS, which could be efficiently produced in sourdough, thus improving the properties of sourdough bread.

NMR analysis and molecular dynamics conformation of α-1,6-linear and α-1,3-branched isomaltose oligomers as mimetics of α-1,6-linked dextran

The conformational preferences of several α-1,6-linear and α-1,3-branched isomalto-oligosaccharides were investigated by NMR and MD-simulations. Right-handed helical structure contributed to the solution geometry in isomaltotriose and isomaltotetraose with one nearly complete helix turn and stabilizing intramolecular hydrogen bonds in the latter by MD-simulation. Decreased helix contribution was observed in α-1,3-glucopyranosyl- and α-1,3-isomaltosyl-branched saccharide chains. Especially the latter modification was predicted to cause a more compact structure consistent with literature rheology measurements as well as with published dextranase-resistant α-1,3-branched oligosaccharides. The findings presented here are significant because they shed further light on the conformational preference of isomalto-oligosaccharides and provide possible help for the design of dextran-based drug delivery systems or for the targeted degradation of capsular polysaccharides by dextranases in multi-drug resistant bacteria.

Sourdough fermentation of whole and sprouted lentil flours: In situ formation of dextran and effects on the nutritional, texture and sensory characteristics of white bread

Exopolysaccharides produced in situ by lactic acid bacteria during sourdough fermentation are recognized as bread texture improvers. In this study, the suitability of whole and sprouted lentil flours, added with 25% on flour weight sucrose for dextran formation by selected strains during sourdough fermentation, was evaluated. The dextran synthesized in situ by Weissella confusa SLA4 was 9.2 and 9.7% w/w flour weight in lentil and sprouted lentil sourdoughs, respectively. Wheat bread supplemented with 30% w/w sourdough showed increased specific volume and decreased crumb hardness and staling rate, compared to the control wheat bread. Incorporation of sourdoughs improved the nutritional value of wheat bread, leading to increased total and soluble fibers content, and the aroma profile. The integrated biotechnological approach, based on sourdough fermentation and germination, is a potential clean-label strategy to obtain high-fibers content foods with tailored texture, and it can further enhance the use of legumes in novel foods.

Diversity of Weissella confusa in Pozol and Its Carbohydrate Metabolism

The genus Weissella is composed of a group of Gram-positive facultative anaerobe bacteria with fermentative metabolism. Strains of this genus have been isolated from various ecological niches, including a wide variety of fermented cereal foods. The present study aimed to determine the relative abundance and fermentation capabilities of Weissella species isolated from pozol, a traditional maya product made of lime-cooked (nixtamalized) fermented maize. We sequenced the V3-V4 regions of 16S rDNA; Weissella was detected early in the fermentation process and reached its highest relative abundance (3.89%) after 3 h of culture. In addition, we evaluated five Weissella strains previously isolated from pozol but reported as non-amylolytic, to define alternative carbon sources such as xylan, xylooligosaccharides, and sucrose. While no growth was observed on birch xylan, growth did occur on xylooligosaccharides and sucrose. Strains WcL17 and WCP-3A were selected for genomic sequencing, as the former shows efficient growth on xylooligosaccharides and the latter displays high glycosyltransferase (GTF) activity. Genomes of both strains were assembled and recorded, with a total of 2.3 Mb in 30 contigs for WcL17 and 2.2 Mb in 45 contigs for WCP-3a. Both strains were taxonomically assigned to Weissella confusa and genomic analyses were performed to evaluate the gene products encoding active carbohydrate enzymes (CAZy). Both strains have the gene content needed to metabolize sucrose, hemicellulose, cellulose, and starch residues, all available in pozol. Our results suggest that the range of secondary enzymatic activity in Weissella confusa strains confer them with wide capabilities to participate in fermentative processes of natural products with heterogeneous carbon sources.

Design of a "Clean-Label" Gluten-Free Bread to Meet Consumers Demand

The market of gluten-free (GF) products has been steadily increasing in last few years. Due to the technological importance of gluten, the GF food production is still a challenge for the industry. Indeed, large quantities of fat, sugars, structuring agents, and flavor enhancers are added to GF formulations to make textural and sensorial characteristics comparable to conventional products, leading to nutritional and caloric intake imbalances. The formulation of the novel "clean-label" GF bread included a commonly used mixture of maize and rice flour (ratio 1:1) fortified with selected protein-rich flours. Naturally hydrocolloids-containing flours (psyllium, flaxseed, chia) were included in the bread formulation as structuring agents. A type-II sourdough was obtained by using a selected Weissella cibaria P9 and a GF sucrose-containing flour as substrate for fermentation to promote the exo-polysaccharides synthesis by the starter lactic acid bacterium. A two-step protocol for bread-making was set-up: first, the GF sourdough was fermented (24 h at 30 °C); then, it was mixed with the other ingredients (30% of the final dough) and leavened with baker's yeast before baking. Overall, the novel GF bread was characterized by good textural properties, high protein content (8.9% of dry matter) and in vitro protein digestibility (76.9%), low sugar (1.0% of dry matter) and fat (3.1% of dry matter) content, and an in vitro predicted glycemic index of 85.

Products Released from Structurally Different Dextrans by Bacterial and Fungal Dextranases

Dextran hydrolysis by dextranases is applied in the sugar industry and the medical sector, but it also has a high potential for use in structural analysis of dextrans. However, dextranases are produced by several organisms and thus differ in their properties. The aim of this study was to comparatively investigate the product patterns obtained from the incubation of linear as well as O3- and O4-branched dextrans with different dextranases. For this purpose, genes encoding for dextranases from Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron and Streptococcus salivarius were cloned and heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli. The two recombinant enzymes as well as two commercial dextranases from Chaetomium sp. and Penicillium sp. were subsequently used to hydrolyze structurally different dextrans. The hydrolysis products were investigated in detail by HPAEC-PAD. For dextranases from Chaetomium sp., Penicillium sp., and Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, isomaltose was the end product of the hydrolysis from linear dextrans, whereas Penicillium sp. dextranase led to isomaltose and isomaltotetraose. In addition, the latter enzyme also catalyzed a disproportionation reaction when incubated with isomaltotriose. For O3- and O4-branched dextrans, the fungal dextranases yielded significantly different oligosaccharide patterns than the bacterial enzymes. Overall, the product patterns can be adjusted by choosing the correct enzyme as well as a defined enzyme activity.

Contributions of exopolysaccharides from lactic acid bacteria as biotechnological tools in food, pharmaceutical, and medical applications

Exopolysaccharides (EPS) are important bioproducts produced by some genera of lactic acid bacteria. EPS are famous for their shelf-life improving properties, techno-functional enhancing abilities in food and dairy industries, besides their beneficial health effects. Furthermore, exopolysaccharides have many prospective and well-established contributions in the field of drugs and diagnostic industry. In this review, classification of EPS produced by LAB was presented. Moreover, current and potential applications of EPS in food, dairy, baking industries, cereal-based, and functional products were described. Also, some clinical and pharmaceutical applications of EPS such as intelligent drug delivery systems (microsystems and nanosystems for sustained delivery), interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs), anticancer drug-targeting, recombinant macromolecular biopharmaceuticals, gene delivery, tissue engineering, and role of EPS in diagnostics were highlighted. Finally, future prospects concerning enhancing EPS production, minimizing costs of their production, and exploring their contribution in further applications were discussed.

Safety demonstration of a microbial species for use in the food chain: Weissella confusa

Due to their traditional use in food fermentation process for centuries, microbial food cultures are considered to have a safe history of use. A specific microbial risk assessment is therefore rarely conducted for fermented foods and their food cultures, inoculated or naturally present. Some of those food cultures have been also considered for their potential health effect as probiotic strain candidates, for which a specific safety demonstration process has been proposed by a joint expert report of FAO and WHO. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) Biohazard panel also provides an approach for evaluating the safety of a strain to be added in the food chain, the Qualified Presumption of Safety (QPS). Weissella confusa, former taxon Lactobacillus confusus, is a food culture characterized in the fermentation process of sourdough. Some strains have been recently proposed for their probiotic potential. The species is also documented in recent infection case reports. It is considered nevertheless to be opportunistic as underlying factors have been suggested to explain the infection. We report here the microbial risk assessment of the species, by studying a collection of 26 food and 17 clinical isolates of Weissella confusa. The phenotypic study, genomic characterization and bibliographical survey will allow us to conclude about the safety of the species and confirm its use for food fermentation and consider specific strains for demonstration of their respective health effects as probiotic candidates.

The role of dextran production in the metabolic context of Leuconostoc and Weissella Tunisian strains

High molecular weight dextrans improve the rheological properties of fermented products and have immunomodulatory and antiviral activity. We report on 5.84 × 10⁷-2.61 × 10⁸ Da dextrans produced by Leuconostoc lactis AV1n, Weissella cibaria AV2ou and Weissella confusa V30 and FS54 strains. Dextransucrases catalyze dextran synthesis by sucrose hydrolysis concomitant with fructose generation. The four bacteria have dextransucrases with molecular weight of about 160 kDa detected by zymograms. Each bacterium showed different interplay of dextran production and metabolic fluxes. All bacteria produced lactate, and AV2ou apart, synthesized mannitol from fructose. FS54 hydrolyzed dextran blue and the concentration of dextran produced by this bacterium decreased during the stationary phase. The AV1n binding to Caco-2 cells and polystyrene plates was higher under conditions for dextran synthesis. Thus, this is the first instance of a Weissella dextranase, associated with a dextransucrase ability, and of a positive influence of dextran on adhesion and aggregation properties of a bacterium.

Isolation and characterization of indigenous Weissella confusa for in situ bacterial exopolysaccharides (EPS) production in chickpea sourdough

Legume-based sourdough represents a potential ingredient for the manufacture of novel baked products. However, the lack of gluten of legume flours can restrict their use due to their poor technological properties. To overcome such issue, the in situ production of bacterial exopolysaccharides (EPS) during fermentation has been proposed. In this study, an EPS-producing lactic acid bacteria for in situ production in chickpea sourdough was isolated. After several backsloppings of the spontaneously fermented chickpea flour dough, a dominant strain of Weissella confusa was isolated and identified. W. confusa Ck15 was able to produce linear dextran with 2.6% α-(1 → 3) linked branches, from sucrose. Temperature of 30 °C, dough yield of 333, and 2% of sucrose addition were used to produce fermented chickpea sourdoughs. The acidification and rheology of the sourdoughs inoculated with W. confusa Ck15, Leuconostoc pseudomesenteroides DSM 20193, as positive control, and Lactobacillus plantarum F8, as negative control, were compared. The in situ dextran production by W. confusa Ck15 fermentation led to the highest viscosity increase (5.90 Pa·s) and the highest EPS percentage in the doughs (1.49%), compared to the other doughs. The in situ dextran production represents a potential approach for improving the use of legume flour in bakery products; overall, this experiment represents a first step for the exploitation of microbial EPS for setting up a baking process for chickpea based product.

Genome-Assisted Characterization of Lactobacillus fermentum, Weissella cibaria, and Weissella confusa Strains Isolated from Sorghum as Starters for Sourdough Fermentation

Sourdough fermentation of bakery products is a well-established and widespread technique to confer an added value to the resulting food. In recent decades, gluten-free raw materials have gained more attention due to the diffusion of food disorders such as coeliac disease, but, at the same time, they present difficult manipulation and scarce technological properties because of the absence of gluten. For this reason, the present work was aimed at selecting starter cultures for sourdough application that are isolated from fermentation of sorghum flour. Three isolates of Lactobacillus fermentum, Weissella cibaria, and Weissella confusa were selected for the following properties: exopolysaccharide synthesis, acidification, CO2 production, and amylase activity. The investigated phenotypic characteristics were confirmed by genomic analyses, which also highlighted other potentially beneficial features for use in bakery products employment. These strains, together with bakery yeast, were used for bread preparation using sorghum and wheat flour and after 24 h of fermentation the resulting dough was analyzed to assess the improvement of its characteristics. The presence of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) had a great impact on the final dough, and the best preparation, from a rheological point of view, resulted in one made of sorghum and wheat flour with added LAB and bakery yeast, whose resulting characteristics were similar to all wheat flour doughs. The results of this study suggest a potential application of the selected starters in sorghum composite bread and should be validated with data from large-scale pilot tests conducted in industrial bakeries.