Effects ofpCO2on the growth and metabolism ofClostridium sporogenesNCIB 8053 in defined media

Carbonated fermented dairy drink - effect on quality and shelf life

Processing conditions were standardized for a carbonated sweetened fermented dairy beverage. The optimum level of carbonation for the beverage filled in 200 ml glass bottles was found to be at 50 psi pressure for 30 seconds. The beverage samples were stored under refrigerated conditions (7 °C) and evaluated at weekly intervals for their sensory, chemical and microbial quality. The uncarbonated control samples were found to keep well till 5 weeks of storage while the carbonated beverage was acceptable up to 12 weeks of storage. Carbonation did not significantly alter the pH of the beverage, while a marginal increase in titratable acidity was recorded for the carbonated samples. Carbonation was found to arrest the development of lipolysis and proteolysis in the beverage during storage. Microbiological investigations established the inhibition of yeast and mold growth due to dissolved CO2.

Extended shelf life flavoured dairy drink using dissolved carbon dioxide

Cardamom flavoured dairy beverage prepared using standardized method was carbonated in glass bottles. Carbonation at 50 psi pressure for 30 s was recommended. The pasteurized flavoured drink, carbonated or otherwise was evaluated for sensory, chemical and microbial quality during its refrigerated storage. The uncarbonated control samples were found to be sensorily acceptable up to 14 days, while the carbonated beverage remained acceptable up to 30 days. Carbonation of drink significantly affected the pH and acidity of product without reducing its acceptability. Carbonation resulted in inhibition of microbes, the effect was pronounced on psychrotrophic count. There was a linear but marginal increase in the pH of the carbonated samples till the 17(th) day of storage; the values diminished thereafter. The carbonated samples also had significantly reduced contents of FFA and soluble nitrogen compared to that of uncarbonated control samples as storage progressed beyond 10 days and this was attributed to inhibited microbial growth.

Faecal coliforms and faecal streptococci community in the underground water in an equatorial area in Cameroon (Central Africa): the importance of some environmental chemical factors

A bacteriological and chemical study was carried out within 1 year on spring and well water of Yaounde. It assessed the importance of some chemical factors on some faecal bacterial communities. The monthly average densities of faecal coliforms and faecal streptococci varied, respectively, from 1 to 72 x 10(2) CFU 100 ml(-1), and from 1 to 31 x 10(2) CFU 100 ml(-1) of water. These bacterial abundances undergo spatio-temporal fluctuations. These spring and well waters which are slightly bicarbonate, are acidic, soft, with low to average mineralisation. Most of the chemical characteristics of these waters are relatively stable with time, with respect to apparent spatial fluctuations. The degree of correlation between chemical parameters and the abundance dynamics of isolated bacteria is heterogeneous. In an artificially constituted spring biotope, the increase in pH, electrical conductivity, concentration of dissolved oxygen, chloride, sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium favoured (P<0.01) the abundance of faecal coliforms and faecal streptococci. The high concentration of dissolved CO2 reduces (P<0.001) the abundances of these bacteria. They would nevertheless have developed such a mechanism allowing to minimise inhibitory effects of some environmental factors. In the well water, the ecology of faecal streptococci and faecal coliforms undergoes a relative instability, probably due to the variability of the resultant interaction network.

Influence of modified atmosphere and preservatives on the growth of Zygosaccharomyces rouxii isolated from dried fruits

The influence of water activity (alpha w), preservatives, modified atmosphere and their combinations on the growth of Z. rouxii was determined by cultivating two strains isolated from raisins and prunes in culture media under different conditions and by counting the colony forming units. Yeast extract glucose broths or agars were adjusted to the desired alpha w by means of glucose. Preservatives added to the media (0-600 ppm) were either K-sorbate, Na-benzoate or their mixture. Modified atmospheres were carried out by packing culture plates or flasks in plastic bags under different CO2-N2 gas mixture. Response surface design was carried out to optimize the growth inhibition of Z. rouxii by the mentioned factors. Although Z. rouxii is osmotolerant, the strains studied could not grow at alpha w 0.79. They also showed a high tolerance to CO2; even 80% CO2 seems to not inhibit growth. However, CO2 atmosphere at high pHs and low preservative concentrations stimulated yeast growth. At pH 4.0 and under modified atmosphere (80% CO2-20% N2), no growth was observed at any alpha w in the range of 0.80-0.90 when using a preservative concentration of 220 ppm Ksorbate or 280 ppm Na-benzoate.

Quantification of multiple-substrate controlled growth--simultaneous ammonium and glucose limitation in chemostat cultures of Klebsiella pneumoniae

In chemostat cultures of Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. aerogenes) NCTC 418 we measured the concentrations of glucose and ammonium and we varied the ratio of the (limiting) concentrations of glucose and ammonium in the feed medium. By doing this at different dilution rates we found a range where growth rate varies with either concentration in the culture when the other concentration in the culture is held constant. This proves that within this range, dual-substrate controlled growth occurs. Dual substrate-controlled growth was accompanied by yield coefficients for glucose and for ammonium that were intermediate between the yield coefficients obtained for single glucose or single ammonium limitation. We quantified the control by either substrate in terms of the flux control coefficient with respect to that substrate, where flux refers to growth rate. Dual-substrate controlled growth is reflected by the finding that both flux control coefficients exceed zero, simultaneously. In the transition of glucose to ammonium limitation, the control gradually shifts from glucose to ammonium.

Effect of concentration of substrates and products on the growth of Klebsiella pneumoniae in chemostat cultures

Non-equilibrium thermodynamics (NET) can be used to describe microbial growth. In this description, the concentrations of products contribute to the driving forces of the metabolic processes (anabolism and catabolism). Thus, in contrast to the model of bacterial growth of Monod (Recherches sur la Croissance les Cultures Bactériennes (1942) Herman et Cie, Paris), it is predicted that the growth rate of a bacterial chemostat culture is, in principle, dependent on the concentration of the catabolic product (for instance HCO3-) during catabolite limitation and on the concentration of the anabolic product (for instance biomass) during anabolite limitation. In order to test this prediction, Klebsiella pneumoniae was grown in aerobic citrate-limited, glucose-limited or ammonia-limited chemostat cultures. Ammonia-limited cultures were considered to be essentially anabolite-limited, whereas citrate limitation was used as a representative for catabolite limitation. In ammonia-limited or in glucose-limited cultures it was found that the growth rate was independent of the biomass concentration present. In the NET description this means that the 'back' reaction (i.e., in the direction from biomass to substrates) is saturated with respect to biomass. On the other hand, in citrate-limited cultures, the steady-state concentration of citrate increased with the concentration of the catabolic product HCO3-. At relatively low concentrations of HCO3-, 'thermodynamic back-pressure' of growth (i.e., increase in product concentration was compensated by an increase in substrate concentration so that the driving force for growth remained almost constant) was demonstrated as predicted by the NET model. At concentrations above 40 mM, a kinetic (allosteric) effect of HCO3- was detected. This was concluded from a reduced growth yield on citrate, and from a significant decrease in the maximal growth rate and the maximal oxygen consumption rate after relief of the citrate limitation.