The role of nisin in fuel ethanol production with Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Using drug-loaded pH-responsive poly(4-vinylpyridine) microspheres as a new strategy for intelligent controlling of Lactobacillus plantarum contamination in bioethanol fermentation

Bioethanol fermentation is usually contaminated by bacteria, especially lactic acid bacteria (LAB), thereby leading to decrease of bioethanol yield and serious economic losses. Nisin is safer for controlling of bacterial contamination than antibiotics that are widely applied in industry. Moreover, in LAB contaminative bioethanol fermentation system, consistently decreased pH value provides opportunity to realize pH value responsive material-based release of anti-bacteria substances for intelligent and persistent controlling of bacterial contamination. In this study, nisin was embedded into pH-sensitive poly(4-vinylpyridine) (P4VP) microspheres synthesized by suspension polymerization to realize intelligent controlling of Lactobacillus plantarum contamination in bioethanol fermentation. Chloramphenicol with the highest antimicrobial activity and excellent stability was chosen as the model drug to be embedded into P4VP microspheres to test the drug release behavior. The drug release curve of chloramphenicol-loaded P4VP microspheres showed sustained and pH-responsive release properties. The diameters of the microspheres ranged from 40 to 100 µm. The encapsulation efficiency of nisin into P4VP microspheres was 47.67% and the drug-loading capacity of nisin was 2.5%. Nisin-loaded P4VP microspheres were added into the simulated contaminative fermentation system, and successfully reversed the decline of bioethanol yield secondary to L. plantarum contamination. The results in this study indicated that L. plantarum contamination in bioethanol fermentation could be effectively controlled by nisin-loaded P4VP microspheres.

Natural antibacterial agents from arid-region pretreated lignocellulosic biomasses and extracts for the control of lactic acid bacteria in yeast fermentation

Bacterial contamination is one of the major challenges faced by yeast fermentation industries as the contaminating microorganisms produce lactic acid and acetic acid, which reduces the viability of yeast, and hence fermentation yields. The primary bacterial contaminants of yeast fermentations are lactic acid bacteria (LAB). This study aims to identify potential natural antibacterial fractions from raw and pretreated lignocellulosic biomasses found in Abu Dhabi, UAE, in terms of LAB inhibition capacity, allowing growth of the yeast. The analysis was carried out using plating technique. Pretreatment liquid of the mangrove stem Avicennia marina hydrothermally pretreated at 210 °C exhibited the widest inhibition zone with an average diameter of 14.5 mm, followed by the pretreatment liquid of mangrove leaf pretreated at 190 °C, Salicornia bigelovii pretreated at 202 °C and rachis of date palm Phoenix dactylifera pretreated at 200 °C. The compounds responsible for the antibacterial activity will be characterized in further study.

Conventional and nonconventional strategies for controlling bacterial contamination in fuel ethanol fermentations

Ethanol bio-production in Brazil has some unique characteristics that inevitably lead to bacterial contamination, which results in the production of organic acids and biofilms and flocculation that impair the fermentation yield by affecting yeast viability and diverting sugars to metabolites other than ethanol. The ethanol-producing units commonly give an acid treatment to the cells after each fermentative cycle to decrease the bacterial number, which is not always effective. An alternative strategy must be employed to avoid bacterial multiplication but must be compatible with economic, health and environmental aspects. This review analyzes the issue of bacterial contamination in sugarcane-based fuel ethanol fermentation, and the potential strategies that may be utilized to control bacterial growth besides acid treatment and antibiotics. We have emphasized the efficiency and suitability of chemical products other than acids and those derived from natural sources in industrial conditions. In addition, we have also presented bacteriocins, bacteriophages, and beneficial bacteria as non-conventional antimicrobial agents to mitigate bacterial contamination in the bioethanol industry.

Microbial interactions during sugar cane must fermentation for bioethanol production: does quorum sensing play a role?

Microbial interactions represent important modulatory role in the dynamics of biological processes. During bioethanol production from sugar cane must, the presence of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and wild yeasts is inevitable as they originate from the raw material and industrial environment. Increasing the concentration of ethanol, organic acids, and other extracellular metabolites in the fermentation must are revealed as wise strategies for survival by certain microorganisms. Despite this, the co-existence of LAB and yeasts in the fermentation vat and production of compounds such as organic acids and other extracellular metabolites result in reduction in the final yield of the bioethanol production process. In addition to the competition for nutrients, reduction of cellular viability of yeast strain responsible for fermentation, flocculation, biofilm formation, and changes in cell morphology are listed as important factors for reductions in productivity. Although these consequences are scientifically well established, there is still a gap about the physiological and molecular mechanisms governing these interactions. This review aims to discuss the potential occurrence of quorum sensing mechanisms between bacteria (mainly LAB) and yeasts and to highlight how the understanding of such mechanisms can result in very relevant and useful tools to benefit the biofuels industry and other sectors of biotechnology in which bacteria and yeast may co-exist in fermentation processes.

Bacteriophages as antimicrobial agents against bacterial contaminants in yeast fermentation processes

BACKGROUND

The emergence of biofuels produced through yeast fermentation represents an important avenue for sustainable energy production. Despite all its advantages, this process is vulnerable to contamination by other organisms - most commonly lactic acid bacteria - that are present in raw feedstocks and/or in production lines. These contaminants compete with the yeast for nutrients, reducing the overall biofuel yield, and release substances that inhibit yeast growth. Here, we investigated the application of bacteriophages as potential antibacterial agents in yeast fermentation.

RESULTS

Experiments conducted to understand the impact of pH on yeast, bacterial, and phage development showed that the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae Superstart™ grew in a similar fashion at pH levels ranging from 3 to 6. Growth of Lactobacillus plantarum ATCC® 8014™ was inhibited by pH levels of less than 4, and phages ATCC® 8014-B1™ (phage B1) and ATCC® 8014-B2™ (phage B2) displayed different infectivities within the pH range tested (pH 3.5 to 7). Phage B1 showed the best infectivity at pH 6, while phage B2 was most virulent at pH levels ranging from 4 to 5, and the cocktail of these phages showed highest infectivity in the range from pH 4 to 6. Population dynamics studies in MRS medium at pH 6 showed that, in the presence of bacteria inoculated at 10(7) cells/ml, yeast cultures were impeded under aerobic and anaerobic conditions, showing major decreases in both cell yield and ethanol production. The addition of the phage cocktail at a low initial multiplicity of infection was sufficient to reduce contamination by over 99%, and to allow yeast and ethanol yields to reach values equivalent to those of axenic cultures.

CONCLUSIONS

From the results observed, phages are good candidates as antimicrobial agents, to be used in place of or in conjunction with antibiotics, in yeast fermentation processes. Their implementation with other common contamination abatement/prevention methods could further increase their efficacy.