Proteolytic Activity of Lactobacillus plantarum Strains in Cheddar Cheese as Adjunct Cultures

Metabolites, flavor profiles and ripening characteristics of Monascus-ripened cheese enhanced by Ligilactobacillus salivarius AR809 as adjunct culture

Adjunct cultures strongly determined the distinguishing sensorial and nutritional characteristics of cheeses. Metabolites, flavor profiles and ripening characteristics of Monascus-ripened cheese enhanced by the co-fermentation of Ligilactobacillus salivarius AR809 were investigated. The AR809 significantly increased the contents of soluble nitrogen, small peptides (<1200 Da), free amino acids, and casein degradation degree in the resulting cheese. Furthermore, AR809 significantly promoted the formation of methyl ketones during cheese maturation. Based on untargeted metabolomics analysis, metabolites related to fatty acids metabolism and lysine degradation were highly enriched in Monascus-rich region of cheese. AR809 was primarily engaged in amino acid metabolism, promoting the synthesis of amino acids and dipeptide. L. salivarius and Monascus co-fermentation produced more beneficial bioactive metabolites involved in amino acids and lipid metabolisms than Monascus used alone in cheese ripening. Therefore, as adjunct culture, L. salivarius AR809 exhibited tremendous potential in improving nutrition and flavor quality during cheese ripening.

Relationship between Volatile Organic Compounds and Microorganisms Isolated from Raw Sheep Milk Cheeses Determined by Sanger Sequencing and GC-IMS

Recently, the interest of consumers regarding artisan cheeses worldwide has increased. The ability of different autochthonous and characterized lactic acid bacteria (LAB) to produce aromas and the identification of the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) responsible for flavor in cheeses are important aspects to consider when selecting strains with optimal aromatic properties, resulting in the diversification of cheese products. The objective of this work is to determine the relationship between VOCs and microorganisms isolated (Lacticaseibacillus paracasei, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, Leuconostoc mesenteroides and Lactococcus lactis subsp. hordniae) from raw sheep milk cheeses (matured and creamy natural) using accuracy and alternative methods. On combining Sanger sequencing for LAB identification with Gas Chromatography coupled to Ion Mobility Spectrometry (GC−IMS) to determinate VOCs, we describe cheeses and differentiate the potential role of each microorganism in their volatilome. The contribution of each LAB can be described according to their different VOC profile. Differences between LAB behavior in each cheese are shown, especially between LAB involved in creamy cheeses. Only L. lactis subsp. hordniae and L. mesenteroides show the same VOC profile in de Man Rogosa and Sharpe (MRS) cultures, but for different cheeses, and show two differences in VOC production in skim milk cultures. The occurrence of Lactococcus lactis subsp. hordniae from cheese is reported for first time.

Fine-Tuning of Process Parameters Modulates Specific Metabolic Bacterial Activities and Aroma Compound Production in Semi-Hard Cheese

The formation of cheese flavor mainly results from the production of volatile compounds by microorganisms. We investigated how fine-tuning cheese-making process parameters changed the cheese volatilome in a semi-hard cheese inoculated with Lactococcus (L.) lactis, Lactiplantibacillus (L.) plantarum, and Propionibacterium (P.) freudenreichii. A standard (Std) cheese was compared with three variants of technological itineraries: a shorter salting time (7 h vs 10 h, Salt7h), a shorter stirring time (15 min vs 30 min, Stir15min), or a higher ripening temperature (16 °C vs 13 °C, Rip16°C). Bacterial counts were similar in the four cheese types, except for a 1.4 log₁₀ reduction of L. lactis counts in Rip16°C cheeses after 7 weeks of ripening. Compared to Std, Stir15min and Rip16°C increased propionibacterial activity, causing higher concentrations of acetic, succinic, and propanoic acids and lower levels of lactic acid. Rip16°C accelerated secondary proteolysis and volatile production. We thus demonstrated that fine-tuning process parameters could modulate the cheese volatilome by influencing specific bacterial metabolisms.

Differential Adaptation of Propionibacterium freudenreichii CIRM-BIA129 to Cow's Milk Versus Soymilk Environments Modulates Its Stress Tolerance and Proteome

Propionibacterium freudenreichii is a beneficial bacterium that modulates the gut microbiota, motility and inflammation. It is traditionally consumed within various fermented dairy products. Changes to consumer habits in the context of food transition are, however, driving the demand for non-dairy fermented foods, resulting in a considerable development of plant-based fermented products that require greater scientific knowledge. Fermented soymilks, in particular, offer an alternative source of live probiotics. While the adaptation of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) to such vegetable substrates is well documented, little is known about that of propionibacteria. We therefore investigated the adaptation of Propionibacterium freudenreichii to soymilk by comparison to cow's milk. P. freudenreichii grew in cow's milk but not in soymilk, but it did grow in soymilk when co-cultured with the lactic acid bacterium Lactobacillus plantarum. When grown in soymilk ultrafiltrate (SUF, the aqueous phase of soymilk), P. freudenreichii cells appeared thinner and rectangular-shaped, while they were thicker and more rounded in cow's milk utltrafiltrate (MUF, the aqueous phase of cow milk). The amount of extractable surface proteins (SlpA, SlpB, SlpD, SlpE) was furthermore reduced in SUF, when compared to MUF. This included the SlpB protein, previously shown to modulate adhesion and immunomodulation in P. freudenreichii. Tolerance toward an acid and toward a bile salts challenge were enhanced in SUF. By contrast, tolerance toward an oxidative and a thermal challenge were enhanced in MUF. A whole-cell proteomic approach further identified differential expression of 35 proteins involved in amino acid transport and metabolism (including amino acid dehydrogenase, amino acid transporter), 32 proteins involved in carbohydrate transport and metabolism (including glycosyltransferase, PTS), indicating metabolic adaptation to the substrate. The culture medium also modulated the amount of stress proteins involved in stress remediation: GroEL, OpuCA, CysK, DnaJ, GrpE, in line with the modulation of stress tolerance. Changing the fermented substrate may thus significantly affect the fermentative and probiotic properties of dairy propionibacteria. This needs to be considered when developing new fermented functional foods.

Physicochemical and textural characteristics and volatile compounds of semihard goat cheese as affected by starter cultures

Today, cheese is valued because of its high nutritional value and unique characteristics. Improving the texture and flavor of cheese by selecting suitable starter cultures is an important way to promote the development of cheese industry. The effect of starter cultures on the physicochemical and textural properties and volatile compounds during the ripening of semihard goat cheese were investigated in this work. Different starter cultures-mesophilic (M) and thermophilic starters (T), Lactobacillus plantarum ssp. plantarum ATCC 14917 (Lp), a mix of the M and T starters (M1), and mix of the M, T, and Lp starters (M2)-were used in the production of the goat cheeses. Volatile compounds were determined by a solid-phase microextraction/gas chromatography-mass spectrometric (SPME/GC-MS) method. The results showed that the moisture content of cheeses produced with the 5 kinds of starter cultures decreased after maturation, whereas ash content increased. The pH values of goat cheeses decreased first and then increased during maturity, and the pH value of M2 cheese was the lowest among the cheeses. The hardness and chewiness of the cheeses increased with increasing maturity, whereas cohesiveness, springiness, and resilience showed the opposite tendency. The 60-d-old cheese made with Lp had the highest chewiness, cohesiveness, springiness, and resilience, whereas the 60-d-old cheese made with M2 had the highest hardness. A total of 53 volatile components were identified by SPME/GC-MS, and carboxylic acids, alcohols, ketones, and esters were the 4 major contributors to the characteristic flavors of the cheeses. Volatile components and their contents differed greatly among the produced cheeses. The M2 cheese contained the highest relative content of the main volatile compounds (90.10%), especially butanoic acid and acetoin. Through a comprehensive comparison of the results, we concluded that M2 cheese had a dense texture and milky flavor, and M2 is a potential starter culture candidate for the production of goat cheese.

Lactic Acid Bacteria Adjunct Cultures Exert a Mitigation Effect against Spoilage Microbiota in Fresh Cheese

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) have a strong mitigation potential as adjunct cultures to inhibit undesirable bacteria in fermented foods. In fresh cheese with low salt concentration, spoilage and pathogenic bacteria can affect the shelf life with smear on the surface and packaging blowing. In this work, we studied the spoilage microbiota of an Italian fresh cheese to find tailor-made protective cultures for its shelf life improvement. On 14-tested LAB, three of them, namely Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus LRH05, Latilactobacillus sakei LSK04, and Carnobacterium maltaromaticum CNB06 were the most effective in inhibiting Gram-negative bacteria. These cultures were assessed by the cultivation-dependent and DNA metabarcoding approach using in vitro experiments and industrial trials. Soft cheese with and without adjunct cultures were prepared and stored at 8 and 14 °C until the end of the shelf life in modified atmosphere packaging. Data demonstrated that the use of adjunct cultures reduce and/or modulate the growth of spoilage microbiota at both temperatures. Particularly, during industrial experiments, C. maltaromaticum CNB06 and Lcb. rhamnosus RH05 lowered psychrotrophic bacteria of almost 3 Log CFU/g in a 5-week stored cheese. On the contrary, Llb. sakei LSK04 was able to colonize the cheese but it was not a good candidate for its inhibition capacity. The combined approach applied in this work allowed to evaluate the protective potential of LAB strains against Gram-negative communities.

Diversity of non-starter lactic acid bacteria in autochthonous dairy products from Western Balkan Countries - Technological and probiotic properties

The aim of this review was to summarize the data regarding diversity of non-starter lactic acid bacteria (NSLAB) isolated from various artisanal dairy products manufactured in Western Balkan Countries. The dairy products examined were manufactured from raw cow's, sheep's or goat's milk or mixed milk, in the traditional way without the addition of commercial starter cultures. Dairy products such as white brined cheese, fresh cheese, hard cheese, yogurt, sour cream and kajmak were sampled in the households of Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and North Macedonia. It has been established that the diversity of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) from raw milk artisanal dairy products is extensive. In the reviewed literature, 28 LAB species and a large number of strains belonging to the Lactobacillus, Lactococcus, Enterococcus, Streptococcus, Pediococcus, Leuconostoc and Weissella genera were isolated from various dairy products. Over 3000 LAB strains were obtained and characterized for their technological and probiotic properties including: acidification and coagulation of milk, production of aromatic compounds, proteolytic activity, bacteriocins production and competitive exclusion of pathogens, production of exopolysaccharides, aggregation ability and immunomodulatory effect. Results show that many of the isolated NSLAB strains had one, two or more of the properties mentioned. The data presented emphasize the importance of artisanal products as a valuable source of NSLAB with unique technological and probiotic features important both as a base for scientific research as well as for designing novel starter cultures for functional dairy food.