Davide Porcellato

The dominant microbial community associated with fermentation of Obushera (sorghum and millet beverages) determined by culture-dependent and culture-independent methods

Obushera includes four fermented cereal beverages from Uganda namely: Obutoko, Enturire, Ekitiribita and Obuteire, whose microbial diversity has not hitherto been fully investigated. Knowledge of the microbial diversity and dynamics in these products is crucial for understanding their safety and development of appropriate starter cultures for controlled industrial processing. Culture-dependent and culture-independent techniques including denaturating gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and mixed DNA sequencing of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplified ribosomal RNA genes were used to study the bacteria and yeast diversity of Obushera. The pH dropped from 6.0-4.6 to 3.5-4.0 within 1-2 days for Obutoko, Enturire and Obuteire whereas that of Ekitiribita decreased to 4.4 after 4 days. Counts of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) increased from 5.0 to 11.0 log cfug(-1) and yeasts increased from 3.4 to 7.1 log cfug(-1) while coliform counts decreased from 2.0 to <1 log cfug(-1) during four days of fermentation. LAB and yeast isolates were identified by rRNA gene sequence analysis. LAB isolates included: Enterococcus spp., Lactobacillus (Lb.) plantarum, Lb. fermentum, Lb. delbrueckii, Lactococcus lactis, Leuconostoc lactis, Streptococcus (S.) infantarius subsp. infantarius, Pediococcus pentosaceus and Weisella (W.) confusa. DGGE indicated predominance of S. gallolyticus, S. infantarius subsp. infantarius, Lb. fermentum, Lb. delbrueckii, W. confusa, Lb. reuteri, Fructobacillus spp., L. lactis and L. lactis. Yeast isolates included Clavispora lusitaniae, Cyberlindnera fabianii, Issatchenkia orientalis and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. DGGE indicated predominance of S. cerevisiae in Obutoko, Enturire and Obuteire and also detected Pichia spp. and I. orientalis in Obutoko. Obushera produced in the laboratory was initially dominated by Enterobacteriaceae and later by Lactococcus spp. Enterobacteriaceae and Bacillus spp. were also detected in Ekitiribita. Development of starters for Obushera may require combinations of LAB and S. cerevisiae for Obutoko, Enturire and Obuteire and LAB for Ekitiribita.

Rapid lactic acid bacteria identification in dairy products by high-resolution melt analysis of DGGE bands

Aim:  To investigate the application of high‐resolution melt (HRM) analysis for rapid species‐level identification of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) communities in dairy products, as well as for bacterial community profiling and monitoring.

Metabolism of milk fat globule membrane components by nonstarter lactic acid bacteria isolated from cheese

The objective of this study was to investigate how components present in the milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) may be used for growth and survival by cheese-ripening lactobacilli. This was achieved by analyzing metabolites produced during incubation on appropriate media. The lactobacilli investigated were able to utilize components from the MFGM throughout a 24-d incubation period. We observed an apparent connection between the higher proteolytic activity of Lactobacillus paracasei INF448 and its ability to grow in the MFGM media after depletion of readily available sugars. All the studied strains produced large amounts of acetate when grown on an acylated aminosugar, presumably from deacetylation of the monosaccharides. Growth of Lb. plantarum INF15D on D-galactose resulted in a metabolic shift, expressed as different fates of the produced pyruvate, compared with growth on the other monosaccharides. For Lb. plantarum INF15D, the presence of D-galactose also seemed to initiate degradation of some amino acids known to take part in energy production, specifically Arg and Tyr.

Detection and quantification of Bacillus cereus group in milk by droplet digital PCR

Droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) is one of the newest and most promising methods for the detection and quantification of molecular targets by PCR. Here, we optimized and used a new ddPCR assay for the detection and quantification of the Bacillus cereus group in milk. We also compared the ddPCR to a standard qPCR assay. The new ddPCR assay showed a similar coefficient of determination and a better limit of detection compared to the qPCR assay during quantification of the target molecules in the samples. However, the ddPCR assay has a limitation during quantification of a high number of target molecules. This new assay was then tested for the quantification of the B. cereus group in 90 milk samples obtained over three months from two different dairies and the milk was stored at different temperatures before sampling. The ddPCR assay showed good agreement with the qPCR assay for the quantification of the B. cereus group in milk, and due to its lower detection limit more samples were detected as positive. The new ddPCR assay is a promising method for the quantification of target bacteria in low concentration in milk.

Enterotoxin Gene Profile and Molecular Characterization of Staphylococcus aureus Isolates from Bovine Bulk Milk and Milk Products of Tigray Region, Northern Ethiopia

Staphylococcal food poisoning (SFP) is an important foodborne disease worldwide, and milk and milk products are commonly associated with SFP outbreaks. The objectives of this study were to investigate the distribution of staphylococcal enterotoxin (se) genes in Staphylococcus aureus from raw cows milk and milk products and to assess their genetic background with the spa typing method. Of the 549 samples (297 bulk milk and 162 milk product samples) collected from Tigray region, Northern Ethiopia, 160 (29.1%) were positive for S. aureus, of which 82 (51%) were found to harbor se genes by a modified multiplex PCR. Nine se genes were identified: sea (n = 12), seb (n = 3), sec (n = 3), sed(n = 4), seg (n = 49), seh (n = 2), sei (n = 40), sej (n = 1), and tsst-1 (n = 24). The classical type of genes accounted for 27%. Of the 82 enterotoxigenic isolates, 41.5 and 12.4% harbored two or more se genes, respectively. The highest gene association was observed between sei and seg, whereas sea and seb were always found together with the new types of se genes. Altogether, 18 genotypes of toxin genes were identified, and 33% of the samples contained > 5 log CFU ml(-1) S. aureus. spa typing identified 22 spa types and three novel spa sequences, which showed the high genetic diversity of the isolates. No apparent relationship was observed between spa type and se genes. Of the 25 spa types, 13 (52%) were from raw milk, 3 (12%) from milk products, and 9 (36%) from both types of sample. Types t314 (20.7%,n = 17), t458 (18.3%, n = 15), and t6218 (9.8%, n= 8) were the most common spa types identified and were widely distributed in three of the eight studied localities. This is the first study from the Tigray region to report the high distribution of enterotoxigenic S. aureus with a diversified genetic background from dairy food. The study may provide valuable data for microbial food safety risk assessment, molecular epidemiology, and phylogenetic studies of S. aureus in Ethiopia.

Potential of Lactobacillus curvatus LFC1 to produce slits in Cheddar cheese.

Defects in Cheddar cheese resulting from undesired gas production are a sporadic problem that results in significant financial losses in the cheese industry. In this study, we evaluate the potential of a facultatively heterofermentative lactobacilli, Lactobacillus curvatus LFC1, to produce slits, a gas related defect in Cheddar cheese. The addition of Lb. curvatus LFC1 to cheese milk at log 3 CFU/ml resulted in the development of small slits during the first month of ripening. Chemical analyses indicated that the LFC1 containing cheeses had less galactose and higher levels of lactate and acetate than the control cheeses. The composition the cheese microbiota was examined through a combination of two culture independent approaches, 16S rRNA marker gene sequencing and automated ribosomal intergenic spacer analysis; the results indicated that no known gas producers were present and that high levels of LFC1 was the only significant difference between the cheese microbiotas. A ripening cheese model system was utilized to examine the metabolism of LFC1 under conditions similar to those present in cheeses that exhibited the slit defect. The combined cheese and model system results indicate that when Lb. curvatus LFC1 was added to the cheese milk at log 3 CFU/ml it metabolized galactose to lactate, acetate, and CO2. For production of sufficient CO2 to result in the formation of slits there needs to be sufficient galactose and Lb. curvatus LFC1 present in the cheese matrix. To our knowledge, facultatively heterofermentative lactobacilli have not previously been demonstrated to result in gas-related cheese defects.

Geographically widespread honeybee‐gut symbiont subgroups show locally distinct antibiotic‐resistant patterns

How long‐term antibiotic treatment affects host bacterial associations is still largely unknown. The honeybee‐gut microbiota has a simple composition, so we used this gut community to investigate how long‐term antibiotic treatment affects host‐associated microbiota. We investigated the phylogenetic relatedness, genomic content (GC percentage, genome size, number of genes and CRISPR) and antibiotic‐resistant genes (ARG) for strains from two abundant members of the honeybee core gut microbiota (Gilliamella apicola and Snodgrassella alvi). Domesticated honeybees are subjected to geographically different management policies, so we used two research apiaries, representing different antibiotic treatment regimens in their apiculture: low antibiotic usage (Norway) and high antibiotic usage (Arizona, USA). We applied whole‐genome shotgun sequencing on 48 G. apicola and 22 S. alvi. We identified three predominating subgroups of G. apicola in honeybees from both Norway and Arizona. For G. apicola, genetic content substantially varied between subgroups and distance similarity calculations showed similarity discrepancy between subgroups. Functional differences between subgroups, such as pectin‐degrading enzymes (G. apicola), were also identified. In addition, we identified horizontal gene transfer (HGT) of transposon (Tn10)‐associated tetracycline resistance (Tet B) across the G. apicola subgroups in the Arizonan honeybees, using interspace polymorphisms in the Tet B determinant. Our results support that honeybee‐gut symbiont subgroups can resist long‐term antibiotic treatment and maintain functionality through acquisition of geographically distinct antibiotic‐resistant genes by HGT.

Microbial diversity of consumption milk during processing and storage

Bovine milk contains a complex microbial community that affects the quality and safety of the product. Detailed knowledge of this microbiota is, therefore, of importance for the dairy industry. In this study, the bacterial composition of consumption milk was assessed during different stages in the production line and throughout the storage in cartons by using culturing techniques and 16S rRNA marker gene sequencing. Monthly samples from two dairies were analyzed to capture the seasonal variations in the milk microbiota. Although there was a core microbiota present in milk samples from both dairies, the composition of the bacterial communities were significantly influenced by sampling month, processing stage and storage temperature. Overall, a higher abundance of operational taxonomic units (OTUs) within the order Bacillales was detected in samples of raw and pasteurized milk from the spring and summer months, while Pseudomonadales and Lactobacillales OTUs were predominant in the winter months. OTUs belonging to the order Lactobacillales, Pseudomonadales, Clostridiales and Bacillales were significantly more abundant in milk samples taken immediately after pasteurization compared to raw milk samples. During storage of milk in cartons at 4°C, the bacterial composition remained stable throughout the product shelf life, while storage at 8°C significantly increased the abundance of OTUs belonging to the genus Bacillus and the plate count levels of presumptive Bacillus cereus. The knowledge obtained in this work will be useful to the dairy industry during their quality assurance work and risk assessment practices.

Short communication: Presence of Lactococcus and lactococcal exopolysaccharide operons on the leaves of Pinguicula vulgaris supports the traditional source of bacteria present in Scandinavian ropy fermented milk

Some traditional Scandinavian fermented milk products have a pronounced ropy consistency due to the presence of exopolysaccharide-producing strains of Lactococcus lactis ssp. cremoris. Norwegian food folklore describes how leaves from the carnivorous plant Pinguicula vulgaris (common butterwort) may be added to milk to initiate the fermentation of the traditional fermented milk product tettemelk. However, scientific confirmation of the link between the plant and the milk product has not been previously published. In the present study, the microbiome on 20 samples of P. vulgaris leaves collected from 5 different rural geographical locations in Norway and from 4 samples of commercial tettemelk was analyzed using high-throughput sequencing methods. The leaf microbiota of P. vulgaris was dominated by Proteobacteria and Firmicutes and the genus Lactococcus was demonstrated in all leaf samples. In addition, DNA extracted from the leaf microbiome contained genes identical to those responsible for exopolysaccharide production in Lactococcus. These results confirm the traditional use of P. vulgaris as a source of bacteria for the Norwegian ropy fermented milk product tettemelk and indicate that P. vulgaris microbiomes can be a potential source of lactic acid bacteria with interesting dairy technological features.

Draft Genome Sequence of Enterococcus hirae Strain INF E1 Isolated from Cultured Milk.

ABSTRACT Here, we present the draft genome of Enterococcus hirae INF E1, found as a contaminant in cultured milk and studied for its ability to metabolize milk fat globule membrane glycoconjugates.