Jutta Cerning

Isolation and characterization of exocellular polysaccharide produced byLactobacillus bulgaricus

SummaryLactobacillus bulgaricus strains grown on skim milk produce a viscosifying exocellular watersoluble heteropolysaccharide composed of galactose, glucose and rhamnose in an approximately molar ratio of 4:1:1. The molecular weight is approximately 500.000.

Factors Affecting Exocellular Polysaccharide Production by Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus Grown in a Chemically Defined Medium

ABSTRACT We developed a chemically defined medium (CDM) containing lactose or glucose as the carbon source that supports growth and exopolysaccharide (EPS) production of two strains ofLactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus. The factors found to affect EPS production in this medium were oxygen, pH, temperature, and medium constituents, such as orotic acid and the carbon source. EPS production was greatest during the stationary phase. Composition analysis of EPS isolated at different growth phases and produced under different fermentation conditions (varying carbon source or pH) revealed that the component sugars were the same. The EPS from strain L. delbrueckii subsp.bulgaricus CNRZ 1187 contained galactose and glucose, and that of strain L. delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricusCNRZ 416 contained galactose, glucose, and rhamnose. However, the relative proportions of the individual monosaccharides differed, suggesting that repeating unit structures can vary according to specific medium alterations. Under pH-controlled fermentation conditions, L. delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricusstrains produced as much EPS in the CDM as in milk. Furthermore, the relative proportions of individual monosaccharides of EPS produced in pH-controlled CDM or in milk were very similar. The CDM we developed may be a useful model and an alternative to milk in studies of EPS production.

Exocellular polysaccharide production byStreptococcus thermophilus

SummaryStreptococcus thermophilus strains grown on skim milk produce exocellular polysaccharide, essentially composed of galactose and glucose. Small amounts of xylose, arabinose, rhamnose and mannose are identified also. A relationship exists between viscosity of the culture medium and the amount of polymer produced. However, the thickness producing trait in the strains studied is highly unstable.

Comparison of the thickening properties of four Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus strains and physicochemical characterization of their exopolysaccharides.

It is now well established that physicochemical properties of exopolysaccharides (EPS) can vary between strains of a given species and according to growth conditions. The EPS production of four strains of Lactobacillus bulgaricus was monitored during growth in milk and in a chemically defined media. All strains, including the non-ropy one, produced EPS. The monosaccharide composition, molar mass (M(w)), and intrinsic viscosity of these EPS were determined and compared. Further characterization using high-performance size-exclusion chromatography revealed the presence of two fractions in all EPS: one fraction exhibited a high M(w) and a high intrinsic viscosity while the other had a low M(w) and a low intrinsic viscosity. Strikingly, the EPS synthesized by the non-ropy strain was mainly composed of the low-M(w) fraction while for the ropy strains, the fraction of high M(w) varied between 43 and 90%. According to our results, we propose that the ratio between the high-M(w) and low-M(w) fractions is critical for the texturing properties of L. bulgaricus EPS.