Bioprocess development for bacterial cellulose biosynthesis by novel Lactiplantibacillus plantarum isolate along with characterization and antimicrobial assessment of fabricated membrane.

Bacterial cellulose (BC) is an ecofriendly biopolymer with diverse commercial applications. Its use is limited by the capacity of bacterial production strains and cost of the medium. Mining for novel organisms with well-optimized growth conditions will be important for the adoption of BC. In this study, a novel BC-producing strain was isolated from rotten fruit samples and identified as Lactiplantibacillus plantarum from 16S rRNA sequencing. Culture conditions were optimized for supporting maximal BC production using one variable at a time, Plackett-Burman design, and Box Behnken design approaches. Results indicated that a modified Yamanaka medium supported the highest BC yield (2.7 g/l), and that yeast extract, MgSO4, and pH were the most significant variables influencing BC production. After optimizing the levels of these variables through Box Behnken design, BC yield was increased to 4.51 g/l. The drug delivery capacity of the produced BC membrane was evaluated through fabrication with sodium alginate and gentamycin antibiotic at four different concentrations. All membranes (normal and fabricated) were characterized by scanning electron microscope, Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and mechanical properties. The antimicrobial activity of prepared composites was evaluated by using six human pathogens and revealed potent antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus mutans, with no detected activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida albicans.

PCR-DGGE assessment of the bacterial diversity in Spanish-style green table-olive fermentations.

The bacterial ecology associated to Spanish-style green olive fermentations has been studied, attending to its dynamics along the time and its distribution, by a culture-independent approach based on PCR-DGGE. Forty-three 10-tonne fermenters were selected from the fermentation yards (patios) of two large table-olive manufacturing companies in southern Spain. The fermenting brines of 20 of these fermenters were previously analyzed through culture-dependent methods, allowing comparisons of both methodologies. A statistical analysis of DGGE banding profiles obtained using bacteria universal primers demonstrated significant evidences of discrimination of bacterial communities by location (patio) and fermentation stage. Specific microbial "fingerprints" could be established for these variables. At least 17 bacterial species were detected, most of them previously isolated from the same fermenters. Most of these species belonged to the lactic acid bacteria (LAB) group. Dominance of species within the Lactobacillus plantarum group was confirmed. Marinilactibacillus sp. and Propionibacterium olivae, which were not isolated in the previous culture-dependent study, were detected. Alkalibacterium sp. and Halolactibacillus sp. were detected for the first time in table olive fermentations. Using Lactobacillus-group specific primers, significant clustering within the DGGE banding profiles was observed, allowing discrimination regarding the actual fermentation stage. These results corroborated the previous culture-dependent study, and added the detection of Alkalibacterium sp. and Pediococcus acidilactici. The species Alkalibacterium sp., Marinilactibacillus sp. and Halolactibacillus sp. are characterized by their ability to carry out lactic acid fermentation under alkaline conditions and thus ascribed within the halophilic and alkaliphilic lactic acid bacteria (HALAB). Their ubiquitous presence suggests that they could play an important role in Spanish-style olive fermentations, especially at the initial fermentation stage. Thus, they could contribute to brine conditioning before L. plantarum group-driven lactic acid fermentation takes place.

Genetically modified lactic acid bacteria: applications to food or health and risk assessment.

Lactic acid bacteria have a long history of use in fermented food products. Progress in gene technology allows their modification by introducing new genes or by modifying their metabolic functions. These modifications may lead to improvements in food technology (bacteria better fitted to technological processes, leading to improved organoleptic properties em leader ), or to new applications including bacteria producing therapeutic molecules that could be delivered by mouth. Examples in these two fields will be discussed, at the same time evaluating their potential benefit to society and the possible risks associated with their use. Risk assessment and expected benefits will determine the future use of modified bacteria in the domains of food technology and health.