The role of microorganisms on biotransformation of brewers' spent grain.

Brewers' spent grain (BSG) is the most abundant by-product of brewing. Due to its microbiological instability and high perishability, fresh BSG is currently disposed of as low-cost cattle feed. However, BSG is an appealing source of nutrients to obtain products with high added value through microbial-based transformation. As such, BSG could become a potential source of income for the brewery itself. While recent studies have covered the relevance of BSG chemical composition in detail, this review aims to underline the importance of microorganisms from the stabilization/contamination of fresh BSG to its biotechnological exploitation. Indeed, the evaluation of BSG-associated microorganisms, which include yeast, fungi, and bacteria, can allow their safe use and the best methods for their exploitation. This bibliographical examination is particularly focused on the role of microorganisms in BSG exploitation to (1) produce enzymes and metabolites of industrial interest, (2) supplement human and animal diets, and (3) improve soil fertility. Emerging safety issues in the use of BSG as a food and feed additive is also considered, particularly considering the presence of mycotoxins.Key points• Microorganisms are used to enhance brewers' spent grain nutritional value.• Knowledge of brewers' spent grain microbiota allows the reduction of health risks. Graphical abstract.

Antimicrobial activity of gaseous Citrus limon var pompia leaf essential oil against Listeria monocytogenes on ricotta salata cheese.

Contamination by Listeria monocytogenes is a particularly challenging problem in the food industry due to the ability of the bacterium to develop under conditions normally used for food preservation. Here, we show that the gaseous phase of Citrus limon var pompia leaf essential oil (hereafter PLEO) exerts specific anti-Listeria activity on ricotta salata cheese stored at 5 °C. The synergic effect of gaseous PLEO treatment and refrigeration was first confirmed in vitro on L. monocytogenes strains treated for 3 h with gaseous PLEO and then stored at 5 °C. Ricotta cheese was then inoculated with L. monocytogenes strains and subjected to hurdle technology with different concentrations of gaseous PLEO. Cell counts revealed gaseous PLEO to exert a bactericidal effect on L. monocytogenes 20600 DSMZ and a bacteriostatic effect on a mix of L. monocytogenes strains. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy analyses of L. monocytogenes cells suggested that gaseous PLEO targets the bacterial cell wall and plasma membrane. Chemical analyses of the liquid and vapor phases of PLEO indicated linalyl acetate to be the predominant compound, followed by limonene and the two isomers of citral, whereas EO composition analysis, although generally in line with previous findings, showed the presence of linalyl acetate for the first time. Solid-phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatography confirmed the presence of all crude oil components in the headspace of the box.

Oleic acid and ergosterol supplementation mitigates oxidative stress in wine strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

During fermentation of high-sugar-containing medium lacking lipid nutrients, wine yeasts undergo oxidative stress and oxidative damage to cell membranes and proteins. Considering that cell membranes are important stress sensors, and that under hypoxic conditions wine yeasts modulate cell membranes composition by incorporating lipids available in the growth medium, in the present work, the effects of lipid nutrition on wine yeast oxidative stress response were evaluated on two strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Biomarkers of oxidative stress, oxidative damage and antioxidant response were evaluated together with viability and acetic acid production during fermentation of a synthetic must lacking lipid nutrients as compared to added oleic acid and ergosterol. The results show that the availability of lipid nutrients causes a significant reduction in the intracellular content of reactive oxygen species and in the oxidative damage to membranes and proteins, as indicated by flow cytometry of cells stained with dihydroethidum (DHE) and propidium iodide (PI) and by Western blot of protein carbonyls. Accordingly, lipid nutrients feeding results in the increase in cell viability and superoxide activity, and the reduction in trehalose accumulation, proteinase A activity and production of acetic acid. In summary, these results are compatible with the hypothesis that the supplementation of lipid nutrients mitigates oxidative stress and oxidative damage in wine strains of S. cerevisiae during growth under unfavourable conditions.