Influence of Different Bacteria Species in Chemical Composition and Sensory Properties of Fermented Spirulina.

Fermented Spirulina (FS) could be a good strategic approach for diversifying algae-derived formulations to a current functional food market. In this study, microbial properties, total and free amino acids, protein hydrolysis, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and sensory properties of FS and unfermented Spirulina (unFS) products by four different Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and three different Bacillus strains were examined. The highest proteolytic activity with LAB strains was confirmed by SDS-PAGE. The increase in both total amino acid (TAA) and total essential amino acid (TEAA) concentrations were in the highest level for FS products by Bacillus strains, 70535.5 µM and 22295.4 µM, respectively. The pyrazine content, the most prevalent VOCs in unFS, reduced more remarkably in FS by LAB strains. Furthermore, the most acceptable sensory characteristics were obtained with FS products by LAB strains. These findings will provide insights toward achieving the industrialization of FS products.

Aroma characterization of five microalgae species using solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry/olfactometry.

In this study, aroma compounds produced by three marine microalgae species (Crypthecodinium cohnii, Schizochytrium limacinum and Tetraselmis chuii) and two fresh water microalgae (Chlorella vulgaris and Chlorella protothecoides) important for nutritional applications were identified by means of solid-phase microextraction followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), GC-olfactometry (GCO) and a sensory panel. Principal components analysis (PCA) was applied to the instrumental and sensory analysis data to visualize differences between the samples in terms of descriptive attributes and volatile compounds. Accordingly, C. cohnii was characterised by a high level of sulfur compounds (dimethyl sulfide, ethanethiol), and ester and alcohol compounds associated with distinct 'sulfur-cabbage', 'fruity', 'rosy', and 'boiled potato' aroma notes. While S. limacinum was characterised more by aldehydes and alcohol compounds associated with 'mushroom', 'cucumber', and 'fatty-grassy' aroma characteristics, the other three samples showed relatively higher levels of ketone and terpene compounds with 'woody' and 'cereal-like' sensory characteristics.

Bioflavour production from tomato and pepper pomaces by Kluyveromyces marxianus and Debaryomyces hansenii.

Bioflavours are called natural flavour and/or fragrance compounds which are produced using metabolic pathway of the microorganism and/or plant cells or their enzyme systems with bioengineering approaches. The aim of this study was to investigate bioflavour production from tomato and red pepper pomaces by Kluyveromyces marxianus and Debaryomyces hansenii. Obtained specific growth rates of K. marxianus and D. hansenii in tomato pomace were 0.081/h and 0.177/h, respectively. The bioflavour profile differed between the yeasts. Both yeasts can produce esters and alcohols such as phenyl ethyl alcohol, isoamyl alcohol, isoamyl acetate, phenyl ethyl acetate and isovaleric acid. "Tarhana" and "rose" were descriptive flavour terms for tomato and pepper pomaces fermented by K. marxianus, respectively. Tomato pomace fermented by D. hansenii had the most intense "green bean" flavour while "fermented vegetable" and "storage/yeast" were defined as characteristic flavour terms for pepper pomaces fermented by D. hansenii.

Carotenoid and fatty acid compositions of an indigenous Ettlia texensis isolate (Chlorophyceae) under phototrophic and mixotrophic conditions.

Ettlia oleoabundance (formerly known as Neochloris oleoabundance) is an attractive candidate for biodiesel production because of its high lipid accumulation, and it's taking the majority of the attention among the strains of Ettlia genus; however, potential of the other genus members is unknown. An indigenous strain from Salda Lake (South West Turkey) identified by 18S rDNA sequencing as Ettlia texensis (GenBank accession no: JQ038221), and its fatty acid and carotenoid compositions under phototrophic and mixotrophic conditions was investigated to evaluate the potential of the strain for commercial uses. A threefold increase was observed in total lipid content (total fatty acids; from 13% to 37%) in mixotrophic culture respect to the phototrophic growth conditions. The oleic acid (C18:1) and alpha-linolenic acid (18:3) were the major unsaturated fatty acids accounting for 40% and 13.2% of total fatty acids in mixotrophic culture, respectively. Carotenoid analyses of the mixotrophic culture revealed the metabolite canthaxanthin, a commercially valuable carotenoid used mainly for food coloring, was the major constituent among other pigments. The possible use of E. texensis in biotechnological applications is discussed.

Enhanced growth and lipid accumulation by a new Ettlia texensis isolate under optimized photoheterotrophic condition.

A green microalgae, named as Ettlia texensis was obtained from local freshwater in Turkey. The effects of autotrophic, photoheterotrophic and heterotrophic cultivations on biomass and lipid production were studied. Searching the preferences of the carbon and nitrogen source revealed that this strain could grow photoheterotrophically well with glucose and yeast extract. In the optimized medium, the highest biomass productivity and total lipid content achieved were 0.97 g/L d and 26% of dry weight basis, respectively. Moreover, the major fatty acid methyl esters were C16:0; C18:1; C18:2 and C18:3. In a scale-up attempt, productions were accomplished in a 3 L stirred tank bioreactor. The final biomass and lipid productivities obtained in bioreactor with 250 rpm agitation rate were 0.92 g/L d and 322 mg/L d, respectively. The biochemical compositions were monitored simultaneously by the FTIR spectroscopy during the production in bioreactor. E. texensis could be potent candidate for commercial production in the bioreactor photoheterotrophically.