Evaluation of Lactobacillus spp. Based on Phenotypical Profile as Direct-Fed Microbial Candidate for Poultry Nutrition

The present study was conducted to isolate, identify and characterize a lactic acid bacteria strain from turkey ileum content (46-day-old). The new strain was phenotypical confirmed as Lactobacillus acidophilus (L. acidophilus) and conserved under the code IBNA 09. Bacterial profile of L. acidophilus was compared with other strains known as L. paracasei CCM 1837 and L. plantarum ATCC 8014, based on cultural, morphological, biochemical and enzymatic activity (amylase and cellulase). The strains appear as Gram positive bacilli, thin, non-spore-forming, isolated, diplo form, in short chains or in small irregular piles on Man Rogosa and Sharp (MRS) broth and agar medium. The identification and biochemical traits were performed by catalase assay, API 50 CHL V 5.1 soft (L. acidophilus biotype 2, 99.9% ID; good identification to the genus L. paracasei spp. paracasei 1 or 3, 48-51% ID; L. plantarum 1, 99.9% ID) and ABIS online (L. acidophilus ~ 88%; L. paracasei spp. paracasei, ~ 90%; L. plantarum, ~91%). The highest total score of extracellular amylase activity was recorded by L. acidophilus IBNA 09 at 24-48 h (5.10 ± 0.176 U/mL, 4.99 ± 0.409 U/mL), follow by L. paracasei CCM 1837(0.12 ± 0.002 U/mL, 0.15 ± 0.001 U/mL). During entire period, cellulase production was observed only for L. acidophilus (0.28 ± 0.019 U/mL), comparative with L. paracasei where the activity was observed in the first 24 h, respectively at 72 h for L. plantarum. These results suggest that L. acidophilus IBNA 09 possesses potential probiotic traits as a suitable candidate for amylase and cellulase production, and starter culture can improve cereal fermentation and the process of digestion in poultry nutrition.

Analyzing the functional structure of pottery jiandiping amphorae

There are numerous, controversial theories on the function of the jiandiping amphorae as Yangshao culture water-drawing vessel, wine vessel, or other. This paper discusses jiandiping amphorae functional form from a typological perspective and presents the view from molding technique. The primary function of the pointed bottom concerned sedimentation, yet the vessel’s small opening was poorly adapted to cereal fermentation. The large jiandiping amphora was less transportable but better suited to long-term storage and sedimentation: wine decanted into medium- or small-sized flat-bottom vessels or jiandiping amphora was easily transferred and used, and decanting served to remove any sediment from turbid wine. Functional differences between the large and small jiandiping amphorae explain varying functions and uses of double-loop handles. The development of sediment separation technique is the key reason for the disappearance of the jiandiping amphorae.

Applicability of Nixtamalization in the Processing of Millet-based Maasa, a Fermented Food in Ghana

Maasa is a spontaneously fermented millet-based fried cake in Ghana. Nixtamalization, a process of cooking and soaking cereals (usually maize) in lime solution, was applied in the traditional processing of the Ghanaian millet-based fermented maasa. During the processing, Lime cooked millet dough (LCMD) and water soaked millet dough (WSMD) samples were analyzed for proximate composition, pH, total titratable acidity and microbial counts were assessed for fermenting millet dough samples. Finally, maasa prepared from nixtamalized and non-nixtamalized fermented millet dough samples were assessed for consumer sensory acceptability on a five-point hedonic scale. Nixtamalization improved crude protein and ash contents of millet dough samples whereas fat and fiber contents decreased. During fermentation, a reduction in pH and increase in total titratable acidity was observed for both nixtamalized and non-nixtamalized millet dough samples. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and yeasts count reached 9.4 and 8.0 logcfu/g respectively for non-nixtamalized millet after 14 hours of fermentation, whereas for nixtamalized millet samples, LAB and yeasts count reached 7.6 and 7.5 logcfu/g respectively. Consumer sensory evaluation of Maasa produced from nixtamalized fermented millet had improved texture, colour and overall acceptability as compared to the traditional non-nixtamalized fermented millet-based maasa. Nixtamalization can thus be applied in the production of Ghanaian millet-based maasa to improve nutritional quality and acceptability as well as maintain the benefits associated with traditional cereal fermentation.

Influence of Temperature and Backslopping Time on the Microbiota of a Type I Propagated Laboratory Wheat Sourdough Fermentation

ABSTRACTSourdough fermentation is a cereal fermentation that is characterized by the formation of stable yeast/lactic acid bacteria (LAB) associations. It is a unique process among food fermentations in that the LAB that mostly dominate these fermentations are heterofermentative. In the present study, four wheat sourdough fermentations were carried out under different conditions of temperature and backslopping time to determine their effect on the composition of the microbiota of the final sourdoughs. A substantial effect of temperature was observed. A fermentation with 10 backsloppings (once every 24 h) at 23°C resulted in a microbiota composed ofLeuconostoc citreumas the dominant species, whereas fermentations at 30 and 37°C with backslopping every 24 h resulted in ecosystems dominated byLactobacillus fermentum. Longer backslopping times (every 48 h at 30°C) resulted in a combination ofLactobacillus fermentumandLactobacillus plantarum. Residual maltose remained present in all fermentations, except those with longer backslopping times, and ornithine was found in almost all fermentations, indicating enhanced sourdough-typical LAB activity. The sourdough-typical speciesLactobacillus sanfranciscensiswas not found. Finally, a nonflour origin for this species was hypothesized.