A RAPD-based survey of thermophilic bacilli in milk powders from different countries

Twenty-eight milk powders from 18 different countries were examined for the number and type of contaminating thermophilic bacilli. Of 742 isolates examined, 96.8% were assigned to the same strains of bacilli as previously found in New Zealand powders. The dominant isolate was Anoxybacillus flavithermus strain C followed by Bacillus licheniformis strain F. The former was also prevalent in New Zealand powders and the results demonstrate that A. flavithermus represents a widespread contaminant, seemingly ubiquitous in factories producing milk powder. The presence of thermophilic strains of Geobacillus stearothermophilus and to a lesser extent of Bacillus subtilis in milk powders was reconfirmed.     

Survival of thermophilic spore-forming bacteria in a 90+ year old milk powder from Ernest Shackelton's Cape Royds Hut in Antarctica

Milk powder taken to Antarctica on Shackelton's British Antarctic Expedition in 1907 was produced in New Zealand by a roller drying process in the first factory in the world dedicated to this process. Thermophilic bacilli are the dominant contaminants of modern spray-dried milk powders and the 1907 milk powder allows a comparison to be made of contaminating strains in roller-dried and spray-dried powders. Samples of milk powder obtained from Shackelton's Hut at Cape Royds had low levels of thermophilic contamination (< 500 cfu ml-1) but the two dominant strains (Bacillus licheniformis strain F and Bacillus subtilis) were typical of those found in spray-dried powders. Soil samples from the floor of the hut also contained these strains, whereas soils distant from the hut did not. Differences in the RAPD profiles of isolates from the milk powder and the soils suggest that contamination of the milk from the soil was unlikely. It is significant that the most commonly encountered contaminant strain in modern spray-dried milk (Anoxybacillus flavithermus strain C) was not detected in the 1907 sample.     

Thin agar layer- versus most probable number-PCR to enumerate viable and stressed Escherichia coli O157:H7 and application in a traditional raw milk pasta filata cheese

Sporeforming bacteria are ubiquitous in the environment and exhibit a wide range of diversity leading to their natural prevalence in foodstuff. The state of the art of sporeformer prevalence in ingredients and food was investigated using a multiparametric PCR-based tool that enables simultaneous detection and identification of various genera and species mostly encountered in food, i.e. Alicyclobacillus, Anoxybacillus flavithermus, Bacillus, B. cereus group, B. licheniformis, B. pumilus, B. sporothermodurans, B. subtilis, Brevibacillus laterosporus, Clostridium, Geobacillus stearothermophilus, Moorella and Paenibacillus species. In addition, 16S rDNA sequencing was used to extend identification to other possibly present contaminants. A total of 90 food products, with or without visible trace of spoilage were analysed, i.e. 30 egg-based products, 30 milk and dairy products and 30 canned food and ingredients. Results indicated that most samples contained one or several of the targeted genera and species. For all three tested food categories, 30 to 40% of products were contaminated with both Bacillus and Clostridium. The percentage of contaminations associated with Clostridium or Bacillus represented 100% in raw materials, 72% in dehydrated ingredients and 80% in processed foods. In the last two product types, additional thermophilic contaminants were identified (A. flavithermus, Geobacillus spp., Thermoanaerobacterium spp. and Moorella spp.). These results suggest that selection, and therefore the observed (re)-emergence of unexpected sporeforming contaminants in food might be favoured by the use of given food ingredients and food processing technologies.     

Diversity and functionality of Bacillus and related genera isolated from spontaneously fermented soybeans (Indian Kinema) and locust beans (African Soumbala)

A total of 126 isolates of Bacillus and related genera from indigenous, spontaneously fermented soybeans (Kinema) and locust beans (Soumbala) were characterized with the purpose of defining interspecific, as well as intraspecific relationships among the components of their microflora. B. subtilis was the dominant species, and species diversity was more pronounced in Soumbala than in Kinema. While from Kinema, six species were isolated (B. subtilis, B. licheniformis, B. cereus, B. circulans, B. thuringiensis and B. sphaericus), in Soumbala, the species found were B. subtilis, B. thuringiensis, B. licheniformis, B. cereu, B. badius, Paenibacillus alvei, B. firmus, P. larvae, Brevibacillus laterosporus, B. megaterium, B. mycoides and B. sphaericus. Genomic diversity in the isolates of B. subtilis was investigated by random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The RAPD-PCR fingerprint analysis showed a high level of diversity. With more than 90% similarity, all 52 RAPD subdivisions were source and continent-wise homogeneous. Profiles of carbon source fermentation also showed a wide but corresponding phenotypic diversity, largely corresponding with RAPD subdivisions. The various strains were tested for several criteria for functionality in soybean fermentation, viz. protein degradation, pH increase, and development of desirable stickiness caused by viscous exopolymers. Profiles of functionality, based upon estimations of pH, free amino nitrogen and stickiness were associated with genotypic and phenotypic profiles. Notwithstanding the heterogenous fermentation results for some genotypic profiles, a ranking of RAPD groups is possible and can be useful in the further selection and study of B. subtilis strains.     

CYTOTOXICITY ASSESSMENT OF BACILLUS STRAINS ISOLATED FROM STREET-VENDED FOODS IN JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA

Twenty-one isolates each of Bacillus (B.) cereus, B. licheniformis and B. subtilis from street foods, collected in central Johannesburg, were randomly selected to test for cytotoxicity against McCoy 5A Mouse cells using a 3-(4,5-dimethylthizol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay, and observation by confocal scanning laser microscopy (CSLM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Forty-eight percent of B. cereus, 33% of B. licheniformis and 19% of B. subtilis strains produced cytotoxic compounds. For B. cereus strains, all supernatants exhibiting cytotoxic effects were inactivated by heat treatment at 121C for 15 min. By contrast, 24% of B. licheniformis and 10% of B. subtilis supernatants exhibited cytotoxic effects following heat treatment. CSLM and SEM showed that McCoy cells treated with cytotoxic supernatants exhibited leakage and necrosis. Presence of B. cereus, B. licheniformis and B. subtilis in street foods in high numbers may pose potetnial safety risks due to production of cytotoxic compounds.     

Molecular identification of dominant microflora associated with 'Hawaijar' - a traditional fermented soybean (Glycine max (L.)) food of Manipur, India

The dominant microorganisms in 'Hawaijar', a traditional non-salted fermented soybean (Glycine max (L.)) food of Manipur, India, were isolated and identified by molecular techniques. Bacillus spp. were the predominant microorganisms in 'Hawaijar'. A total of 274 isolates were obtained from forty-one 'Hawaijar' samples collected from household preparations and markets of valley districts of Manipur. Phenotypic grouping followed by Amplified Ribosomal DNA Restriction Digestion Analysis (ARDRA), PCR amplification of 16S-23S rDNA region, RFLP by Hae III and Hind III double digest (by comparing MTCC type strains) and sequencing of 9-1514 region of 16S rDNA resulted in three major phylogenic groups. Bacillus subtilis group comprising B. subtilis and B. licheniformis representing 112 isolates, B. cereus group representing of 128 isolates and Staphylococcus spp. group comprising S. aureus and S. sciuri representing 23 isolates. A few bacterial isolates belongs to Alkaligenes spp. and Providencia rettgeri were also found. Genetic diversity of B. subtilis phylogenic group was investigated by RAPD-PCR. Eighty-two strains of B. subtilis phylogenic group were identified using RAPD-PCR using OPA-18 and OPA-20 primers. These strains will be investigated for potential starter culture selection.     

Enterotoxins and emetic toxins production by Bacillus cereus and other species of Bacillus isolated from Soumbala and Bikalga, African alkaline fermented food condiments

The ability of various species of Bacillus from fermented seeds of Parkia biglobosa known as African locust bean (Soumbala) and fermented seeds of Hibiscus sabdariffa (Bikalga) was investigated. The study included screening of the isolates by haemolysis on blood agar, detection of toxins in broth and during the fermentation of African locust bean using the Bacillus cereus Enterotoxin Reverse Passive Latex Agglutination test kit (BCET-RPLA) and the Bacillus Diarrhoeal Enterotoxin Visual Immunoassay (BDEVIA). Detection of genes encoding cytotoxin K (CytK), haemolysin BL (Hbl A, Hbl C, Hbl D), non-hemolytic enterotoxin (NheA, NheB, NheC) and EM1 specific of emetic toxin producers was also investigated using PCR with single pair and multiplex primers. Of 41 isolates, 29 Bacillus belonging to the species of B. cereus, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus licheniformis and Bacillus pumilus showed haemolysis on blood agar. Using RPLA, enterotoxin production was detected for three isolates of B. cereus in broth and all B. cereus (9) in fermented seeds. Using BDEVIA, enterotoxin production was detected in broth as well as in fermented seeds for all B. cereus isolates. None of the isolates belonging to the other Bacillus species was able to produce enterotoxins either by RPLA or BDEVIA. Nhe genes were detected in all B. cereus while Hbl and CytK genes were detected respectively in five and six B. cereus strains. A weak presence of Hbl (A, D) and CytK genes was detected in two isolates of B. subtilis and one of B. licheniformis but results were inconsistent, especially for Hbl genes. The emetic specific gene fragment EM1 was not detected in any of the isolates studied.     

Biochemical activities of Bacillus species isolated from flat sour evaporated milk.

Forty strains of bacilli were isolated from flat sour evaporated milk and were characterized as Bacillus stearothermophilus (5 strains), Bacillus licheniformis (10 strains), Bacillus coagulans (15 strains), Bacillus macerans (5 strains), and Bacillus subtilis (5 strains). The hydrolases of these strains were examined with the API ZYM system, and the ability of these strains to produce acid in milk incubated at different temperatures was also examined. Esterase, esterase lipase, lipase, valine aminopeptidase, phosphoamidase, beta-glucuronidase, and beta-glucosidase were the activities found in all strains tested; they were strain-dependent and ranged between 1 and 5 by the API ZYM test. The same strains produced various concentrations of acid in milk. These organisms may be responsible for the flat sour spoilage in evaporated milk.     

Simplified identification of aerobic spore-formers in the investigation of foods

Bacillus spp. are among the main spoilage organisms in food due to their versatile metabolism and heat-resistant spores. Except for B. cereus, no specific identification method is available, although information about Bacillus spp. would be useful in monitoring good manufacturing practice. A simplified identification scheme for aerobic spore-formers for routine laboratory use was elaborated by reducing the number of tests to be performed; 20 Bacillus spp. common in foods were considered. Besides cell morphology six biochemical characters were selected that proved most efficient in identification. In addition, methods were developed and modified to determine these characters by only 3 tests. By applying the simplified identification scheme, 766 strains of bacilli isolated from various foods were tested and species identity of 714 strains (93%) could be determined. Most aerobic spore-formers from foods were B. subtilis, B. pumilus and B. licheniformis. The spectrum of mesophilic bacilli isolated from natural sources was broad and comprised some 20 different species. Only one-third of the thermophilic isolates proved to be identical with, or similar to, B. stearothermophilus, while the rest were identified as five other species. The simplified method merits main application in ecological studies of foods.     

Heat resistance of Bacillus spores when adhered to stainless steel and its relationship to spore hydrophobicity

Twenty-one strains of Bacillus (10 B. stearothermophilus, 3 B. cereus, and 8 B. licheniformis strains) were assayed for spore surface hydrophobicity on the basis of three measures: contact angle measurement (CAM), microbial adhesion to hydrocarbons (MATH), and hydrophobic interaction chromatography (HIC). On the basis of the spore surface characteristics obtained from these assays, along with data on the heat resistance of these spores in water, eight strains of Bacillus (three B. stearothermophilus, three B. cereus, and two B. licheniformis strains) either suspended in water or adhering to stainless steel were exposed to sublethal heat treatments at 90 to 110 degrees C to determine heat resistance (D-value). Significant increases in heat resistance (ranging from 3 to 400%) were observed for the eight strains adhering to stainless steel. No significant correlation was found between these heat resistance increases and spore surface characteristics as determined by the three hydrophobicity assays. There was a significant positive correlation between the hydrophobicity data obtained by the MATH assay and those obtained by the HIC assay, but these data did not correlate with those obtained by the CAM assay.     

A mixed-species microarray for identification of food spoilage bacilli

Failure of food preservation is frequently caused by thermostable spores of members of the Bacillaceae family, which show a wide spectrum of resistance to cleaning and preservation treatments. We constructed and validated a mixed-species genotyping array for 6 Bacillus species, including Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus pumilus, Bacillus sporothermodurans, Bacillus cereus and Bacillus coagulans, and 4 Geobacillus species, including Geobacillus stearothermophilus, Geobacillus thermocatenulatus, Geobacillus toebii and Geobacillus sp., in order to track food spoilage isolates from ingredient to product. The discriminating power of the array was evaluated with sets of 42 reference and 20 test strains. Bacterial isolates contain a within-species-conserved core genome comprising 68-88% of the entire genome and a non-conserved accessory genome comprising 7-22%. The majority of the core genome markers do not hybridise between species, thus they allow for efficient discrimination at the species level. The accessory genome array markers provide high-resolution discrimination at the level of individual isolates from a single species. In conclusion, the reported mixed-species microarray contains discriminating markers that allow rapid and cost-effective typing of Bacillus food spoilage bacteria in a wide variety of food products.     

Improved agar diffusion method for detecting residual antimicrobial agents

The improved agar diffusion method for determination of residual antimicrobial agents was investigated, and the sensitivities of various combinations of test organisms and assay media were determined using 7 organisms, 5 media, and 31 antimicrobial agents. Bacillus stearothermophilus and synthetic assay medium (SAM) showed the greatest sensitivity for screening penicillins (penicillin G and ampicillin). The combination of Bacillus subtilis and minimum medium (MM) was the most sensitive for tetracyclines (oxytetracycline and chlortetracycline), B. stearothermophilus and SAM or Micrococcus luteus and Mueller-Hinton agar (MHA) for detecting tylosin and erythromycin, B. subtilis and MHA for aminoglycosides (streptomycin, kanamycin, gentamicin, and dihydrostreptomycin), B. stearothermophilus and SAM for polyethers (salinomycin and lasalocid), and B. subtilis and MM or Clostridium perfringens and GAM for polypeptides (thiopeptin, enramycin, virginiamycin, and bacitracin). However, gram-negative bacterium Escherichia coli ATCC 27166 and MM were better for screening for colistin and polymixin-B. For detecting the synthetic drugs tested, the best combination was B. subtilis and MM for sulfonamides, E. coli 27166 and MM for quinolones (oxolinic acid and nalidixic acid), B. subtilis and MM for furans (furazolidone), and the bioluminescent bacterium Photobacterium phosphoreum and luminescence assay medium for chloramphenicol and oxolinic acid. The results showed that the use of four assay plates, B. stearothermophilus and SAM, B. subtilis and MM, M. luteus and MHA, and E. coli 27166 and MM, was superior to the currently available techniques for screening for residual antimicrobial agents in edible animal tissues.     

贵州大方豆酱中优势细菌种群分析与分离鉴定

应用PCR-DGGE技术分析贵州大方县特色豆酱中细菌种群,并通过传统分离培养方法得到其主要优势菌株。PCR-DGGE指纹图谱在大方豆酱中共鉴定到食窦魏斯氏菌（Weissella cibaria）、肠杆菌（Enterobacteriaceae）、枯草芽孢杆菌（Bacillus subtilis）等10种菌,其中主要优势菌是枯草芽孢杆菌（Bacillus subtilis）、地衣芽孢杆菌（Bacillus licheniformis）,其次为乳酸片球菌（Pediococcus sacidilactici）和短小芽孢杆菌（Bacillus pumilus）;并利用传统分离培养方法在大方豆酱中分离得到枯草芽孢杆菌（Bacillus subtilis）、地衣芽孢杆菌（Bacillus licheniformis）和短小芽孢杆菌（Bacillus pumilus）,以便后期研究。     

胀包软罐头中耐热芽孢杆菌检测与耐热分析

从胀包软罐头及原辅料中分离鉴定耐热芽孢杆菌，对分离菌株进行Tn1546转座子检测，并初步探讨含该转座子菌株的嗜高温生长特性。结果表明，从胀包软罐头和原辅料中共分离鉴定出20株耐热芽孢杆菌，主要为地衣芽孢杆菌（Bacillus licheniformis），在原辅料中辣豆瓣酱检出率较高，对这些菌株进行spoVA基因检测及嗜高温生长试验。结果显示，具有spoVA基因的分离菌株均能在55～60 ℃条件下生长；不具有spoVA基因的分离菌株只能在50 ℃条件下生长。结果表明，嗜高温菌株的存在对食品产品的杀菌条件提出了更高的要求，值得相关产业的关注。     

芽孢杆菌的产酶特性及其对抗生素的耐受性

以4株枯草芽孢杆菌（Bacillus subtilis）和2株地衣芽孢杆菌（Bacillus licheniformis）为研究对象,通过测定其成胞率、中性蛋白酶活性及对24种抗生素的耐受性,从中筛选优良芽孢杆菌。结果表明,从6株芽孢杆菌中筛选得到3株成胞率和产中性蛋白酶均较好的芽孢杆菌,分别为枯草芽孢杆菌BLCC1-0552、BLCC1-0615和地衣芽孢杆菌BLCC1-0441,液体发酵24 h后,成胞率较高,均达到98%;中性蛋白酶活性分别为90.58 U/mL、100.32 U/mL和24.72 U/mL。其中,枯草芽孢杆菌BLCC1-0615固体发酵玉米-豆粕型常规饲料产中性蛋白酶活力最高,发酵48 h时达到2 154.49 U/g。3株芽孢杆菌对抗生素的耐受性不一致,其中枯草芽孢杆菌BLCC1-0615对24种抗生素中的17种表现敏感,敏感率最高为70.83%。因此,确定优良菌株为枯草芽孢杆菌BLCC1-0615,其成胞率、产中性蛋白酶能力好及对抗生素耐受性较低,具有作为饲料添加剂应用于畜禽饲料中的潜力。     

Isolation and identification of lipolytic, psychrotrophic, spore forming bacteria from raw milk

Out of 100 samples of raw milk, 48% were found to contain lipolytic, psychrotrophic, spore forming bacilli. The lipase activity of 59 selected isolates ranged from 8.5 to 42 units/ml. Forty one per cent of the total isolates exhibited enzyme activity in the range of 21–25 units/ml. On the basis of morphological and biochemical characteristics, the 59 lipolytic isolates were identified as Bacillus cereus (19), Bpolymyxa (12), B licheniformis (10), B circulans (7), B subtilis (5), B laterosporus (4) and B coagulans (2). B cereus (32.2%) was found to be the predominant organism.     

麦麸阿魏酸糖酯微生物发酵工艺优化及体外抗氧化和益生活性评价

以麦麸为原料,对固态发酵制备麦麸阿魏酸糖酯（Feruloylated glycosides,FGs）的工艺进行优化,并对其体外抗氧化及益生活性进行评价。以植物乳杆菌、枯草芽孢杆菌、地衣芽孢杆菌、酿酒酵母为发酵菌种,采取单菌发酵和混菌发酵筛选最优菌种组合,考察接种量、发酵温度、发酵时间、料水比对麦麸FGs产量的影响,通过响应面试验设计优化发酵工艺。结果表明:以枯草芽孢杆菌:地衣芽孢杆菌:酿酒酵母=1:1:1发酵麦麸时,FGs产量最高;最佳固态发酵工艺条件为发酵温度42.5℃,发酵时间58.5 h,接种量10.7%,料水比1:1.16（g/mL）,在此条件下FGs产量为1273.18 nmol/g;抗氧化实验结果表明,DPPH自由基清除率高达87.42%（1 mg/mL）,羟基自由基清除率为33.68%（4 mg/mL）,还原力为1.078（4 mg/mL）。发酵麦麸FGs可有效促进嗜热链球菌和植物乳杆菌的增殖。综上所述,以枯草芽孢杆菌、地衣芽孢杆菌和酿酒酵母混菌发酵制备的麦麸FGs有一定的抗氧化和益生活性。     

α-淀粉酶在不同地衣芽孢杆菌宿主菌中分泌表达的对比分析

研究不同地衣芽孢杆菌(Bacillus licheniformis)宿主菌对α-淀粉酶分泌表达的影响。以Bacillus subtilis的P43启动子,B.licheniformis WX-02α-淀粉酶基因的信号肽、编码区和终止子序列为表达原件,构建了α-淀粉酶分泌表达载体pP43SAT。将pP43SAT分别转入3株B.licheniformis宿主菌:WX-02(ΔamyL)、BL9和BL10,获得3株α-淀粉酶基因工程菌WX-02(ΔamyL,pP43SAT)、BL9(pP43SAT)和BL10(pP43SAT),并将构建的3株工程菌进行发酵对比分析。BL9(pP43SAT)和BL10(pP43SAT)的淀粉酶发酵活力分别达到94.01 U/mL和101.94 U/mL,比原始宿主菌WX-02(ΔamyL,pP43SAT)分别提高了21%和31%,这说明BL9和BL10新型宿主菌有利于淀粉酶的分泌表达。本研究证明多蛋白酶基因缺失可显著提高α-淀粉酶的表达,为α-淀粉酶的高效表达提供了新型宿主菌和新策略。     

Evaluation of different systems for the identification of Bacillus strains isolated from Spanish fermented sausages

Sixty-nine isolates obtained during the manufacture and ripening of Spanish fermented sausages were identified to species level using the Vitek Bacillus biochemical card, the dichotomous key and table proposed by Berkeley et al. ((1984). In Methods in Microbiology, Vol. 16. Academic Press, London, p. 291), morphological and physiological tests and the API 20E miniaturized system. None of the tested systems was entirely satisfactory and the final identification was mainly done on the basis of cellular morphology and the table of test results. Our isolates belonged to the species: B. subtilis (37), B. megaterium (22), B. pumilus (5), B. circulans (3) and unidentified (2). Forty-five cultures (65.2%) were accurately identified with the dichotomous key. A similar figure for the Vitek Bacillus biochemical card was 36%. The results of the API 20E system were very reproducible, especially those of the Voges-Proskauer test. Most of the strains of B. megaterium were misidentified as B. subtilis with the dichotomous key. On the other hand, a high percentage of the cultures belonging to B. subtilis were misidentified as B. megaterium with the Vitek system.     

Physiological and chemotaxonomical studies on microflora within a composter operated at high temperature

Physiological and chemotaxonomical studies were carried out on microorganisms isolated from a composter operated at around 50 to 60 degrees C. Only gram-positive rods were isolated and the microbial counts on agar plates were relatively low (10(3) to 10(5) cfu/g-sample). The chemotaxonomic properties of the ten isolates revealed that they were typical of the genus Bacillus. Identification by the Biolog system concurred with the chemotaxonomy; all the strains were determined to be Bacillus. 16S rDNA analysis closely identified five of the isolates as B. licheniformis, one as B. subtilis, and two as B. thermoamylovorans, while the remaining two strains seemed to belong to a new species. However, in several cases 16S rDNA analysis and the Biolog system gave different results at the species level. The stability of microflora within the composter was also investigated using the Biolog system. Analysis of colonies obtained during three sampling periods--December 1997, April 1998, and June 1998--showed that the microflora in the composter remained fairly stable.