• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.795-802
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• 2014

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of temperature and supplementation with skim milk powder (SMP) on the microbial and proteolytic properties during the storage of cottage cheese. Cottage cheese was manufactured using skim milk with 2% SMP and without SMP as the control, and then stored at $5^{\circ}C$ or $12^{\circ}C$ during 28 days. The chemical composition of the cottage cheese and the survival of the cheese microbiota containing starter lactic acid bacteria (SLAB) and non-starter culture lactic acid bacteria (NSLAB) were evaluated. In addition, changes in the concentration of lactose and lactic acid were analyzed, and proteolysis was evaluated through the measurement of acid soluble nitrogen (ASN) and non-protein nitrogen (NPN), as well as electrophoresis profile analysis. The counts of SLAB and NSLAB increased through the addition of SMP and with a higher storage temperature ($12^{\circ}C$), which coincided with the results of the lactose decrease and lactic acid production. Collaborating with these microbial changes, of the end of storage for 28 days, the level of ASN in samples at $12^{\circ}C$ was higher than those at $5^{\circ}C$. The NPN content was also progressively increased in all samples stored at $12^{\circ}C$. Taken together, the rate of SLAB and NSLAB proliferation during storage at $12^{\circ}C$ was higher than at $5^{\circ}C$, and consequently it led to increased proteolysis in the cottage cheese during storage. However, it was relatively less affected by SMP fortification. These findings indicated that the storage temperature is the important factor for the quality of commercial cottage cheese.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.533-538
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• 2020

To investigate the effect of the predominant microorganisms in kimchi on quality, Leuconostoc mesenteroides ATCC 8293 was used as starter culture during kimchi fermentation. A higher number of lactic acid bacteria and lower initial pH were observed in starter kimchi than in non-starter kimchi in the early stage of fermentation. The concentrations of the main metabolite, lactic acid, were 69.88 mM and 83.85 mM for the non-starter and starter fermented kimchi, respectively. The free sugar concentrations of starter kimchi decreased earlier than those of non-starter kimchi, and the levels of free sugars in both kimchi samples decreased during fermentation. At the end of fermentation, non-starter kimchi had a softer texture than starter kimchi, suggesting that L. mesenteroides is useful in extending shelf life. Sensory evaluation showed that starter kimchi had higher sourness and lower bitterness and astringency values, resulting in high sensory quality. These results suggest that the L. mesenteroides ATCC 8293 strain could be a potential starter culture in kimchi.

• the MEAT Journal
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• s.35 winter
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• pp.46-55
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• 2008

The microbiological and physicochemical properties of irradiated (2 kGy) or non-irradiated fermented meats processed with or without a commercial starter culture were evaluated during fermentation and aging. The pH of irradiated (2 kGy) fermented meats with starter cultures dramatically decreased during fermentation and aging (p<0.05), and the final pH was 4.25. The total aerobic counts and lactic acid bacteria counts reflected the addition of the starter culture. As the fermentation progressed, the total aerobic counts closely paralleled the lactic acid bacteria counts. The TBARS values of irradiated fermented meats increased regardless of the treatment during fermentation and aging. These results show that the irradiated(electron-beam) meat/fat resulted in the reduction of the total microbes and survives lactic acid bacteria. The use of starter cultures in meat batters post-irradiation may be useful for the production of fermented meats.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.308-313
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• 2007

The microbiological and physicochemical properties of irradiated (2 kGy) or non-irradiated fermented meats processed with or without a commercial starter culture were evaluated during fermentation and aging. The pH of irradiated (2 kGy) fermented meats with starter cultures dramatically decreased during fermentation and aging (p<0.05), and the final pH was 4.25. The total aerobic counts and lactic acid bacteria counts reflected the addition of the starter culture. As the fermentation progressed, the total aerobic counts closely paralleled the lactic acid bacteria counts. The TBARS values of irradiated fermented meats increased regardless of the treatment during fermentation and aging. These results show that the irradiated (electron-beam) meat/fat resulted in the reduction of the total microbes and survives lactic acid bacteria. The use of starter cultures in meat batters post-irradiation may be useful for the production of fermented meats.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.622-633
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• 2024

For quality standardization, the application of functional lactic acid bacteria (LAB) as starter cultures for food fermentation is a well-known method in the fermented food industry. This study assessed the effect of adding a non-thermally microbial inactivated starter culture to kimchi, a traditional Korean food, in standardizing its quality. In this study, pretreatment based on sterilization processes, namely, slightly acidic electrolyzed water (SAEW) disinfection and ultraviolet C light-emitting diode (UVC-LED) of raw and subsidiary kimchi materials were used to reduce the initial microorganisms in them, thereby increasing the efficiency and value of the kimchi LAB starter during fermentation. Pretreatment sterilization effectively suppressed microorganisms that threatened the sanitary value and quality of kimchi. In addition, pretreatment based on sterilization effectively reduced the number of initial microbial colonies in kimchi, creating an environment in which kimchi LAB starters could settle or dominate, compared to non-sterilized kimchi. These differences in the initial microbial composition following the sterilization process and the addition of kimchi LAB starters led to differences in the metabolites that positively affect the taste and flavor of kimchi. The combined processing technology used in our study, that is, pre-sterilization and LAB addition, may be a powerful approach for kimchi quality standardization.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.804-819
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• 2019

Ezine cheese is a non-starter and long-ripened cheese produced in the Mount of Ida region of Canakkale, Turkey, with a protected designation of origin status. Non-starter lactic acid bacteria (NSLAB) have a substantial effect on the quality and final sensorial characteristics of long-ripened cheeses. The dominance of NSLAB can be attributed to their high tolerance to the hostile environment in cheese during ripening relative to many other microbial groups and to its ability to inhibit undesired microorganisms. These qualities promote the microbiological stability of long-ripened cheeses. In this study, 144 samples were collected from three dairies during the ripening period of Ezine cheese. Physicochemical composition and NSLAB identification analyses were performed using both conventional and molecular methods. According to the results of a 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, 13 different species belonging to seven genera were identified. Enterococcus faecium (38.42%) and E. faecalis (18.94%) were dominant species during the cheese manufacturing process, surviving 12 months of ripening together with Lactobacillus paracasei (13.68%) and Lb. plantarum (11.05%). The results indicate that NSLAB contributes to the microbiological stability of Ezine cheese over 12 months of ripening. The isolation of NSLAB with antimicrobial activity, potential bacteriocin producers, yielded defined collections of natural NSLAB isolates from Ezine cheese that can be used to generate specific starter cultures for the production of Ezine cheese (PDO).

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.30 no.9
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• pp.1404-1411
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• 2020

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) play an important role in dairy fermentations, notably as cheese starter cultures. During the cheese production and ripening period, various enzymes from milk, rennet, starter cultures, and non-starter LABs are involved in flavor formation pathways, including glycolysis, proteolysis, and lipolysis. Among these three pathways, starter LABs are particularly related to amino acid degradation, presumably as the origins of major flavor compounds. Therefore, we used several enzymes as major criteria for the selection of starter bacteria with flavor-forming ability. Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis LDTM6802 and Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris LDTM6803, isolated from Korean raw milk and cucumber kimchi, were confirmed by using multiplex PCR and characterized as starter bacteria. The combinations of starter bacteria were validated in a miniature Gouda-type cheese model. The flavor compounds of the tested miniature cheeses were analyzed and profiled by using an electronic nose. Compared to commercial industrial cheese starters, selected starter bacteria showed lower pH, and more variety in their flavor profile. These results demonstrated that LDTM6802 and LDTM6803 as starter bacteria have potent starter properties with a characteristic flavor-forming ability in cheese.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.30 no.7
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• pp.1060-1066
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• 2020

This study was focused on developing and obtaining a kimchi starter for use in commercial kimchi production. Kimchi varieties made with selected starters are of high quality, have high levels of mannitol, and extended shelf life. The starters were screened for properties such as mannitol production, low gas/acid production, and acid resistance. Finally, kimchi fermentation testing was performed using selected LAB starters. Kimchi samples were prepared with lactic acid bacteria (LAB) starters, including Leuconostoc mesenteroides PBio03 and Leuconostoc mesenteroides PBio104. The LAB starters are isolated from kimchi and can grow under pH 3.0 and low temperature conditions of 5℃. Four kimchi samples were fermented and stored for 28 days at 5℃. The kimchi samples made with starters (PBio03 and PBio104) had better quality (production of mannitol and maintenance of heterofermentative LAB dominance) than the non-starter kimchi samples. In the starter kimchi, Leu. mesenteroides was the dominant LAB, comprising 80% and 70% of total LAB counts at 7 and 21 days, respectively. Mannitol content of the kimchi with Leu. mesenteroides PBio03 was 1,423 ± 19.1 mg/100 g at 28 days, which was higher than that of the non-starter kimchi sample (1,027 ± 12.2 mg/100 g). These results show the possibility of producing kimchi with improved qualities using Leu. mesenteroides PBio03 and PBio104 as starters.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.343-349
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• 2019

Gul jeotgals (GJs) were prepared using solar salt aged for 3 years. One sample was fermented using starters, such as Bacillus subtilis JS2 and Tetragenococcus halophilus BS2-36 (each $10^6CFU/g$), and another sample was fermented without starters for 49 days at $10^{\circ}C$. Initial counts of bacilli and lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in non-starter GJ were found to be $3.20{\times}10^2$ and $7.67{\times}10^1CFU/g$ on day 0, and increased to $1.37{\times}10^3$ and $1.64{\times}10^6CFU/g$ on day 49. Those of starter GJ were found to be $2.10{\times}10^5$ and $3.30{\times}10^7CFU/g$ on day 49, indicating the growth of starters. The pH values of GJ were $5.93{\pm}0.01$ (non-starter) and $5.92{\pm}0.01$ (starter) on day 0 and decreased to $5.78{\pm}0.01$ (non-starter) and $5.75{\pm}0.01$ (starter) on day 49. Amino-type nitrogen (ANN) production increased continuously during fermentation, and $407.19{\pm}15.85$ (non-starter) and $398.04{\pm}13.73$ (starter) mg% on day 49. Clone libraries of 16S rRNA genes were constructed from total DNA extracted from non-starter GJ on days 7, 21, and 42. Nucleotide sequences of Escherichia coli transformants harboring recombinant pGEM-T easy plasmid containing 16S rRNA gene inserts from different bacterial species were analyzed using BLAST. Uncultured bacterium was the most dominant group and Gram - bacteria such as Acidovorax sp., Afipia sp., and Variovorax sp. were the second dominant group. Bacillus amyloliquefaciens (day 7), Bacillus velezensis (day 21 and 42), and Bacillus subtilis (day 42) were observed, but no lactic acid bacteria were detected. Acidovorax and Variovorax species might play some role in GJ fermentation. Further studies on these bacteria are necessary.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.307-314
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• 1999

This study was aimed at the investigation of the possibility of the addition of lactic acid bacteria as "starter"for the preparation of radish juice. Forty strains of lactic acid bacteria were isolated from dongchimi that was fermented by a traditional method. The isolates were assorted into 5groups, Leuconostoc mesenteroides subsp. mesenteroides (J-9), Lacobacillus brevis (J-12), Lactobacillus fermentum (J-7), Lactobacillus sake (J-20), and Lactobacillus plantarum (J-39). Leuconostoc mesenteroides was predominated in the sample of dongchimi with frequency of 52.5%. Each of the strain, which exhibited the beat growth in the species, was selected in the 5species, and investigation of the fermentation characteristcis was carried out. The fermentation were performed for 9 days at 25${\circ}C$ after the inoculation of 0.3% ($10^{6}$ cfu/㎖) to each ultra-filtrated radish juice. The pH, total acidity, content of non-volatile organic acids were examined during the fermentation period. Lactobacillus plantarum showed the highest growth rate and the growth rate of Lactobacillus sake was the lowest. The pH (6.3-6.36) and total acidity (0.09-1.0 %) fo the ultrafiltrated radish juice before fermentation were changed to 3.2-4.3 and 0.65-1.2% after 9days, respectively. The changes of the pH and total acidity were related with the growth of the lactic acid bacteria; the better growth of lactic acid bacteria, the more rapid decrease of pH and increase of the total acidity. when the amount of non-volatile organic acids were estimated during fermentation, citric acid, malic acid, malonic acid, and succinic acid were decreased in all cases. However, the content of lactic acid increased with the progression of fermentation. L. mesenteroides (J-9), L. brevis (J-12) and L. fermentum (J-7) were chosen for the candidates of the starter for the lactic fermentation of radish juice based on the biochemical analysis and sensory evaluation.