Detection and Identification of Lactic Acid Bacteria in Semi-Finished Beer Products Using Molecular Techniques

Beer has been generally recognized as a microbiologically stable beverage. However, deviations in the brewing process may occur due to the activity of lactic acid bacteria (LAB). The growth of LAB during the brewing process implies a competition for nutrients with yeasts, causing decreased ethanol y...

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Main Authors: Georgios Tsekouras, Paschalitsa Tryfinopoulou, Efstathios Z. Panagou
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-10-01
Series:Biology and Life Sciences Forum
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2673-9976/6/1/122
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author Georgios Tsekouras
Paschalitsa Tryfinopoulou
Efstathios Z. Panagou
author_facet Georgios Tsekouras
Paschalitsa Tryfinopoulou
Efstathios Z. Panagou
author_sort Georgios Tsekouras
collection DOAJ
description Beer has been generally recognized as a microbiologically stable beverage. However, deviations in the brewing process may occur due to the activity of lactic acid bacteria (LAB). The growth of LAB during the brewing process implies a competition for nutrients with yeasts, causing decreased ethanol yields. Moreover, quality degradation caused by LAB spoilage can be observed due to the production of off-flavors (high indications of diacetyl and lactic acid), changes in color and excessive turbidity. This study aims at the microbiological investigation of non-pasteurized beer products, before and after filtration, with the main emphasis on the detection and molecular characterization of the biodiversity of LAB. Sampling was performed at selected points in a beer production line on the industrial scale in order to determine the population of Total Viable Counts (TVC), yeasts and LAB. The samples are classified in the “lager” category, fermented using strains of <i>Saccharomyces pastorianus</i>. The sampling points included the pre- and post- filtration step, the buffer line, the filling tank, the packaged but non-pasteurized product and finally, the packaged pasteurized product to confirm the effectiveness of heat treatment. Samples were collected in two different batch productions. The results showed that the population of LAB was relatively low. Specifically, before filtration, levels were 1.52 log CFU/mL and 3.44 log CFU/mL in the first and second batch, respectively. This microbial group was not enumerated (<1.0 log CFU/mL) afterwards in all sampling points. A total of 80 LAB species were initially analyzed by rep-PCR, using the (GTG)5 primer to discriminate the isolates. Representative isolates (20) were selected for further identification using the conserved 16S rRNA region to be sequenced. Three different species were present in both batch productions, namely <i>Lactobacillus brevis</i>, <i>Lactobacillus backii</i> and <i>Lactobacillus harbinensis</i>.
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spelling doaj.art-b03c766abfaa4de6a34adba086d26af82023-11-17T09:58:50ZengMDPI AGBiology and Life Sciences Forum2673-99762022-10-016112210.3390/Foods2021-11046Detection and Identification of Lactic Acid Bacteria in Semi-Finished Beer Products Using Molecular TechniquesGeorgios Tsekouras0Paschalitsa Tryfinopoulou1Efstathios Z. Panagou2Laboratory of Microbiology and Biotechnology of Foods, Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, School of Food and Nutritional Sciences, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, 11855 Athens, GreeceLaboratory of Microbiology and Biotechnology of Foods, Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, School of Food and Nutritional Sciences, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, 11855 Athens, GreeceLaboratory of Microbiology and Biotechnology of Foods, Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, School of Food and Nutritional Sciences, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, 11855 Athens, GreeceBeer has been generally recognized as a microbiologically stable beverage. However, deviations in the brewing process may occur due to the activity of lactic acid bacteria (LAB). The growth of LAB during the brewing process implies a competition for nutrients with yeasts, causing decreased ethanol yields. Moreover, quality degradation caused by LAB spoilage can be observed due to the production of off-flavors (high indications of diacetyl and lactic acid), changes in color and excessive turbidity. This study aims at the microbiological investigation of non-pasteurized beer products, before and after filtration, with the main emphasis on the detection and molecular characterization of the biodiversity of LAB. Sampling was performed at selected points in a beer production line on the industrial scale in order to determine the population of Total Viable Counts (TVC), yeasts and LAB. The samples are classified in the “lager” category, fermented using strains of <i>Saccharomyces pastorianus</i>. The sampling points included the pre- and post- filtration step, the buffer line, the filling tank, the packaged but non-pasteurized product and finally, the packaged pasteurized product to confirm the effectiveness of heat treatment. Samples were collected in two different batch productions. The results showed that the population of LAB was relatively low. Specifically, before filtration, levels were 1.52 log CFU/mL and 3.44 log CFU/mL in the first and second batch, respectively. This microbial group was not enumerated (<1.0 log CFU/mL) afterwards in all sampling points. A total of 80 LAB species were initially analyzed by rep-PCR, using the (GTG)5 primer to discriminate the isolates. Representative isolates (20) were selected for further identification using the conserved 16S rRNA region to be sequenced. Three different species were present in both batch productions, namely <i>Lactobacillus brevis</i>, <i>Lactobacillus backii</i> and <i>Lactobacillus harbinensis</i>.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-9976/6/1/122lager beerlactic acid bacteriayeasts<i>Lactobacillus brevis</i><i>Lactobacillus backii</i><i>Lactobacillus harbinensis</i>
spellingShingle Georgios Tsekouras
Paschalitsa Tryfinopoulou
Efstathios Z. Panagou
Detection and Identification of Lactic Acid Bacteria in Semi-Finished Beer Products Using Molecular Techniques
Biology and Life Sciences Forum
lager beer
lactic acid bacteria
yeasts
<i>Lactobacillus brevis</i>
<i>Lactobacillus backii</i>
<i>Lactobacillus harbinensis</i>
title Detection and Identification of Lactic Acid Bacteria in Semi-Finished Beer Products Using Molecular Techniques
title_full Detection and Identification of Lactic Acid Bacteria in Semi-Finished Beer Products Using Molecular Techniques
title_fullStr Detection and Identification of Lactic Acid Bacteria in Semi-Finished Beer Products Using Molecular Techniques
title_full_unstemmed Detection and Identification of Lactic Acid Bacteria in Semi-Finished Beer Products Using Molecular Techniques
title_short Detection and Identification of Lactic Acid Bacteria in Semi-Finished Beer Products Using Molecular Techniques
title_sort detection and identification of lactic acid bacteria in semi finished beer products using molecular techniques
topic lager beer
lactic acid bacteria
yeasts
<i>Lactobacillus brevis</i>
<i>Lactobacillus backii</i>
<i>Lactobacillus harbinensis</i>
url https://www.mdpi.com/2673-9976/6/1/122
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AT paschalitsatryfinopoulou detectionandidentificationoflacticacidbacteriainsemifinishedbeerproductsusingmoleculartechniques
AT efstathioszpanagou detectionandidentificationoflacticacidbacteriainsemifinishedbeerproductsusingmoleculartechniques