Cited by 221Polysaccharides Composition and ApplicationsProbiotics and Fermented FoodsProteins in Food Systems

Biodiversity of Exopolysaccharides Produced by Streptococcus thermophilus Strains Is Reflected in Their Production and Their Molecular and Functional Characteristics

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Vaningelgem, Frederik, Zamfir, Medana, Mozzi, Fernanda, Adriany, Tom, Vancanneyt, Marc, Swings, Jean, De Vuyst, Luc·2004·Applied and Environmental Microbiology

Abstract

Twenty-six lactic acid bacterium strains isolated from European dairy products were identified as Streptococcus thermophilus and characterized by bacterial growth and exopolysaccharide (EPS)-producing capacity in milk and enriched milk medium. In addition, the acidification rates of the different strains were compared with their milk clotting behaviors. The majority of the strains grew better when yeast extract and peptone were added to the milk medium, although the presence of interfering glucomannans was shown, making this medium unsuitable for EPS screening. EPS production was found to be strain dependent, with the majority of the strains producing between 20 and 100 mg of polymer dry mass per liter of fermented milk medium. Furthermore, no straightforward relationship between the apparent viscosity and EPS production could be detected in fermented milk medium. An analysis of the molecular masses of the isolated EPS by gel permeation chromatography revealed a large variety, ranging from 10 to >2,000 kDa. A distinction could be made between high-molecular-mass EPS (>1,000 kDa) and low-molecular-mass EPS (<1,000 kDa). Based on the molecular size of the EPS, three groups of EPS-producing strains were distinguished. Monomer analysis of the EPS by high-performance anion-exchange chromatography with amperometric detection was demonstrated to be a fast and simple method. All of the EPS from the S. thermophilus strains tested were classified into six groups according to their monomer compositions. Apart from galactose and glucose, other monomers, such as (N-acetyl)galactosamine, (N-acetyl)glucosamine, and rhamnose, were also found as repeating unit constituents. Three strains were found to produce EPS containing (N-acetyl)glucosamine, which to our knowledge was never found before in an EPS from S. thermophilus. Furthermore, within each group, differences in monomer ratios were observed, indicating possible novel EPS structures. Finally, large differences between the consistencies of EPS solutions from five different strains were assigned to differences in their molecular masses and structures.

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Crossref · 10.1128/aem.70.2.900-912.2004

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Authors
Vaningelgem, F., Zamfir, M., Mozzi, F., Adriany, T., Vancanneyt, M., Swings, J., & De Vuyst, L.
Affiliations
  • Vrije Universiteit Brussel (BE)
  • Ghent University (BE)
  • Research Group of Industrial Microbiology, Fermentation Technology and Downstream Processing (IMDO), Department of Applied Biological Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), B-1050 Brussels
Venue
Applied and Environmental Microbiology
Published
2004-02
Volume
70
Issue
2
Pages
900-912
ISSN
  • 0099-2240 (ISSN-L)
  • 1098-5336
OpenAlex
W2153510694
Cited by
221
References
85
Citations by year
2026: 6 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 12 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 16 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 18 · 2016: 13 · 2015: 10 · 2014: 14 · 2013: 10 · 2012: 6
FWCI
10.45
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Applied and Environmental Microbiology (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Ghent University Academic Bibliography (Ghent University) (submittedVersion)
  • CONICET Digital (CONICET) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-sa)
Funders
  • University of Huddersfield
  • European Commission
  • Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek
  • Vrije Universiteit Brussel
  • Vlaamse regering
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Food Science › Polysaccharides Composition and Applications
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Food Science › Probiotics and Fermented Foods
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Food Science › Proteins in Food Systems
Keywords
Streptococcus thermophilus, exopolysaccharide production, lactic acid bacteria, fermented milk, N-acetylglucosamine, rhamnose, glucomannan, milk coagulation, acidification rate, viscosity, dairy products
MeSH terms
Animals, Culture Media, Fermentation, Milk, Polysaccharides, Bacterial, Streptococcus, Structure-Activity Relationship, Dimerization, Biodiversity

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