Monitoring poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) production in cupriavidus necator DSM 428 (H16) with raman spectroscopy.

This study explored the potential of Raman spectroscopy for the analysis of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) in bacteria. PHB can be formed in large amounts by certain bacteria as a storage material and is of high importance for industrial biodegradable plastic production. Raman spectra were collected from Cupriavidus necator DSM 428 (H16), from its non-PHB-producing mutant strain C.

Application of reverse transcriptase PCR-based T-RFLP to perform semi-quantitative analysis of metabolically active bacteria in dairy fermentations.

A method consisting of reverse transcriptase (RT)-PCR amplification of 16S rRNA from the total microbial community, coupled with T-RFLP, was optimized for semi-quantitative characterization of the metabolically active population in defined strain cultures of Lactococcus lactis ssp. lactis and Leuconostoc citreum, two mesophilic lactic acid bacteria (LAB) species routinely used in cheese manufacture. The set of PCR primers selected efficiently amplified the 16S rRNA from both bacterial species.

Rational selection of Leuconostoc strains for mixed starters based on the physiological biodiversity found in raw milk fermentations.

The technological abilities of eleven wild Leuconostoc strains isolated from artisanal Afuega'l Pitu cheese, a homemade acid-coagulated cheese from raw milk from Asturias (northern Spain), were studied in order to test their potential application as components of dairy starters. Metabolic activity, production of flavour compounds, resistance to NaCl, acid, nisin and freezing, as well as genetic biodiversity were investigated. Marked differences among all tested strains reflected the existing biodiversity in naturally fermented products.