<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>The presence of <italic>Alicyclobacillus</italic>, a thermoacidophilic and spore-forming bacterium, in acidic fruit juices poses a serious problem for the processing industry. A typical sign of spoilage in contaminated juices is a characteristic phenolic off-flavour associated with the production of guaiacol. Spores are formed in response to starvation and in a natural environment re-access the nutrients, <italic>e.g</italic>.: L-alanine and AGFK – a mixture of asparagine, glucose, fructose and potassium, triggers germination. The aim of this study was to estimate the impact of L-alanine and AGFK on the germination of the spores of two <italic>Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris</italic> strains and to evaluate the relationship of the germination rate with dipicolinic acid (DPA) release. The spores were suspended in apple juice or in buffers at pH 4 and pH 7, followed by the addition of L-alanine and AGFK. Suspensions were or were not subjected, to a temperature of 80°C/10 min and incubated for various periods of time at 45°C. Optical density (OD<sub>660</sub>) was used to estimate the number of germinated spores. The amount of DPA released was determined using HPLC. The results indicate that the degree of germination of <italic>A. acidoterrestris</italic> spores depended on the strain and time of incubation and the nutritious compounds used. The data obtained show that the amount of DPA released correlated to the number of <italic>A. acidoterrestris</italic> spores germinated.</p>
</abstract>

The presence of Alicyclobacillus, a thermoacidophilic and spore-forming bacterium, in acidic fruit juices poses a serious problem for the processing industry. A typical sign of spoilage in contaminated juices is a characteristic phenolic off-flavour associated with the production of guaiacol. Spores are formed in response to starvation and in a natural environment re-access the nutrients, e.g.: L-alanine and AGFK – a mixture of asparagine, glucose, fructose and potassium, triggers germination. The aim of this study was to estimate the impact of L-alanine and AGFK on the germination of the spores of two Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris strains and to evaluate the relationship of the germination rate with dipicolinic acid (DPA) release. The spores were suspended in apple juice or in buffers at pH 4 and pH 7, followed by the addition of L-alanine and AGFK. Suspensions were or were not subjected, to a temperature of 80°C/10 min and incubated for various periods of time at 45°C. Optical density (OD660) was used to estimate the number of germinated spores. The amount of DPA released was determined using HPLC. The results indicate that the degree of germination of A. acidoterrestris spores depended on the strain and time of incubation and the nutritious compounds used. The data obtained show that the amount of DPA released correlated to the number of A. acidoterrestris spores germinated.

Dipicolinic Acid Release and the Germination of <italic>Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris</italic> Spores under Nutrient Germinants

Department of Fruit and Vegetable Product Technology

Polish Journal of Microbiology

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Dipicolinic Acid Release and the Germination of  Spores under Nutrient Germinants

The presence of Alicyclobacillus, a thermoacidophilic and spore-forming bacterium, in acidic fruit juices poses a serious problem for the processing industry....

Dipicolinic Acid Release and the Germination of Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris Spores under Nutrient Germinants

Published Online: Mar 30, 2017

Page range: 67 - 74

Received: Apr 29, 2016

Accepted: Jul 30, 2016

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5604/17331331.1234995

© 2017 IZABELA PORĘBSKA et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.