The survival rate of five freeze-dried bacteria species, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus pentosus, Weisella paramesenteroides, Leuconostoc mesenteroides, and Lactobacillus fermentum, was described in terms of reaction rate constants (D or k) and temperature sensitivity of rate constants (z or Ea). The freeze-dried strains were stored under vacuum at 55, 37, and 4 degrees C for 168 h, 17 days, and 2 months, respectively. D-values decreased and k increased with an increase of the storage temperature. Neither the z-value nor the inactivation energy (Ea) of the reaction was significantly different (P > 0.05) for all the strains, suggesting that thermal inactivation of the freeze-dried lactic acid bacteria may occur by the same mechanism. Therefore, it was possible to compare rate constants of survival for the freeze-dried strains studied.

The impact of polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) degradation on the survival and acidification activity of freeze-dried Weissella paramesenteroides LC11 was investigated over 90-days storage at 4 degrees C or 20 degrees C in vacuum-sealed aluminium foil or glass tubes with two water activities (a(w)=0.11 or 0.23). Colony counts, acidification activity (% lactic acid/g), linoleic/palmitic (18:2/16:0) or linolenic/palmitic (18:3/16:0) ratio by gas chromatography and 18:2 or 18:3 oxylipins by reversed phase-high performance liquid chromatography were determined. The viable cells, acidification activity and 18:2/16:0 or 18:3/16:0 ratio decreased as the storage time increased. The survival, acidification activity and 18:2/16:0 or 18:3/16:0 ratio were greatest for the freeze-dried strain held in vacuum-sealed aluminium foil at 4 degrees C. The 18:2/16:0 or 18:3/16:0 ratio decrease was correlated with the accumulation of 18:2 or 18:3 oxylipins during storage in glass tubes. Hydroperoxy PUFAs, hydroxy PUFAs, divinyl ether PUFAs and oxo PUFAs were the main oxylipins identified. A large decrease in the 18:2/16:0 or 18:3/16:0 ratio and a rapid accumulation of oxylipins during storage might be enough to cause high cell death and loss of metabolic activity. These results provide further experimental support for the hypothesis that lipid oxidation and survival or activity of freeze-dried bacteria might be related.

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Lactic acid bacteria isolated by screening method from traditional food products of African countries were tested for their ability to produce bacteriocin an antimicrobial substances acting against other bacteria. Some of these bacteriocins allow the inhibition of Listeria monocytogenes, a food-bome pathogen responsible for human listeriosis. However, food ingredients caused an inefficient action of bacteriocins produced by several lactic acid bacteria against Listeria monocytogenes achieving the phenomenon of Listeria growth rebound in bacteriocin-supplemented food models. Recently, new starter cultures of lactic acid bacteria with an industrially important functionality are being developed. The latter can contribute to inhibit the rebounding phenomenon of Listeria and offer one or more organoleptic, technological, nutritional, or health advantages.