Four Streptococcus thermophilus strains (Strep. thermophilus BTC, Strep. thermophilus LY03, Strep. thermophilus 480 and Strep. thermophilus Sfi20) have been examined for their exopolysaccharide production capacity. All strains produced a polymer composed of the neutral sugars glucose and galactose, but in different ratios. It was clearly shown that the biosynthesis of exopolysaccharides from Strep. thermophilus LY03 is growth-associated and hence displays primary metabolite kinetics. The monomer ratio of the exopolysaccharide synthesized did not vary throughout the fermentation cycle. The production kinetics and exopolysaccharide yields were strongly dependent on the fermentation conditions. Physical factors such as temperature, pH and oxygen tension as well as chemical factors (medium composition, initial lactose concentration, carbon/nitrogen levels) were of utmost importance.

A model was set up to describe the production of amylovorin L471 by Lactobacillus amylovorus DCE 471, on a laboratory scale, in which the cells are grown in MRS (deMau-Rogosa-Sharpe) broth. The main features of the dynamic model are : (i) increase of the biomass according to a logistic equation ; (ii) non-growth-associated consumption of substrate (maintenance metabolism) ; and (iii) primary metabolite kinetics for the bacteriocin production. The main purpose was to set up a simple empirical model to examine growth and bacteriocin production in different conditions. Parameters estimated from a fermentation with 20 g l −1 glucose (w/v) could be used to predict the evolution of cell dry mass, glucose and lactic acid concentration of fermentations, performed with 5, 30, 40 and 60 g l −1 initial glucose. The influence of the operating temperature (30, 37 and 45°C) on the model parameters was also investigated. The proposed model was able to describe growth and bacteriocin production in all cases. The specific bacteriocin production rate was found to vary strongly with temperature, with 30°C as the best value. Variation of the operating temperature from 37 to 30°C appeared to significantly enhance the specific bacteriocin production.

NO ABSTRACT AVAILABLE