Bacteriocin production with Lactobacillus amylovorus DCE 471 is improved and stabilized by fed-batch fermentation.

Amylovorin L471 is a small, heat-stable, and hydrophobic bacteriocin produced by Lactobacillus amylovorus DCE 471. The nutritional requirements for amylovorin L471 production were studied with fed-batch fermentations. A twofold increase in bacteriocin titer was obtained when substrate addition was controlled by the acidification rate of the culture, compared with the titers reached with constant substrate addition or pH-controlled batch cultures carried out under the same conditions. An interesting feature of fed-batch cultures observed under certain culture conditions (constant feed rate) is the apparent stabilization of bacteriocin activity after obtaining maximum production. Finally, a mathematical model was set up to simulate cell growth, glucose and complex nitrogen source consumption, and lactic acid and bacteriocin production kinetics. The model showed that bacterial growth was dependent on both the energy and the complex nitrogen source. Bacteriocin production was growth associated, with a simultaneous bacteriocin adsorption on the producer cells dependent on the lactic acid accumulated and hence the viability of the cells. Both bacteriocin production and adsorption were inhibited by high concentrations of the complex nitrogen source.